missionary5155
10-06-2013, 07:06 PM
Greetings
This is my post #4560 so I thought why not use it for something distinctive.
Bought an origonal Winchester 1876 more than 10 years ago as I saw the prices begin the race to the clouds. I really wanted a 50-95 but those were already beyond my budjet limitations. I do have a 50-95 repro but that is another story.
This particular 45-60 is no collectors specimine therefore was affordable. It was reblued and the barrel lined but complete and functional. Normal 28 inch octagon barrel makes it a chore to lug around all day in the river bottoms. The dust cover suffers from the "rattles" but slides freely. The action clunks and clanks with the best of them but cycles without fail.
Accuracy is great.. relined barrel with a .458 bore :>) and a good chamber as would be expected. Out to 100 yards it will shoot 2 inch groups off cross sticks and the origonal iron sights. 3f is the best BP load with a hollow pointed 300 grainer. 1680 runs a close second in accuracy. Have not yet tried enough 5744 to beat out 1680 but maybe will as it looks promissing.
If ILLinois would let me I would thump any corn cruncher with it out to 150 yards. As I hunt river bottoms real ranges are 35 yards and less. I have always hoped when hauling the 1876 to get a chance at the cougars DNR released 20 years ago but has not yet happened. I have no doubt any critter I ever see in the bottoms would be thouroughly devastated by that 300 grain HP (50-50) chugging along at 1250 fps. At 35 yards that boolit blossoms nicely. Ground hogs out to 50 yards get flipped head over heels. I hope to someday get to help an old cow or horse to "pass on".
I have fired this 45-60 out to 200 yards. Have shot groups as small as 3.5 inches off cross sticks but I can count on slightly more than 4 inches on a regular basis. Again it has a new .458 bore that is very consistant in diameter. The 200 yard 8 inch round gong is an easy task. Recoil is so light this is one rifle I enjoy shooting on hot days in a T-shirt. 10 pound rifles absorb recoil and turn it into a nice shove.
Brass was made from 45-70 Winchester. That is a tedious process if doing 50 at a time. Dies are RCBS. So far I have not set up a Dillon tool holder. I seldom fire more than 20 rounds off and on so the old RCBS Spartan (my first personal press) keeps up with that need. But they work well and have never caused any trouble.
I thought I had a picture on this computer.. I guess it got deleted when we were up north last time. Nothing special.. Just a regular, refinished 1876 no collector would waste time looking at.. but a Historical Shooter, well that's me and I am thrilled to have it.
So if you also are a 45-60 shooter.. jab those keys and regal us with your experiences. I greatly enjoy reading about these fine old calibers still banging away out in the fresh air. I still hope to find a picture.. maybe my wife stuck them on a disk somewhere.
Mike in Peru
This is my post #4560 so I thought why not use it for something distinctive.
Bought an origonal Winchester 1876 more than 10 years ago as I saw the prices begin the race to the clouds. I really wanted a 50-95 but those were already beyond my budjet limitations. I do have a 50-95 repro but that is another story.
This particular 45-60 is no collectors specimine therefore was affordable. It was reblued and the barrel lined but complete and functional. Normal 28 inch octagon barrel makes it a chore to lug around all day in the river bottoms. The dust cover suffers from the "rattles" but slides freely. The action clunks and clanks with the best of them but cycles without fail.
Accuracy is great.. relined barrel with a .458 bore :>) and a good chamber as would be expected. Out to 100 yards it will shoot 2 inch groups off cross sticks and the origonal iron sights. 3f is the best BP load with a hollow pointed 300 grainer. 1680 runs a close second in accuracy. Have not yet tried enough 5744 to beat out 1680 but maybe will as it looks promissing.
If ILLinois would let me I would thump any corn cruncher with it out to 150 yards. As I hunt river bottoms real ranges are 35 yards and less. I have always hoped when hauling the 1876 to get a chance at the cougars DNR released 20 years ago but has not yet happened. I have no doubt any critter I ever see in the bottoms would be thouroughly devastated by that 300 grain HP (50-50) chugging along at 1250 fps. At 35 yards that boolit blossoms nicely. Ground hogs out to 50 yards get flipped head over heels. I hope to someday get to help an old cow or horse to "pass on".
I have fired this 45-60 out to 200 yards. Have shot groups as small as 3.5 inches off cross sticks but I can count on slightly more than 4 inches on a regular basis. Again it has a new .458 bore that is very consistant in diameter. The 200 yard 8 inch round gong is an easy task. Recoil is so light this is one rifle I enjoy shooting on hot days in a T-shirt. 10 pound rifles absorb recoil and turn it into a nice shove.
Brass was made from 45-70 Winchester. That is a tedious process if doing 50 at a time. Dies are RCBS. So far I have not set up a Dillon tool holder. I seldom fire more than 20 rounds off and on so the old RCBS Spartan (my first personal press) keeps up with that need. But they work well and have never caused any trouble.
I thought I had a picture on this computer.. I guess it got deleted when we were up north last time. Nothing special.. Just a regular, refinished 1876 no collector would waste time looking at.. but a Historical Shooter, well that's me and I am thrilled to have it.
So if you also are a 45-60 shooter.. jab those keys and regal us with your experiences. I greatly enjoy reading about these fine old calibers still banging away out in the fresh air. I still hope to find a picture.. maybe my wife stuck them on a disk somewhere.
Mike in Peru