long & short 45-70 brass

[odette]

I am looking for 45-70 brass and came across a bag of 63 pcs headstamped 45-70 but they measure 1.88" in length and a bag of 52 pcs that also are stamped 45-70 that measure 2.88" in length. Any idea what they are for? 45-60? 45-90?
I can't use the short ones for 45-70 loads in my Marlin (unless there is such thing as 45-70 special). I hate to cut down the long brass if someone has a use for it. Any idea what they are for and why stamped 45-70. The long brass is primed.

[NSB]

They are for Hornady LeveRevolution ammo. Hornady makes “short” ammo so that their gummy tipped bullets will feed through most guns. It’s probably one of the worst things they’ve ever produced and should be called something other than 45-70 ammo. It should at least be stamped “45-70 Short” or some such thing. It can be reloaded but not without adjusting your dies for either the short or long brass.

[Conditor22]

I've got almost 100 pcs of the hornady 357 mag brass like that. I called hornady and read them the riot act telling them their brass wasn't reloader friendly

[725]

Not sure what you have there. The difference you quote of 1.88 an 2.88 is pretty wide. Am I getting it wrong?

[Geezer in NH]

An inch difference??? 2.88 shore not 45/70 as its supposed to be 2.10 or so. The short stuff is Hornady for the dumb spitzer with the rubber tip.

[Triggerfinger]

Short ones are most likely for 45-60.

[odette]

they are not for Hornady FTX they are WW brass. I found some info on 45-90 and that length is 2.40". 45-60 is 1.89". Hornady brass that I measured is 2.03" new from Hornady. The short must be 45-70 trimmed to 1.88" for 45-60. The long brass is head stamped WW 45-70 and is .37" longer than the standard 45-70. I see no evidence that the cases were added on to lengthen 45-70, no lines, completely straight and look like they are factory made. Can they be factory ordered 45-70 to that length for use in 45-90. Anyone use either lengths of brass.

[odette]

I am loading some Hornady 325 FTX bullets using Hornady brass so know this WW brass is even shorter then the Hornady brass

[Mk42gunner]

If your long brass that says .45-70 is close to 2.4", it was probably some that was stretched for use in the .45-90. If it does measure 2.88" as your first post says, I have no idea.

I believe Buffalo Arms used to stretch brass for the longer cartridges that are no longer commonly available.

Robert

[fixit]

The short ones might be from someone trying to meet the rediculous straight wall cartridge length rules that some states have...... I have 20 such adapted rounds for Indiana's own annoying history with such rules. While long for my state's rules, maybe they were made for another state's firey hoops.

[Shawlerbrook]

Bingo, fixit got it. The Hornady brass is only very slightly shorter.

[577450]

I have 20 pieces of 45-70 brass cut down to 1.88 in a bag marked 45-60 from a gunshow years ago.
Ran across them this morning.

[Electrod47]

The lever evolution 45/70 is a devastating round. Actually too much. I use the shorter rounds for my goof ball stuff. Shot and low velocity round balls etc. Like everyone else I was surprised about the length issue and probably would no have bought as much of the stuff initially had I realized. ALL my store bought ammo purchases have a reloader angle to it.

[DHDeal]

The 45-110 (or more properly 45 2 7/8") is of course 2.875". As was mentioned, BACO stretches brass (or did) but from 2.1" to 2.88" is an awful long way especially with WW brass. I have hundreds of 45-2.1" brass and WW is the thinnest of the 3 brands by far. If that long stuff was stretched that far, it must be as thin as foil.

Not that it matters much but weigh some of the 2.88" pieces against some normal 45-2.1" stuff. I'm also sure someone here has some of the 45-2 7/8" brass to get a close weight. I'm not aware of WW producing the longer 45's but I'm not an expert of the longer cases.

Curious indeed.

[odette]

my mistake, it is 2.38" not 2.88". Miss read what I wrote down. Can 45-60 be fired in a 45-70 same as .38 spl, in .357 mag or 44 spl in 44 mag. Just curious.
It almost has to be 45-90 and it is at least 50 yrs old. Person remembers buying it in 1969.

[gumbo333]

How long is 45\70 basic brass that you can buy ? I think it is pretty long, longer than 2.1 inch common 45\70 .

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello odette,

Yes, you could fire 45-60 in a 45-70.
Many have fired 45-70 in a 45-90.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Mk42gunner]

How long is 45\70 basic brass that you can buy ? I think it is pretty long, longer than 2.1 inch common 45\70 .
I believe the .45 Basic brass is or was 3¼" long, so you could make anything from .45-120 on down. Might even be able to use it for some of the British .450 caliber rounds too.

Robert

[kootne]

2.88 is brass somebody stretched to use in a Sharps 45/2-7/8", aka 45-110. Originally a chambering in 1874 and later 1878 Sharps.

Well, I reread where I missed the 2.38 correction, that is 45/90 ballpark as stated above.

1.88 is what you guessed, 45/60 Winchester, originally chambered in 1876 Centennial Model Winchesters.