I'm just daydreaming about a double rifle that I can afford, and the Sabatti in .45-70 emerges. When the Remington/Baikal .45-70 doubles were first proposed, many here talked of having them rechambered. But when the rifles actually arrived it was immediately apparent that the chassis was inadequate for anything but .45-70.
The Sabatti appears to be a different creature, capable of being safely rechambered to .45-90 or .45-110, with the attendant increase in performance at reasonable pressure nudging it toward DG-capable status.
The critical issue then becomes regulation. Anyone out there thinking along these lines?

The more I think about it, the more I think I ought to just cowboy up and find another $2K and buy the damned .450 NE.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
The more I think about it, the more I think I ought to just cowboy up and find another $2K and buy the damned .450 NE.

That is most likely the best idea, because it will cost you close to $1K for the rechambering, and may cause a re-regulating to the tune of about another $1k with the re-regulating, and the ammo used for the job.

I was lucky with a Pedersoli 45-70 which regulated perfectly from the factory, and I re-chambered it to 458 RCBS and it still regulates well,but that is not always the case with re-chamberings on double rifles.

9.3X74R!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
The more I think about it, the more I think I ought to just cowboy up and find another $2K and buy the damned .450 NE.

Much better idea

I don't know. Buy a reamer and do the rechamber yourself..$100 of so.

The Sabatti 45/90s are regulated with 300g bullets.

I was thinking a 45/90 would do the trick and add a bit of umph. But only because I have a bunch of gas checked 300g 45/90 ammo.

If you are thinking 400gr or 500gr bullets...I'd pass.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
The more I think about it, the more I think I ought to just cowboy up and find another $2K and buy the damned .450 NE.

now you're thinking....

Rechambering is easy; definitely not $1k, but shooting a 7.5 pound rifle at increased velocites and bullet weight might be "interesting". Also, I am concerned that they used the Hornady 300 grain load for regulation when I like a 350 or 400 in the 45-70. I have had lower penetration with the 300s, (not the Lever stuff, never shot that). Get a 450-400.

Bill

Yes buy the 450 NE....

I would question if there is enough difference in performance between the 45-70 and the 45-90 or 110, to make it worth the trouble?
Seems like the 450NE would be the goal, but then wouldn't one need a faster twist rate to stabilize a 480-500gr slug?
I would think that $2K difference is cheap, to buy one already done like you want. I'm no expert...just my thoughts...
ND

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrodave:
I would question if there is enough difference in performance between the 45-70 and the 45-90 or 110, to make it worth the trouble?
Seems like the 450NE would be the goal, but then wouldn't one need a faster twist rate to stabilize a 480-500gr slug?
I would think that $2K difference is cheap, to buy one already done like you want. I'm no expert...just my thoughts...
ND

I agree, but I have noticed in the DR community some people like to take a sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse. LOL

Unless you figure out an easy way to make the thin rim of the 450 NE as thick as the rim of the 45-70 it won't work.

If you want to play try "Jeffe's" 45-120 Nitro loads and rechamber with those. But then you'd probably hit the re-regulating problem. Cha-Ching!

Get what you want in the first place and don't cobble it up. You'll be happier.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
Unless you figure out an easy way to make the thin rim of the 450 NE as thick as the rim of the 45-70 it won't work.

The thin rim on the 450NE is no problem because the rim is a larger diameter than the 45-70, and the recess for the rim in the barrel, and the extractor are larger as well, so simply cut the recess shollower!

quote:

If you want to play try "Jeffe's" 45-120 Nitro loads and rechamber with those. But then you'd probably hit the re-regulating problem. Cha-Ching!

Get what you want in the first place and don't cobble it up. You'll be happier.

quote:

by RDB
The Sabatti 45/90s are regulated with 300g bullets.

I was thinking a 45/90 would do the trick and add a bit of umph. But only because I have a bunch of gas checked 300g 45/90 ammo.

It is not only a different weight bullet that may cause a regulation problem. It is a combination of bullet weight, amount of recoil, and speed of the bullet that makes regulation work or fail.

Changing anything from re-chambering to a more powerfull cartridge, to useing a heavier, or lighter bullet in the origenal chambering can give regulation problems, to loading the same weight bullet to a faster, or slower velocity in the origenal chambering can destroy regulation. It can change with only one componant change.

The origenal 45-70 will most likely regulate the 400 gr bullets well enough if you don't push it too hard.

IMO the best choice is to simply buy the one chambered for 450NE and be done with it!

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The thin rim on the 450NE is no problem because the rim is a larger diameter than the 45-70, and the recess for the rim in the barrel, and the extractor are larger as well, so simply cut the recess shollower!

Hey Mac,

Not quite. There isn't enough difference in the rim diameters to do that. Have to fill up, or almost, the rim cut out for the 45-70 and then run the reamer in for the 450.

Yes, there is very little difference in the rim diameters of those 2 cartridge cases.
CIP drawings show a difference on the radius of around .008".

That's nowhere near enough!

Much simpler to just buy the 450 NE to start with IMO.

quote:

The origenal 45-70 will most likely regulate the 400 gr bullets well enough if you don't push it too hard.

IMO the best choice is to simply buy the one chambered for 450NE and be done with it!

I'd bet not on the 400s. And agree with the second unless you wanted a 45/90 and plan on shooting the original Win. HV loads...even then it is nothing but a crap shoot and likely not worth the 3K as a bet.

As I remember, PWN375 re-chambered a Pedersoli 45/70 into a 450 #2 NE. It shot well enough to not have to be re-regulated.

I seem to recall his description of the re-chambered rifle as. . Brisk!