Has anyone heard of this being done? Continuing shoulder problems and a huge supply of 348 bullets have me thinking of rebarreling my Marlin 1895SS 45/70

I can't think of any good reason why not, but I wouldn't make a "wildcat", I'd simply chamber it for 348Win.

After all what is a 348Win other than a necked down 45-70?

AllanD

Allen, the 348 is slightly longer (.245) than the 45/70 and I'm not sure if it will feed as I haven't got that far yet.Anyhoo I figured if there was such a 'cat and a reamer could be located it would be fun as well as practicle.

okay... you can get a 348 for what, 900-1200 bucks?
reamer would cost your 200 with gages
dies would be about the same
barrel would be close
gunsmithing would be somehting like 100
bluing 150-200

so nearly 800 bucks to have a 'cat,,, that does NOTHING better than the 348...

might sell the marlin (300) and get a 348 m71

jeffe

Didn't Barnes do this to 358?

I have the reamer in 348/45-70. It's sort of an improved 33 winchester. The former Virgin Valley Custom guns did a series on the 45-70. I have their 338 VVC.

If you decide to avoid the custom charges, the .33 WCF is a fine number, but the typical COL of about 2.75" requires changes to the 1895. A fellow named Greevy did a .358 on the .45-70 for the 336 many years ago. The dies are available from RCBS and the reamers from Clymer. As for your desire for a .348, that V.V.G. bigboredan mentioned is the first I've heard of one. I've thought of the same conversion myself (and a .348 Krag...)

Allan: I believe the .348 WCF is based on the .50-90 or the like, not the .45-70.

Have a couple 71's and an '86 and based on the research I have done by reloading for the 348, the parent case was the 50-110, not the 45/70 case. My 45/70 cases measure 2.090" and the 348 cases measure 2.240" in length.
Overall length is the issue with the Marlin 1895 rifle which is still the basic 336 action with different carrier, opened port, etc. Others may offer better explanation.