I was at the range the other day and a guy was shooting a .45-70. I wasn't really paying much attention to him but when he was done he left a bunch of brass on the ground. I picked them up. There was 48 of them and they looked brand new. So now I have 48 once-fired .45-70 shells. Does this mean I now have to get a .45-70? Which one should I get? Sharps, Rolling Block, 1885 Winchester? Do I have to get one of those Malcom tube scopes too? It would be a shame to waste that brass.
You have just stumbled on to how it all works....Subtle little hints or prods , that lead you down a marry path ....
48 FREE once-fired .45-70 shells, left behind by the foolhardy, is such a ploy...
twer it me .... Sharps ....no Winchester , um, both ? maybe the 73 Springfield or Rolling block ....
Yes...It is a rule, "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" not just a song ! ;D
I would suggest selling those brass to someone else. Otherwise you're set on the path to spending endless hours staring at the Shiloh and C Sharps web sites, then the torture and agony of placing the order, and then the clock slows to a crawl and calendar pages barely turn.
Not only that but then you find yourself with payroll deduct at Buffalo Arms, and you end up with a lifetime membership in the mould of the month club. You will have rotometals and other places that sell good alloy on speed dial, and the fine folks at Powder Inc. will recognize your voice.
Homeland security will have black helicopters over your house trying to figure out what you're doing buying all those cases of primers.
Your vehicle will need new tires on a regular basis,, and the list goes on.
Yes rid yourself of those brass and live free. ;D
Quote from: Ranch 13 on May 15, 2018, 07:52:50 AM
I would suggest selling those brass to someone else. Otherwise you're set on the path to spending endless hours staring at the Shiloh and C Sharps web sites, then the torture and agony of placing the order, and then the clock slows to a crawl and calendar pages barely turn.
Not only that but then you find yourself with payroll deduct at Buffalo Arms, and you end up with a lifetime membership in the mould of the month club. You will have rotometals and other places that sell good alloy on speed dial, and the fine folks at Powder Inc. will recognize your voice.
Homeland security will have black helicopters over your house trying to figure out what you're doing buying all those cases of primers.
Your vehicle will need new tires on a regular basis,, and the list goes on.
Yes rid yourself of those brass and live free. ;D
I agree Ranch 13 , how could that guy that left behind the brass do that to another fellow , and still sleep at night ? Some people !,,,,DT
A word of caution. If you buy a single shot rifle you will find yourself spending endless dollars and time searching for the perfect load, bullet, wad, etc. If you buy a repeater (some version of the 1886 Winchester) you will probably settle on one reasonable load and shoot the heck out of it.
If you are primarily a reloader get the single shot. If you're more of a shooter get the lever action.
Having been down both routes I thought I should warn you. (smile)
Dave
I've had a bunch of those looong .45 caliber cartridge guns, a round bbl Marlin, a 70s manufactured RB, a Uberti RB, an original but severely messed up1886 in 45-90 and currently have a repro NWMP 1876 carbine in 45-60. Enjoyed them all. Search on GB and see what talks to your inner self then go to the bank and take out a loan. Don't forget the dies.
This can be a very addictive aspect into the Sport of Shooting Historic Firearms.
You may not realize how bad you have the addiction until you start looking into the cost and availability of brass and thinking of ordering 100 at a time.
All of the above statements are very true! But I would not turn anyone away from the experience.
My best,
Blair
Nor I, if one must be afflicted, shooting originals is about as good an affliction one can have.
If I may make a recommendation, I say go for a .45-70 Trapdoor. It's fairly easy to find one in shootable condition, and they're great fun. I need to have a little bit of work done to mine, but it's a fun 'ol rifle.
Not only the originals, but the want-a-bees as well.
Everybody has their preference. Not only in the type of action but also in the caliber of choice.
All of this too is part of the addiction.
My best,
Blair
I'll agree with you on that, one of those gussied up Navy Arms with the pewter forend cap and the ramrod. A real pretty rifle.
Quote from: dusty texian on May 15, 2018, 08:09:14 AM
I agree Ranch 13 , how could that guy that left behind the brass do that to another fellow , and still sleep at night ? Some people !,,,,DT
DT yes the guy that left that brass probably did so on purpose, and should be reprimanded severely for trying to get someone so helplessly hooked on this stuff. ;D
Quote from: Jake C on May 15, 2018, 01:10:19 PM
If I may make a recommendation, I say go for a .45-70 Trapdoor. It's fairly easy to find one in shootable condition, and they're great fun. I need to have a little bit of work done to mine, but it's a fun 'ol rifle.
+1
IMH(BC)O It gives you more options for what you can do with it.
