45-75 win

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I have a winchester 1876 in 45-75. This rifle belonged to my grandfather when he was in the RCMP, it was his issue rifle. I would like to find some reloading equipmet for it, Does anyone have or know where i can find some reloading equipment, Brass 350gr lead bullets, dies, reloading info.

Thanks
 
Lyman can make just about any die you need.. for black powder cartridges. The Bullet Barn in BC is where I got my 45-70 350 grain.

I may still have a 70 year old loading book in my hobby room. Lots of antique cartridges listed. Send me a PM to check for you.

Chuck Hawes has written about this cartridge 45-75 Winchester

introduced with the Model 1876 lever action repeating rifle. This was an enlarged version of the famous Model 1873 action designed for use with cartridges up to 2.25" in length.

The .45-75 Win. used a rimmed bottleneck case that was shorter and fatter than the .45-70 Government. It measured .559" in diameter at its base, .547" at the shoulder, and .478" at its neck. Case length was 1.89" and overall cartridge length was 2.25".

The action of the Winchester 1876 rifle was not particularly strong, so the .45-75 was factory loaded with a 350 grain bullet at a MV of 1383 fps and ME of 1485 ft. lbs. This was ballistically inferior to the .45-70-405 and .45-70-500 as a buffalo cartridge, but its lever action rifle allowed much faster repeat shots. Teddy Roosevelt is said to have favored the .45-75 Winchester as a grizzly bear cartridge
 
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I bought my brass from Shooter's Choice (bertram stuff) but its expensive and I have heard that the formed brass from Buffalo Arms is good (and cheaper!)

Like Buck above, I use Bullet Barn 350gr 45-70 bullets, which work mah-vellously in my 76.

I bought Lee dies from Track of the Wolf in the States.

As for reloading info, I used the info out of the Cartridges of the World book, which was 24gr of IMR4198. I think I pumped it up to 25 after shooting some and its working well.
 
This should be of some use to you. Covers a lot of stuff from cartridge and rifle history to load data. There's an exploded drawing too.
http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/labels/45-75.html
Components, even BP brass and cast bullets, require the U.S. export permit. Dies can just be ordered. No permit required for equipment.
"...but its expensive..." Yep. $79.95 per 20. They do carry it in stock though. Playing with any odd cartridge is expensive. 450 No.2 3 1/2" or .577/.450 runs $154.95 per 20. .700 NE is $45.95 EACH!
 
I order brass from the US no prob, but bullets they wont send anymore. I have 80 bertram 45-75's now and they should last a long while with the loadings.

And that stumpy cartridge always gets oohs and ahhs at the range.

Its fun like fun was meant to be!
 
Heres a question for you fellas loading the 45-75....now when I load it with BP, I fill the case to the bullet same as other BP cartridges, but when you load a powder like IMR 4198 it takes up very little space in the case....so do you add a filler or not ?
I'm loading for a Chaparral carbine in 45-75.
 
Kevan said:
Heres a question for you fellas loading the 45-75....now when I load it with BP, I fill the case to the bullet same as other BP cartridges, but when you load a powder like IMR 4198 it takes up very little space in the case....so do you add a filler or not ?
I'm loading for a Chaparral carbine in 45-75.
Click to expand...

opinions are split on that one Kev, I don't do it.
 
Kevan said:
Heres a question for you fellas loading the 45-75....now when I load it with BP, I fill the case to the bullet same as other BP cartridges, but when you load a powder like IMR 4198 it takes up very little space in the case....so do you add a filler or not ?
Click to expand...

You need a pinch of drier lint or similar to hold the powder against the primer for uniform ignition. If you do not use it, some shells will go off with a pop and others with a bang. You do not want a filler in the sense of completely filling the case from powder to bullet with something just enough to keep the powder in place. I would expect large amounts of compressible filler to give pressure spikes within the cartridge case.

cheers mooncoon
 
http://www.rtgammo.com/cf_box20.html

4575W13591.jpg

Winchester. Thought to be ca 1882, this is the now-known-to-be-RARE "manufactnred" variety (misspelling on front Reloading label). See Giles & Shuey pg 85. Lbl glitsch on front but rest of box and lbls very nice including "Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belt" callout on back Reloading lbl (started 1881, see Giles & Shuey p19). Orig unheadstamped rds. One of only TWO such boxes known! US$1375

4575W16470.jpg

Winchester. As above: FIRST BOX, ca 1876-78 [See Giles & Shuey p.84]. "Outlined 20" on front lbl, no lbls on btm. Unheadstamped rds, all of which appear native to the box. Lid top label "washed out" but front label is perhaps the best I've ever seen as is the integrity of the box itself. A box of taped construction from this period and in such a heavy caliber can be expected to show some (usually significant) seam & edge separation. Not this one! Rare enough in any condition, virtually unknown in minty condition, this is a great find! US$1375
 
thanks for all the help. here is an up date on my M1876 carbine. I have brass on back order from Buffalo arms, factory papers from the Cody museum, and i found a fellow who can give me info on the carbine for the NWMP. Curently looking for someone who can give me an aprazale on it for posible sale and insurance purpose
 
Regarding Smokless powders, I use 4198 in all my BP rifles, 50-70, 45-60, 40-65, etc I use toilet paper :redface: for wading in all of them, I pack it in so the bullet slightly compresses it & powder. As long as you work up your load using it, it is perfectly safe IMHO, it's when you start stuffing in the middle of a load I believe is when you can get into trouble.
 
ben hunchak said:
Does bullet barn make soft cast Black Powder bullets with proper Black Powder Lube?
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Their stuff is a real hard cast. If memory serves me 21 or 25 hardness scale.

I use smokless so no worry but I think CANNON in Ontario makes or could make soft lead.
 
senior said:
Regarding Smokeless powders, I use 4198 in all my BP rifles, 50-70, 45-60, 40-65, etc I use toilet paper :redface: for wading in all of them, I pack it in so the bullet slightly compresses it & powder. As long as you work up your load using it, it is perfectly safe IMHO, it's when you start stuffing in the middle of a load I believe is when you can get into trouble.
Click to expand...

There is a formula for using 4198 . to determine the weight of imr4198 for a specific cartridge multiply the original weight of black powder By.29
example 45-125 125x.29=36.25
this means you should use 36.25 gr's of imr 4198 now you have entered a dangerous area of reloading reduced loads 4198 will only fill a small portion of the case. you need to hold the powder back against the flash hole for this Dacron pillow filling material is best. if you don't do this detonation can occur =boom no more gun also do not use a cardboard wad or card to hold back powder or a high pressure area can occur behind the bullet and ring the chamber or worse
 
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