45-70/45-90/45-110/45-120???????????
I know about the impracticalities - but I'm looking at maybe purchasing a 45-90 or 110. I like the High Wall style, but interested in the rolling blocks also. I'll likely get a uberti or navy arms unless a really good deal comes my way on a browning. Do any of you have or have had these? Are the reproductions as accurate? Thanks and Merry Christmas!!!!!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
0
-
You are about to have lots of fun. I have some experience with the rolling blocks. They can be very accurate when loaded properly. If you are buying a replica gun that is used watch the rifling. The guns imported by Navy Arms in the 70's I've seen have had different rifling in them. Some have shallow modern rifling that only woks with modern jacketed or paper patched bullets. Some of them hab nice deep black powder style rifling that you want for cast bullet loads. That is the only thing I've found to be concerned with. I'm pretty sure all the ones made since Black Powder Cartridge shooting became popular have the deep style rifling, so if you buy a new one you shouldn't have any problems.
A couple years ago I saw a Navy RB at a gun show 5 minutes after I walked in the door. Decided to look around a bit and come back. I'm still kicking myself. It was a 50/110 and came with 100 pcs of Bell brass and a set of RCBS dies and bullet mold. When I went back it was gone. Price $375.00 because the guy thought nobody would want it because it wasn't a 45/70. The dies and mold were worth half his asking price and I had exactly $375.00 in my pocket.
Woods0 -
Try to get a double set trigger especially on the rolling block. Their trigger pulls can be a brute. Also look at the 40-65 which has become very popular for accuracy. 0 -
BlueTic, the one practical suggestion I can make to you on this topic is the ammo - .45-90 brass is relatively easy to obtain for a reasonable price (Starline, from Midway, about $60/100). The longer ones will run you multiple times that, made from RCBS "basic" or already formed through Bertram (imported by Old West Scrounger). I'm not terribly impressed with the Bertram products nor have I ever known anyone else who was, but by using them, you do save major coin on forming dies. 0 -
I have Browning BPCRs in both 45-90 and 40-65; LOVE 'em both! The 40-65s are easily made in one pass over 45-70 brass, quick, easy, cheap! 0 -
Forgot to mention that I had a Shiloh #1 in 45-120 a few years ago....It was a bruiser,and fouled quickly, something to keep in mind when considering the looonger cases. 0 -
So - are the reproductions made for modern or Black powder and how would I tell if an older rolling block is black powder?? New to these older ones..... and have never done Black powder (don't really want to either)....
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)0 -
Blue, I suspect you would have to ask the maker about the pressure levels suitable for the repro weapons to be certain, but there are reasonable smokeless loads which will mimic the pressure levels and ballistics of BP loads for most of the older cartridges. Ken Waters had a serious of articles in Handloader years back (and perhaps still does - I stopped my subscription long ago) called something like "Loading the Oldies" which addressed many of the BP rounds. Phil Sharpe's 1950s book on reloading also includes many smokeless loads for various BP rounds, as do Nonte's and Donnelly's books on cartridge conversions. None of these is exhaustive or definitive compared to the raft of data available for more popular modern rounds, but at worst these sources do give some good starting points. 0 -
Hey Blue, I have a Ruger #1 in 45-70 and with a 405 gr. bullet and full load of IMR3031 it is a brusher, I shoot a lot of 300 mags and 338 mags, the recoil on them are mild compared to the 45-70, I will not shoot the full house loads in that ruger, and Brass is easer to find, something to think about, IT'S YOUR MONEY BUY WHAT YOU WANT. 0 -
just my $.02 worth, if you don't want to use black powder (or a b.p. sub.)stay with the .45/70. the larger cases have way to muck capacity for smokeless loads (even with a filler). 0 -
I have a question about the Rolling Block action. Because of the design, isn't case length limited. What is the longest 45 caliber case that can be chambered in the RB? Thanks John
I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!0 -
Hi Blue Tic! As a dyed in the wool black powder shooter I have used all of the cartridges mentioned in this thread. Since you say that you don't want to experience the thrill of useing black powder,you should stay with the shorter cartridges like the .45-70 and the .40-65 as they are much more efficient with smokeless powder then are cartridges with longer cases. Also,with the shorter cases and smokeless powder you can equal any pressure/velocity level that can be reached by the longer cartridge cases. I don't subscribe to the theory that these large bore cartridges have to be loaded to equal the .458 magnum in order to be effective as game cartridges. This year alone,I have taken three deer all with rifles useing black powder and cast lead bullets. Two were taken with the .45-70 and one with an original 1874 Sharps in caliber .40-70 Sharps Necked. If you are leaning toward buying a Remington Rolling Block,that is another reason to go with the shorter cases as the long cases (.45-110 or .45-120) often interfere with the hammer spur makeing loading difficult. In my opinion,the best reproduction Sharps and Remington's being imported today are made by Pedersoli.Then there are a host of people building reproductions of these rifles plus the Winchester High Wall,the Stevens and the Ballard. My personal favorite black powder cartridge is the .45-90 Sharps Straight with the 2.4 inch case,loaded with a case full of black powder and a 500gr. bullet loaded to an overall length of 3.33 inches. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
11 comments