45/70 in a 45/90

[milltownhunter]

i was reading in the old west that buffulo hunter would use 45/70 in there 45/90 when they could not get ammo my gun dealer said that you can use any smaller case in the larger chamber 45/70 45/90 45/100 45/110 and the 45/120 just like the 22short 22long in a 22long rifle hase anyone tryed this would pressure be a problem or would accuracy be a problem?

[fishhawk]

well i shoot 45-70 in my 45-90 roller and accurasy does drop off it's the same as haveing a extra long throat. don't think i would even bother shooting the 45-70 in a 45-100 much less in the 110 or the 120 steve k

[montana_charlie]

It's easy to find discussions where guys speak of the problems associated with shooting 'short' cases in a BPCR rifle. They are talking about brass that is (say) 20 or 30 thousandths shorter than chamber depth.
The problem is leading in the end of the chamber caused by the bullet bumping up into the empty space and being shaved off as the bullet goes out.

I can even sell you a tool that allows you to stretch 'short' cases so they fit your chamber.
As sold, it will pull a case out by 45 thousandths.

Now...just imagine the lead mine you can get (shooting 45/70 in a 45/90) when your case is 300 thousandths below chamber length...!

CM

[R.C. Hatter]

The end result of firing the shorter .45/70 in a .45/90 is the same type of grief you get by shooting a lot of .38 Specials in a .357 Magnum, or a lot of .44 Specials in a .44 Magnum. Lots of lead and fouling piled up at the end of the longer chamber. While not unsafe to do so, it's not worth the extra heavy cleaning job, which must be done prior to firing the longer cartridge.

[NickSS]

I have fired hundreds of 45-70s in a 45-90 chamber. This occured accidentally. I bought a basket case roller kit gun several years ago. The barrel was chambered and fit to the action but a lot of work remained. I finished the gun and as the former owner told me it was a 45-70 I proceeded to shoot it with 45-70s. A little load development and I was producing groups in the 1.5 moa range loaded with lead bullets and black powder. This being as good as I can shoot with iron sights I was happy. I used the rifle for several years for BPCR matches and general plinking. I eventually sold it to a buddy who proceeded to tell me that he checked the chamber length and it was longer than 45-70. He did a chamber cast and found that it was a 45-90. He secured a batch of cases and a new postel bullet mold and proceeded to shoot groups that were under 1 moa with that rifle. Oh well live and learn. I had no problems with leading or cleaning the rifle.