Hello and new 45-60 on the way

[Pitchy]

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Seen some familiar faces from another board so thought i`d register.
I bought a Chapparral 45-60 with 28 in barrel that should be here in a couple days, hope it`s a nice one and works ok.
Will be lookin for loads for it and will share pics when it gets here. 

[Pitchy]

Also a couple people on another board said not to use 405 grn bullets but i see here in the 45-60 load thread some are using it with good results.
I have three rifles in 45-70 and load and mold all my own so i was thinking about using a 405 flat nose hard cast bullet and 3031 powder, not in 45-70 pressure ranges of course.
With wheel weights it weighs 392 grains so figure a starting load od 32.0 grains of 3031 would be ok?
I made up a dummy round and have to crimp above the crimp groove but after case resizing they seem to fit very tight.
Haven`t got the new gun yet and already loading, now if that isn`t a sign of levergun adiction i don`t know what is. 

[Joe Lansing]

    Make sure your OA cartridge length is correct. Good cartridge feed from the magazine depends on it.         

                                                                          JL

[Pitchy]

    Make sure your OA cartridge length is correct. Good cartridge feed from the magazine depends on it.         

                                                                          JL

Yep, have to crimp above the crimp groove.

I have another question, on some of these repo guns it`s been stated that you may not have to thin the 45-70 cases to work.
I was thinking about loading up a few rounds as the gun won`t be here until next week. Question will a 45-70 case that i thin the rim on shoot ok in a gun that a un thinned case will fit in or will there be a head space problem.

[Pitchy]

Yep, have to crimp above the crimp groove.

I have another question, on some of these repo guns it`s been stated that you may not have to thin the 45-70 cases to work.
I was thinking about loading up a few rounds as the gun won`t be here until next week. Question will a 45-70 case that i thin the rim on shoot ok in a gun that a un thinned case will fit in or will there be a head space problem.

I`ll answer that myself, i`m going to wait until i get the rifle and see what it is set up for as suggested by a couple experts, thanks.

[Roosterman]

As a Kwinky dink I just happened to run some smokless loads for the first time thru my uberti 45-60.  I used 300gr hardcast hunter's supply bullits that I melted the blue crayon lube out of and relubed with SPG. Powder was 24gr. SR 4759. best group was 4" at 100 yards. Not bad for the first time out.
I had only shot real BP and 777 through it since 2008 and had abysmal results. I'm going  to try some 3031 and some 5744 in the next week or so and piddle a bit with a 405 FN. I believe this gun has great potential with smokeless powders.
Oh, My cases are cut down 45-70, used just the way they came off the trimmer.

[Pitchy]

As a Kwinky dink I just happened to run some smokless loads for the first time thru my uberti 45-60.  I used 300gr hardcast hunter's supply bullits that I melted the blue crayon lube out of and relubed with SPG. Powder was 24gr. SR 4759. best group was 4" at 100 yards. Not bad for the first time out.
I had only shot real BP and 777 through it since 2008 and had abysmal results. I'm going  to try some 3031 and some 5744 in the next week or so and piddle a bit with a 405 FN. I believe this gun has great potential with smokeless powders.
Oh, My cases are cut down 45-70, used just the way they came off the trimmer.

Lookin forward to your results, i`ve used 3031 in my 45-70s for years and had good enough success.
This is from my Marlin Cow Boy at 100 yards from a rest using the 405 FN over 45 grains of 3031.

[Pitchy]

I made up a blank round to Chapparrals specs from a 45-70 case and one with the rim not thinned to try in the rifle to see what i have.
That`s the old 405 RN.

[Grizzly Adams]

I made up a blank round to Chapparrals specs from a 45-70 case and one with the rim not thinned to try in the rifle to see what i have.
That`s the old 405 RN.

Hey, Pitchy.  What dies are you using?

[Pitchy]

45-70, i haven`t modified the crimp die so there is no crimp on that blank if that`s what you referring too.

[Grizzly Adams]

45-70, i haven`t modified the crimp die so there is no crimp on that blank if that`s what you referring too.

