barrels on the way!

I'm sure you've probably looked, but Hodgdons has pressure tested loads for the 45-120.
They show a 405 at 2012 fps and 28,300 CUP

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Order BW Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
405 GR. LY #457193 405 H4895 .458" 3.730" 58.0 1849 26,000 CUP 64.0 2012 28,300 CUP
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

thank you sir.. i had overlooked that load, as it has a PB bullet.. but, i can use that for a starting load

Jeffe
I now have a pair of 44calb barrel blanks and a Zavasta 16gauge double. Think first I have to finish getting my cowboy guns ready the ill finish my 303 bolt rifle. Then you should have yours done and ill start mine. It will be a pop gun compared to yours. 44/40 shooting for light and handy!
Dean

Decided to upgrade to a Merkel 12 ga 1968 action. Found it for $650, with a high comb stock(plain grain, damn!)and 20% colors. Shipping today. PS This site Blackbern LLC (757arms.com) has a load of Merkels and Sauer 12 ga, some with dinged/pitted barrels for building DRs, at reasonable $. Still like the 45-90 idea--you can't shoot a factory 45-70 in a 120 chamber and hit the paper, I don't think. 45-90 case is 2.4", 458 Win is 2.5". I can get 2000+ in the 45-90 with a 405 gr at under 35K psi. Harry Selby, move over.....riiight.

cool..
Dean, a 44/40 would be a neato popper!!

xs - 45/120 brass is less than 2 bucks, delivered .. anything the smaller cases CAN do the bigger one can do, with less pressure... and if you got a merkel 12ga, the 45-120 would be the way to go!
jeffe

got my barrels in !!

wow, i am pleased with how light, but... well, my scale is out, so i can't weigh the rifle yet.

its going to be light!

tested some rem 405, with rel22 and i4895 .. the 4895 needs a filler, the rel22 went to 1800 ... needs more work

i might get the monoblock mechcanically "down" and on face this week...
jeffe

Rocky and I did some pressure testing and load dev on the 45-120 in an enfield mule...

yes, i KNOW it's not a doubel gun, presure, blah blah...

but the brass FELL OUT of the chamber, with only tapping the buttstock on the bench... as we had no extractor and no cleaning brush (got in a hurry)...

ALL of these FELL OUT of the chamber... round primers, etc etc etc...

rem 405 at 2393 4320 powder
horn 500 at 2121 4831 powder
speer 350 at 2387 3031 powder

all will be posted in ammoguide
jeffe

I will load the 405s down to 2150 ...
i mean LITERALLY fell out of the chamber

Decided to go withi a huglu 12ga for the action, rather than the sauer. Good news all the way around. I have made NO mods to the Sauer, so I'll be selling that one. I ordered some more 4140 annealed to get cracking on the next mono block.

Why did i decide to go with the 12? Frankly, when it got down to it, I wasn't perfectly happy with the amount of steel left around everything. Would it work? Yep, sure would have, BUT, it is my face and hands, so I decided to go with the 12.

jeffe