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Author Topic: 45/70 to 45/120  (Read 2625 times)

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Offline sonofafish

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45/70 to 45/120
« on: December 15, 2008, 02:33:43 PM »
Like to clear up somethings and I can't find what I am looking for. So do not beat me up to bad. I do know that 45/70 and 45/120 are old black powder cartridges. But are you all using black powder or smokeless and what is the gain from 70 to 120 gr I do know its 50gr more? compare it like is like a 458win. to a Lott? Is it worth it? I do have a 45/70 and love it shoot it all the time and load it as well. My big bore or thumper I call it. I have not had a chance to kill any thing with it, but shot a ton of old called watermelons at 50 and 75 yards, lots of fun.Shot it at 600 yards as well at a 20.5x25 loader tire and got my dope in the center with iron sights.   
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2008, 02:50:47 PM »
I got to go to bed but I'm sure our experienced 45/120 shooters will fill ya in... I know the answers  ;D  but I haven't even built mine yet!   :-[  Great fun ain't it!    :D
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2008, 03:13:46 PM »
You will gain a lot of velocity, flatter trajectory and a ton more recoil going from a 45-70 to a 45-120 with black powder loads.

If you are using smokeless powder, the 45-70 can be loaded, depending on the rifle you use, to be hotter than most guys care to shoot. And with the smokeless loads in the 45-70, it can out perform the 45-120 with black powder.

If I get back into shooting black powder loads in my Buffalo Classic rifle, I may have it bored out to 45-90, just to get the extra 20 gr. of  black powder in the case.
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2008, 03:46:57 PM »
At equal pressures there is a little balllistic advantage to the .45-120 (2 7/8") with smokeless powders. From Lyman #48:

Cartridge...Bullet...Charge...MV.....CUP
.45-70..... 405......48.0.....1828...27,300
.45-120....405......60.0.....2070...23,000

However, 2070 fps will do nothing that 1828 fps won't do, and recoil is brutal - at least 25% more recoil energy with the .45-120 loading.  You won't like it...and the .45-120 is not nearly as flexible and doesn't perform well with most reduced loads as the .45-70.  It is cool to show off at the range though.   ;)


.
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Offline AtlLaw

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2008, 03:49:27 PM »
Quote from: Lone Star on December 16, 2008, 03:46:57 PM
It is cool to show off at the range though.   ;)

An therein lies the incentive!   ;D
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Richard
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Offline sonofafish

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2008, 06:02:35 AM »
Thanks guys, I will stick with 45/70
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Offline RANGER RICK

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2008, 06:08:14 PM »
One very good thing about the 45-120 (3 1/4) is you can shoot some really big bullets  ;D
I do not think you will get a 720 Grain WFNGC deep enough into a 45-70 case but a 45-3.25 will .
I will agree that the rifle will punish you if you do not hold it correctly , The holy black is best for the long case .
I myself do not have any use for reduced loads .Big magnum rifles are just that , big and magnum and need to be treated as such .
A 45-3.25 was made to hold lots of powder .
I love mine .

RR

First picture is loaded 45-120 with the 720's , 500 S&W Magnum with 700 Grainers and the 44 with 230 Grainers
Second picture is the 45-120 with two un sized 720's
Last picture is of a 45-70 and a 45-120 both with 500 Grain Spire points







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Offline kevinsmith5

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2009, 03:47:28 PM »
Did you cast those spire points or buy them? Looks like a lyman 457648, but they seems to taper more gradually then mine.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2009, 06:08:11 PM »
He casts them, great bullets!!

Tim

http://www.lsstuff.com/ranger-rick/
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Offline Longknife 76

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2009, 06:31:01 AM »
Sonafafish, Why not go to the 45-90? I have 3 45-70's that I shoot only Black powder in and have yet to be able to get in a full 70 grains. i am going to ream one out ti 45 90 to get a little more versatility!!!Ed
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Offline efremtags

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Re: 45/70 to 45/120
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2009, 01:20:54 PM »
Sonofafish, what gun re you shooting and thinking abput converting.
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