For those of you who saw the video I posted of the integrally suppressed .45-70 Lever Action by Wren Metal Works (see link below). You may be wondering:
1. How quiet is it?
2. How has the gun been made so quiet?
3. Why is there so little recoil?
The gun is quiet because of the:
1. integral suppressor
2. IQ Munitions 45-70 Magnuforce Subsonic cartridges
Shooting subsonic eliminates the loud crack that occurs when a bullet exceeds the speed of sound.
Standard 45-70 ammunition utilizes a lighter bullet (typically 405 grains) at supersonic velocities (around 1330 fps).
The IQ Munitions 45-70 Magnuforce Subsonic cartridge is specifically designed to be fired through a suppressor without producing a sonic boom. To achieve this, velocity is intentionally reduced to 1,000 fps.
To ensure the round still delivers sufficient terminal energy and deep penetration at this lower velocity, the bullet mass is significantly increased to a 550-grain hard cast lead projectile. It also utilizes a Hi-Tek Supercoat to prevent lead fouling inside the rifle barrel and the suppressor.
The IQ Munitions 45-70 load generates about 50 percent less felt recoil than standard 45-70 ammunition. This reduction is a direct result of conservation of momentum.
Because recoil energy is proportional to the square of the ejecta velocity, the 25 percent reduction in muzzle velocity more than offsets the increase in bullet mass.
Furthermore, subsonic cartridges require significantly less powder, which drastically cuts down on the mass and pressure of the escaping gases. When fired suppressed, the suppressor itself further mitigates recoil by acting as a gas trap.
The effective range for both 45-70 cartridges is largely limited by their steep ballistic trajectories rather than a lack of terminal energy. The heavy projectiles drop significantly past 100 yards. While the 550-grain load carries enough energy for humane kills on big game out to 200 yards, the shooter must accurately calculate and adjust for over 30 inches of bullet drop at that distance.
The retained energy for each cartridge at the requested distances is calculated using typical ballistic coefficients for their respective bullet profiles: approximately 0.281 for the 405-grain soft point, 0.348 for the 550-grain hard cast, and 0.190 for the 230-grain full metal jacket.
Notice that while the standard 45-70 starts with significantly more muzzle energy, the IQ Munitions subsonic cartridge closes the energy gap at extended ranges. The heavier 550-grain projectile is more aerodynamically efficient at retaining its momentum than the lighter, faster 405-grain bullet. At 200 yards, the subsonic load retains nearly 80 percent of its initial energy, whereas the standard supersonic load retains only about 63 percent.
Photos
Photos
Photos
Photos