Lever action 45/75

[madman]

I recently trade a hand gun for a 45/75 Chapparel MOd 1876 lever gun. It is a beautiful rifle. But now I have to feed this thing. Factory ammo is out of the question at 88 to 108 bucks for 20 rounds is way out of my price range. I load and shoot alot of 45/70 in hand guns and rifles. I am looking for information on reloading. With Black and smokeless powder or even black powder replacements.. Brass is 80 bucks for 20 but I found some information on converting 348 brass and 50/90 brass. way cheaper than regular 45/75 brass. Any Ideas.

[405]

You can try reforming from 348 or 50-90 but the results??? Could get a couple of each somewhere and anneal the shoulder/neck area, lube well and run into and out of a 45-75 sizer die in short strokes to see if it works out. Or you could call Buffalo Arms to check on when they expect to have their own reformed 45-75 available. I think they use Starline 50-90 and charge about $2 each.

[EDK]

I feel your pain. My SHILOH SHARPS is a 50/90...and they ain't giving those big casings away. You may have discovered why you got a DEAL on the gun...ammo is scarce and expensive. Last time I looked, loaded 50/90 was about $80 per box of 20.

Easy for me to say, but I'd buy 20 casings from BUFFALO ARMS/GRAFS/? and take good care of them. IF you decide you like the gun, buy more brass. I've got about 300 for my SHARPS and consider that an adequate amount BUT would buy more if I was offered some at a good price. Mike Venturino has some info on 45/75 in his book SHOOTING LEVER ACTIONS OF THE OLD WEST...a quick scan says you REALLY need Bertram Brass in 45/75 and have to form the cases yourself with the proper reloading dies. Duke walks you through the process and lists the pitfalls that await you. A box or two of ammo and a set of reloading dies is beginning to look like the best route to take...if you can afford it.

You have to be dedicated or independently wealthy! when you have guns in obsolete calibers with no readily available in-expensive components. I will admit to really wanting an 1876 carbine after watching Tom Selleck in the CROSSFIRE TRAIL cable tv movie a few years back. My brother, Idaho Sharpshooter, had a 45/60 and did a magazine article on the gun and work required to produce the proper brass.

:redneck::swagemine::Fire::violin:

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Have a 50-95 sitting up north there waiting on my return. Brass is a bite in the wallet but always has been if you want to shoot the classics. My first venture was 44-77. That was in 1982 and brass was $1 each. So it really was not to bad today to buy 100 50-90 Buffalo Brass for $85. At inflation rates it could have been $5 a case compared to 1982 prices.
I also shoot an origonal 45-60. That one is easy... Maybe some rifles with very fat throats will need thin necked brass but happily mine just needs shortened 45-70. We are very blessed to be living in a time when brass exists in these old calibers. Today is a historic shoooters dream.
Mike in Peru

[herbert buckland]

Would it be posible to form 32ga brass shot shells to 45-75.I have made 56-46 Spencer brass from this brass,1/2 the price 50-70,56-90 brass

[herbert buckland]

What are the primers of 32 gauge brass shot shells?
Is it a solid head case?The primers for the 32 ga shot shells are LPP,the cases are baloon head wich I find to be no problem with BP,I use 85gr of 1F in formed 24 ga shot shell that are baloon heads with no problems(I would not use smokless,others have )

[EDK]

According to SHOOTING LEVER GUNS OF THE OLD WEST, 348 brass has some dimensional issues when you re-form to 45/75 and subsequent functioning issues.

BERTRAM also makes 50/95 brass and it's a lot easier to deal with than re-doing 348 winchester...which isn't the most common stuff in the world either.

I passed on a DEAL on a model 71 Winchester with ammo, etc awhile back. I had the urge for a 50 ALASKAN and it would have been a nice starting point.

I'd buy Venturino's book and avoid having to "re-invent the wheel." Then I'd send him a e-mail if I had problems and trust in his good nature/generosity/advice to get me going.

:redneck::cbpour::2gunsfiring_v1:

[winchester85]

is jamison brass no longer available? buffalo arms used to have it for about $1.25 a piece.

some loaded ammo i got in a trade was formed from 348 winchester. the rims are just a fuzz small, but they do work.