OH,,my,my,my,,your "DELIMA "may be worse than you thought !! You see the 45/70 brass ,,can be resized to a number of different cal's. 40/60,,,45/60,, 40/65,, 45/75,, just to give you a few,, ( shaking head ) " Good Luck w/ your choice .
coffee's ready ,,, Hootmix.
Quote from: Slamfire on May 15, 2018, 03:51:29 PM
OH,,my,my,my,,your "DELIMA "may be worse than you thought !! You see the 45/70 brass ,,can be resized to a number of different cal's. 40/60,,,45/60,, 40/65,, 45/75,, just to give you a few,, ( shaking head ) " Good Luck w/ you choice .
coffee's ready ,,, Hootmix.
Not to be forgotten is the 38/56 which can easily achieve 1600+fps with a BACO 250g mold and OE 1.5 BP.
wM1
40-70 bn, and 44-70 st. are two more cartridges that easing form fromm 45-70.
8) Throw them cases away before it's to late. ;D
I have been saving for a Uberti Winchester 1873 in .44-40. It's really a shame when you want another gun before you even get the first one. I was looking at the Shiloh and C. Sharps website and I notice their standard color case hardening is not bone charcoal. Does anybody know what process they use and does anybody know what process was used for the originals?
Its a complex chemical dip process, though still real case hardening, not the simple color application often seen on italian guns. The orginals were bone charcoal hardened, and both Shiloh and C. Sharps will do the older method for an additional fee. Bone hardening tends to give slightly more brilliant hues, thus is preferred by many for fancier orders. (I've got a .50-70 ordered with Bone Case, I call it my "retirement" rifle) But metalurgicly one is as good as the other. I've had 2 of the chemically hardened guns, my son has a C. Sharps 1875 with that process as well, all were/are fine looking, fine shooting rifles.
https://shilohrifle.com/rifles/1874-sharps-rifle/1874-long-range-express/
This rifle is chemically hardened, pass the curser over the picture. The process often produces a somewhat "tiger stripe" pattern.
https://shilohrifle.com/rifles/1874-sharps-rifle/1874-long-range-express-clone-en/
This one is bone hardened. The pattern tends to be a bit more random/blotchy.
Two points,
First is that the modern methods of heat and oxygen control during the "color" case hardening process today makes for a much more durable and longer lasting "color". The older method of bone charcoal case hardening has a tendency to fad with strong sun light. This fading does not cause a loss of the carbon hardness, only in the colors.
Two, is that I believe that the .38-56 cartridge is best reproduced with either the .50-70 or the .348 cartridge cases, not the .45-70.
My best,
Blair
Quote from: Blair on May 16, 2018, 03:31:29 PM
I believe that the .38-56 cartridge is best reproduced with either the .50-70 or the .348 cartridge cases, not the .45-70.
I'm no doubt going to show my ignorance here since I don't have a .38-56 rifle, just a cartridge in my collection. I'd have thought that the .38-56 was a direct modification of the .45-70. On the other hand, listed above among those cartridges that can be formed from the .45-70 is the .45-75 Win.
That cartridge would need the .50-90 or .348 Win as a base/donor case.
OK, I'm ready to be set straight--you guys have way more knowledge than I do...
CC Griff
Quote from: Coal Creek Griff on May 16, 2018, 03:51:29 PM
I'm no doubt going to show my ignorance here since I don't have a .38-56 rifle, just a cartridge in my collection. I'd have thought that the .38-56 was a direct modification of the .45-70. On the other hand, listed above among those cartridges that can be formed from the .45-70 is the .45-75 Win. That cartridge would need the .50-90 or .348 Win as a base/donor case.
OK, I'm ready to be set straight--you guys have way more knowledge than I do...
CC Griff
Griff
You got it right in my books 38/56 is a 45/70 derivative ......45/75 needs 348 - even that is too skinny at the base
38-56 use the 45-70 as the parent case.
45-75 wcf would be from the 348 case which was based on the 50-110, however Sharps called the 45-70 , 45-75 as they loaded it with 75 grains of powder and a paper patch bullet.
Quote from: Ranch 13 on May 16, 2018, 05:36:58 PM
38-56 use the 45-70 as the parent case.
45-75 wcf would be from the 348 case which was based on the 50-110, however Sharps called the 45-70 , 45-75 as they loaded it with 75 grains of powder and a paper patch bullet.
Wouldnt that have then been designated 45/75 SHARPS ??? it should have been -- I think this sharps reference brings un necessary confusion to the story.
Actual Sharps nomenclature referred to cartridges by calibre and case length for just this reason. Thus what we call the .45-70, Sharps literature would refer to it as the .45-2 1/10. (2 and 1/10 inch case length)