No, that was not what I was referring too.   I was just curious as to what dies you had selected.  45-70 will work as a starting point.  I used them for a while, years ago when I started trying to reload for an old original 1876.  However, you will get better shooting results with the proper dies.  The 45-60 actually has just a bit of a bottle neck to it.  I use C&H 45-60 dies, but Lee also makes a good, inexpensive set.

My Uberti 45-60 works well with the shortened 45-70 brass, and requires no rim thinning.  I rough-cut the brass with a dremel tool and then fiinish it to length (1.89) with a Lyman case trimer.  I use bullet #457191 (300 grain) which is available from Bufffalo Arms, and it very close to the original bullet used in the factory load.  The bullet must be crimped above the crimp grove in order to get the proper length for the action (2.25).   I use a Lee Factory Crimp die when loading this caliber with smokeless.  You have to request it from Lee, as I don't believe that show it on their website.

[Pitchy]

Yepper, i`ll prolly end up getting some later after i see what the rifle is like.
Thanks for the info pard. 

[Pitchy]

My apologies for posting the picture of a Marlin on a Winchester forum, i was pointing out the satisfaction with 3031 is all. 

[Grizzly Adams]

My apologies for posting the picture of a Marlin on a Winchester forum, i was pointing out the satisfaction with 3031 is all.  

 We ain't "sensitive" types.    3031 is a great powder, and one of my favorites in the 45-70.  Should work great in the 45-60.

[Roosterman]

I've been pretty impressed with SR 4759 lately, I'd give it a try too. I'm going to try some 3031 and 5744 in a day or two.

[Pitchy]

So a 45-60 case has a slight bottle neck shape, it must be bigger at the rim end because the bullet diameter is the same as the 45-70.
So i take it when firing a 45-70 case they must fire form so that is why one would be better off with 45-60 dies?
Otherwise the 45-70 resize die would have to resize more than one would want, am i correct with that assumption or isn`t that critical. 

[Grizzly Adams]

So a 45-60 case has a slight bottle neck shape, it must be bigger at the rim end because the bullet diameter is the same as the 45-70.
So i take it when firing a 45-70 case they must fire form so that is why one would be better off with 45-60 dies?
Otherwise the 45-70 resize die would have to resize more than one would want, am i correct with that assumption or isn`t that critical. 

Correct.

Here is "family picture" showing the 45-75,45-60. and 40-60 WCF.  These are original factory rounds.



Here is a 45-60 reload and a 45-60 factory load for comparison.  Done with 45-60 dies. 



The shoulder is very slight, but there, and more apparent after sizing the case.  Actually, the 45-70 is not really a straight case, going from .480 to .505.

[Pitchy]

Thanks, seems like people use 45-70 dies, are there issue with doing so?

[Pitchy]

I`m so anxious i can hardly stand it.  
I better post a vid or two of some 86 and converted 1860 shootin to livin things up.  

Click on picture for video






Marlin CB 45-70


How about a little auto-5 shootin.


Winny 97

[Pitchy]

What can i say i was bored, cold rainy day. 
Two more days till 76 

[Pitchy]

No one must likes videos, won`t post any more.

Good thing is my new gun is in today, i`ll post a report without video.

[Pitchy]

Boys i tell ya i`m real impressed with this rifle, fit and finish is perfect, the wood is walnut with a dark satan finish.
After messing around trimming a handfull of 45-70 cases to work i shot it a few times at 30 yards, last shot was dead center in a two inch circle.
I`ll post a better range report in a day or two.
Had to thin the rims two .62 to work in this gun, might be a guy that has some factory ammo for it, going to check on that.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Pitchy
Is that a Chaparral ? Very nice looking Rifle . The stocks look great . Congratulations on your new Rifle .

[Pitchy]

Thanks.
Yepper, just got it today. 

[Pitchy]

Having a little trouble with loading, i`m using a 292 grain bullet, lyman mold number 457191 and crimping in top groove.
I trimmed the case to 1.81 but that makes the overall length to long.
I`m going to have to trim the cases to 1.75 to make the OAL right at 2.25.
Will shortening the case that much raise pressures too much?
The loads i shot today were 35 grains of 3031.