45-70 in a 45-120?

[Big Mike]

Anyone know if you can shoot 45-70 ammo in a sharps replica chambered for 45-120?

 

[Why not?]

Yes.

 

[Big Mike]

Are there any potential problems associated with using the shorter round? i.e. accuracy?

 

[dan belisle]

Just crap in the front of the chamber from powder residue etc, otherwise, it's like shooting 38 Specials in a 357 Magnum. Accuracy will vary, as awlways, from gun to gun. Try it and see is the best advice I can give you. - dan

 

[Big Mike]

Thanks for the help guys. I would imagine it would be next to impossible to find 45-120 ammo these days.

 

[Monty]

Dude, where did you find a 45-120?

 

[Why not?]

Thanks for the help guys. I would imagine it would be next to impossible to find 45-120 ammo these days.

Ammo is a problem, but the brass is easy to find. Huntingtons is the quickest. You could also post to see if anyone has any RCBS Basic Brass. It is the correct length; just have to size, load and go!

Ted

 

[Big Mike]

I was looking at picking up one of those Pedersoli Quigley Sharps. Everywhere I look they are chambered for 45-120, thats why I wanted to know if I could fire 45-70 ammo in it. Just wondering also what kind of loads these rifles can take ie marlin lever loads. Anyone else got one?

 

[Bearcat]

I have done some reloading for a friend who has both a 45-70 and a 45-120 in a Shiloh Sharpes and if I remember correctly I used IMR 4895 powder and a 300 Hp bullet. If you want I can look up the loads I used and post them for you !!!
Bearcat

 

[death-junky]

ya you should be able to shoot the 45-70 with out a problem i always though that it was the same round just with a longer case.
talk to ya all later
Riley

 

[1899]

I think they come in 45-110, not 45-120.

 

[Big Mike]

The Pedersoli Sharps that Marstar has on their website is listed as 45-120. They are available in 45-70,45-90 and 45-120 but for some reason no one seems to have one in 45-70. Hey bearcat did you recall if your buddy ever shot the 45-70 rounds in the 45-120? If so how was his accuracy?

 

[1899]

Sorry, I assumed you were looking at the Shiloh Sharps.

 

[Big Mike]

The Shiloh is a little out of my reach. Arent they about twice as much as the Pedersoli?

 

[Sean111]

A buddy of mine has a Sharps in .45-120. Lots of fun with a 500gr. bullet, but it has a tendency to crack brass, which is about $3 a piece if I recall.

 

[1899]

I have no idea how much they are...on the Shiloh website the MSRP for the Quigley is just under US$3000. Quite a big chunk of $.

 

[Big Mike]

Hey where did your buddy get the brass?

 

[chasseur]

Hi
Yes you can shoot a 45/70 in a 45/120 especially if you seat the bullet out a bit but if you feed it a steady diet of 45/70s eventually you will destroy the chamber as you will eventually erode the chamber in front of the cartridge.This is akin to only shooting 22shorts in a rifle chambered for long rifle bullets.Basically in my opipion and if it were my gun I d shoot only the 45/120 cases in it or possibly take it to a smith and have the chamber cut back and rechambered for 45/70.Sometimes this can be done without too
much difficulty.Though you would have to have the forearm screw holes repositioned and the lever spring hole repositioned as well if it Sharps.

 

[Big Mike]

Anyone know where to get 45-120 brass?