The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 45-120, some questions.Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Did anyone ever make a gun for it? I thought I read somewhere a Winchester 1886 could handle the length, and that Sharps advertised it but never actually made a gun for it. What odd is the loads I find are no hotter than 45-70 loads, and don't have the energy I expected. What is this cartridge capable of at higher pressures in a strong gun in upper-level 45-70 pressures, say 50k? Are there any actions other than a single shot that could handle a cartridde of this length? It would make a cool lever gun. In other news, got my 45-70 1895gs sighted in, actually hit a 6 inch target at 100 yards offhand, hoping to draw blood this weekend, it's my last year of youth season. My cousin built a deer stand over a food plot on his land this year, there's plenty of scrapes and a wallow realy close to the stand, hopefully I'll finally get my first deer, can't believe I've never got one.  Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.  | ||
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Butch Searcy made at least one double that was regulated for some reasonably stout loads with a Barnes X, but most load data you will find is for black powder guns. Talk to MacD37 and other members who have used the .458 RCBS. That may be the closest you will find with smokeless loads. DO NOT USE 458 RCBS loads in a 45-120. Proceed at your own risk. This information is for entertainment ony and not for actual use. Caveat Emptor. Bene Lava. Etc. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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Tyler, there are many rifles chambered for the 45-120, which is a 3.25" long version of your 45-70 case. I currently own a Ruger single shot rebarrelled and chambered for the case. It is the equivalent (IIRC) of the 450#2 Nitro Express cartridge. In a strong action like the Ruger or the Wickliffe 76 it is capable of 2350-2400fps with a 500gr bullet, in other words, a better dangerous game cartridge than the 458Lott. A friend has a Meacham HiWall in this cartridge. His standard hunting load is a 550gr patper patched bullet at 2200fps from a 30" barrel. Good luck on your deer hunt! Rich | |||
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Actually, it is closer to the 450NE in profile dimentions. Hog Killer IGNORE YOUR RIGHTS AND THEY'LL GO AWAY!!! ------------------------------------ We Band of Bubbas & STC Hunting Club, The Whomper Club | |||
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I had a Ruger No 3 rechambered and fitted with No 1 wood back in the 1980's. Wrote an article on it and Rifle magazine showed interest in publishing then backed off. The case capacity is similar to the big 45 caliber British cartridges and somewhat less than the Weatherby. In the Ruger, you can, of course, well exceed the pressure of the old British rounds. I easily pushed it near Weatherby velocities. Surprisingly, the 45-70 barrel twist seemed to stabilize the heavier bullets, likely because of the increased velocity. Recoil of the high velocity loads in the light gun was almost unimaginably punishing. | |||
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2 more questions: I'm using Winchester 300 grain 45-70 ammo for deer season this year, I've heard the 300 grain hollowpoints don't hold up well, can I aim for the shoulder, or should I keep it farther back? And the last question, could you make a rifle for "45 basic"? I see this in reloading magazines, I'm assuming to trim to whatever dimensions you need, but could you chamber for it? If I recall it's 3.5 inches right? Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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Love the old 45-120 but the one I have is built on a Sharps action and I use only black powder and 715 grain slugs... Looks alot to me just like my 450 3 1/4" nitro , but the rim is thicker.. Would think loaded with BP that they would both be in the older "Express" cat. Stay Alert,Stay Alive Niet geschoten is altijd mis Hate of America is the defeat position of failed individuals and the failing state | |||
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The COL limit in the Winchester 1886 is about 2.88" which is not condusive to chambering a cartridge with a 3.25" case length. Lever guns are just limited to well under 3 inches in COL. The 45-120 would be strictly a single shot or double rifle proposition. A cheap route might be an H&R 1871 Buffalo Classic rechambered. But if you ever shot one in 45-70 with full power 405 grain bullet loads you might think twice about trying to get anything more out of it. Good luck on your hunt. You learn something new everyday whether you want to or not. | |||
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Jackfish's suggestion works well, I had one of my .45-70 BCs rechambered to .45-120, I only shoot smokeless in it, the 555gr Saeco #20 at 1800fps has a lot of recoil, but with a little weight or MRR in the stock bolt hole and a Galco recoil pad, recoil is tolerable from the bench. That "little" cartridge on the left is a .45-70 round. Tim   | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 45-120, some questions.
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