.45-70 to .45-120

fireball

fireball

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for single shot .45-70/90/110/120 70 seems to be an army hi-power standard , would a .45-120 have simlar preformance just more power = more fun ?
 
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I don't see the point in lengthening the chamber. It will limit you to shooting long cases because of poor accuracy with shorter ones and the recoil of a 45-120 is excessive for most people, certainly for me. I think most people who buy 45-120's end up selling them or modifying them to something that kicks less. The price of cases for a 120 is also considerably higher than for the 45-70.

cheers mooncoon
 
I was thinking this conversion, but think I may go 45-90 instead. Higher availability of brass, and it's just more realistic, especially if you plan on using smokeless. And, using smokeless and a 45-90 in a modern action, you can significantly better factory loads safely. With a 45-90/110 and Smokeless, you're right up there with the 458 & Lott capacity-wise.

A 45-120 REALLY boots you, because, in addition to the heavy bullet going a lot faster, you have 120 grains of powder exiting the barrel at a VERY high speed 5000+ fps once the bullet exits. 120 grains of anything going at 5000fps will boot you good.
 
I would suggest checking the case capacity of the 45-70 first; I think you will find it will hold enough smokeless to get the velocities you want. The purpose of the longer cases is largely to get enough capacity for black powder.

cheers mooncoon
 
i am thinking for bp only , cowboy action that sort of thing . can the 1800's replicas take light smokeless rounds ? 120 doesn't mean the brass has to be stuffed to the max . 120 brass should work just as well as a 70 90 110 or anything else for that matter ?
 
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I have a .45/100 Sharps and I find the extra cost of chambering and brass and dies is not worth it...you only gain about 80-100 fps. over the .45/70. The 45/70 groups better and recoils less, The extra capacity doesn't amount to alot of velocity. When you factor in Smokeless powder the 45/70 is a much better choice.....you can use smokeless in the big 45s but you only fill the case up halfway and always have to deal with the airspace! The only place I can see any advantage to bigger 45s is for BP hunting and target shooting over say 600yds.
 
i called shiloh sharps when it was still owned by the first owner,asked about useing smokeless powder in a 45/120 they told me to use any 45/70 loading in the lyman #47 manual for smokeless powder not any more, i shot some loads that would recoil hard enough to displace your adnoids, not fun, it is a 45/90 now and all i use is blackpowder, maybe you need a 50/140, haaaa
 
I load the M. T. Chambers 555gr. Creedmore to 1140fps in 30" barrelled 45/70 using Swiss 1 1/2fg. my .45/100 only pushes the same bullet 1229 out of a 34" barrel using 22grs more of powder! I know these bullets have very high Sd/Bc and really slam down the 500m rams, the downrange ballistics are of little concern really as once you have your sight settings at the diff. ranges you just have to play the wind! Lyman has some long range ballistics in their cast bullet handbook, but not for the real heavies!
 
45-70 Govt. / 405 Gr. Cast LFP/ Triple Seven FFG/ 60.0 Gr. /1260 fps
45-120 Sharps / 500 Gr. Lyman #457193 / Triple Seven FFG / 95.0 Gr. / 1511 fps

i've corrected myself , there's a slight differance . thanks for the charts 8ball
 
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Maybe but if you go for BPCR matches Blackpowder or Pyrodex are the only accepted propellants...;)

fireball said:
thanks guys , reloadersnest proved that the 70 has better proformance than 120 with a compairable 500gr bullet
Click to expand...
 
I didn't know Pyrodex was legal in BPCR...I don't think that many use it if it is...Swiss Black Powder is what all the top dogs use...and the 40/65 and 45/70 are far and away the most common chamberings!
 
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