[madman]

Jamison went out of business in 2011. they owed a lot of money to another company and they were shut down over the legal action. Most of the stock that was not sold went to Graffs. and Buffalo arms. Buffalo has been out of 45-75 for quite some time now. Forming 348 is not that hard but is does have a diffrent case head dia. and it causes failures to extract. I have been poking around that web for awhile reading every thing I can about the 45-75. Thank for all of your great input. Any Idea how to get in touch with MikeV. or where to get his book?

[madman]

EDK yea I know the feeling. Crossfire trail. and how about Tom Horn. He used a 45-60 1876 in that show.

[TXGunNut]

Any Idea how to get in touch with MikeV. or where to get his book?

He drops by on occasion, I've bought his books from Amazon and other places like Midway and Track of the Wolf, IIRC. He may have some for sale as well. I'm reading Leverguns.... now, very good source of info for that type of rifle. It'll go on the shelf with my other reference books when I get done, very comprehensive and well-written.

[John Taylor]

bufalow arms has ammo http://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=158072&CAT=4443
Midway has brass but it cost as much as the loaded ammo.
Using 348 or 50-110 brass will get you about .015" under size in front of the rim.

[Waddie Bill]

Madman,

Go to Cas City Forums. com ;to the Winchester 1876 Forum, there's a wealth of in

of information on "76's; a thread " Intresting Links------" has good information

on forming 45-75 brass. I've used 348 and 50 Alaskan for years;with Jamison out

of the picture I think that is the best option at the most reasonable price.

Waddie Bill

[shrapnel]

Jamison went out of business in 2011. they owed a lot of money to another company and they were shut down over the legal action. Most of the stock that was not sold went to Graffs. and Buffalo arms. Buffalo has been out of 45-75 for quite some time now. Forming 348 is not that hard but is does have a diffrent case head dia. and it causes failures to extract. I have been poking around that web for awhile reading every thing I can about the 45-75. Thank for all of your great input. Any Idea how to get in touch with MikeV. or where to get his book?

Let me know if you want to get one of his books, I am constantly at his house working on one thing or another with him. I can get you one autographed if you want. He quit self-publishing, Wolfe Publishing took over, I would think he might still have some books around...

[shrapnel]

I recently trade a hand gun for a 45/75 Chapparel MOd 1876 lever gun. It is a beautiful rifle. But now I have to feed this thing. Factory ammo is out of the question at 88 to 108 bucks for 20 rounds is way out of my price range. I load and shoot alot of 45/70 in hand guns and rifles. I am looking for information on reloading. With Black and smokeless powder or even black powder replacements.. Brass is 80 bucks for 20 but I found some information on converting 348 brass and 50/90 brass. way cheaper than regular 45/75 brass. Any Ideas.

Here is the source I used for my 45-75 brass. He used 50 Alaskan brass as the basic in making these shells...

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/45-75receipt.jpg

[madman]

Shrapnel. Thank you and yes it would be a great Honor to have a book signed by Mike. Let me know how to pay you and I'll get it to you ASAP. Also thank to all whom have replied.

[KirkD]

Rocky Mountain Cartridge Co. in Cody makes 45-75 brass. I don't have a 45-75, but I do have a 45-60 and bought 40 brass from them. They do a nice job and the brass has the proper caliber headstamp. The cases are expensive, but worth it in my opinion. Their price list sasy $58 for a box of 20 brass. They machine it from bar stock and anneal the case necks. http://www.rockymountaincartridge.com/

[Olevern]

I recently trade a hand gun for a 45/75 Chapparel MOd 1876 lever gun. It is a beautiful rifle. But now I have to feed this thing. Factory ammo is out of the question at 88 to 108 bucks for 20 rounds is way out of my price range. I load and shoot alot of 45/70 in hand guns and rifles. I am looking for information on reloading. With Black and smokeless powder or even black powder replacements.. Brass is 80 bucks for 20 but I found some information on converting 348 brass and 50/90 brass. way cheaper than regular 45/75 brass. Any Ideas.

Midway USA has 3 die RCBS reloading die sets on closeout for under $35.00 just FYI

[madman]

Update. I got an email from a major powder manufacture. The email stated that the 45-75 only has .16% lower case capacity and that the 45-75 can be loaded to 45-70 specs. The email stated that I can not publish their data so I did not include it iin my posting. But it is from a MAJOR powder manufacture that has miltipul lines of power that they make. That are in the good ole USA. I don't know if that information can be trusted. No pressure limits were given and no mention of trap door vs modern loads. I am going to try a few of their trap door loads as soon as the shooting ban is lifted here.