Met with a member of this forum this past Saturday, over a good breakfast at the Breakfast Club in down town Moscow, Ideeeeho.
Won't mention any names here, but if he sees this post, he can chime in if he so desires.
Other then the sharing during this first time meeting, the fellow brought along a cartridge that looked at first like a 45/50. The case head marking were something new to me.
He also brought along a case he had formed from a .348 Winchester hull, with the goal in mind of getting this rifle actively shooting again.
After breakfast, we made a trip to the parking lot where I did get to see the rifle, an old military rolling block with a looong barrel which appeared to be in beautiful shape, bright and sharp it entire length.
Apparently the rifle had been shot with 45/70 ammo by the former owner, with each firing resulting in a split case. It wasn't until a trip through a gun show where this new friend happened to spot a rifle like his and then learned what he had, that the whole picture began to unfold. The rifle is a 11.7X56R and as such, is slightly larger then the 45/70 in case size.
It is apparently, of the correct bore size to shoot cast 45/70 boolits.
Should be a real deer and elk slayer if he is able to get a brass supply formed.
Interesting!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot