Mr. DWS:

Fortunately, I have already decided what to chamber my Wesson in, and am therefore free to spend time complicating your decision. No thanks necessary.

After reading your original post and examining the purposes and limitations you set out, it becomes obvious that anyone with the sense he was born with would chamber the rifle for the .45-70.

Howsomever, in that there is no reason to assume that you retained any more good sense than the rest of us, the thing to do is to go with the chambering what scratches your itch and practicallity be damned. If'n you wants the long .40 case go for it. The .40-70 Staight is a way cool cartridge. It is, I think, bigger than would ever be necessary for a smokeless load. It also has a fairly well deserved reputation for being a cantankerous cartridge to get to perform well with real gunpowder. Neither of these conditions are insurmountable.

The .40-60 Maynard would, as suggested, be another .40 caliber option, and is just a .40-70 case with .300" cut off the end. It would likely be a more practical size for imitation gunpowder, and would for sure be a kinder and gentler chambering for Black Powder.  It is certainly a very good option if it makes the grade on the romance scale.

While Mr. Belgian has a point, I have no feel for the English chamberings. My personal vision of a .anything-Nitro is that when you pull the trigger you hear a big bang and then get back up to see if you hit the target.

Best of luck to you, and Merry Christmas!

Glenn

Pete,

If you are still considering the 9.3 please email me.  I have 4-5 boxes of brass and some ammo that I do not need.  Perhaps it would push you into that caliber and we could all learn something about it.

lkydvl@hotmail.com

Andre'

DWS & all..... I also have a deposit on one of Steve Earles Wesson actions. I am thinking of cal.44-77 bn or the 40-70ss. Right now the 44 is in the lead just because.... rk4570

No, he's too busy making actions and scope bases etc.  If you click on the "homepage" on the header at the top of this page and then click on this month's feature we have posted most of the article from the current ASSRJ issue.  It has Steve's contact info.