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QuestionableMaynard8130
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.45-60
Jul 23rd, 2014 at 10:38am
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anyone have a diagram or measurements of the  .45-60 Win?

I understand it was designed for some of their lever-rifles.

Some states are now allowing some rifle cartridges for se in formerly pistol/shotgun/muzzle loader restricted zones.  there is a long series of logic and discussion but basically the regulations require the use of a cartridge no less than 357  mag in diameter and length. and a case length of 1.8".

Rather than rebarreling a 45-70 Ruger #1 to something like a S&W 460 (which uses 45 pistol dia bullets) I'm considering having the barrel set back and rechambered for a shortened and very lightly taper necked down to fit a standard .458 bullet properly. 
  The .45-60 has been suggested as a possible candidate , though the neck might require a bit of trimming. But I have run into a wall trying to find proper case & reamer specs
  

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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #1 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 11:08am
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Hello Q.I have the drawings for the 45-60wcf. But not sure how to post them here. I have a 1876 Winchester in that cal. and load for it and shoot  it often. The case lenth on the 45-60 wcf is 1.890. I have cut back 45-70 gov. brass and then fireformed in the chamber. The 45-60 does have a slight shoulder, very slight.My 45-60s like 300gr. and 350gr. bullets @ .459.I will try to post a drawing of this cartridge, or I could scan it and E-mail it to you. DT
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: .45-60
Reply #2 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 11:18am
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Id appreciate a scan  I'll PM you,  but eventual posting it might be good for future reference for others
  

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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #3 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 11:37am
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Drawing for the .45-60wcf. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #4 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 11:42am
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Hope this helps Q. ,,,,,,,DT
  
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win 32-40
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Re: .45-60
Reply #5 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 6:21pm
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I was pleasantly surprised shooting the 45-60 in a Win 76. Very light recoil compared to a 45-70. Partly because of the lighter 300 gr bullet, and also the barrel heavy 28 in of the 76,
but I'd say the recoil is less than 1/2 . case length  reduction of only .210 , seems to help more than it should. But the best thing is the accuracy I get out of the 130 year old gun
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: .45-60
Reply #6 - Jul 23rd, 2014 at 7:13pm
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those are nice illustrations  and I really appreciate them very much.

However   (don't you hate to hear that word Wink)  I just finally located my  "Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversion's" by J J Donnelly   Stoeger  1987

And on page 597 (quoting COTW 4th ed p 122) it shows it as having a straight .454 degree per side taper form the .508 head/base diameter to the .479 case mouth with an overall length of 1.89. as formed from standard 45-70 cases with standard rim diameter and thickness.

I'm wondering which is right or if both are.   

  Would a chamber reamer have the same measurements as the outside of a fired case?  I don't understand how brass stretch and spring back is figured in.
Did COTW and Donnelly base their work on measuring cases or on actual chamber specs. 
OR is this old case too old to have a standardized chamber design?

I'm obviously concerned with the very slight shoulder shown on DT's illustrations since the various state F&G regs are specifically in some cases prohibiting "bottle necked" cases.  I suspect that a straight taper from the base to the bottom of the .4795 long neck would be acceptable. However that would entail calculating a different per side degree of taper.
  

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Warkshop
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Re: .45-60
Reply #7 - Jul 24th, 2014 at 12:56am
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Howell in "Custom Cartridges" shows the .45-60 case on page 368 and references the data to a 1912 Winchester drawing.  Dimensions and shoulder are essentially the same as given in the drawn posted by DT.

Bill



  
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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #8 - Jul 24th, 2014 at 7:47am
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More info. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #9 - Jul 24th, 2014 at 7:54am
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One more, DT. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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Dusty Texian
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Re: .45-60
Reply #10 - Jul 24th, 2014 at 8:34am
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Hey Q. Had this 45-70 Gov. case on the bench that has been cut down for a powder measure. It just so happens to be,1.750 . I put a 500gr. bullet in it for looks. The case next to it is a full lenth 45-70Gov. case. Looks like it would be a great cartridge in the 300gr. bullet (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)range. DT
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: .45-60
Reply #11 - Jul 24th, 2014 at 9:17am
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THanks very much!!!    those drawings look a LOT better the "shoulder" is barely perceptible. 

  UNless a woods cop is carrying a micrometer and a straight edge it will probably pretty much pass as if it were a 460 SW formed out of 45-70 brass

If fact I'm wondering it you resized the mouth of a 460 with a 458 expander  to take a 45-70 bullet rather than the 452/454 pistol bullets it was designed for; and fire formed it in a chamber reamed to those dimensions it than might not work as well.  I have trimmed down 45-70s to the 1.8 length, but due to the body taper they are too loose at the neck to hold 458 jacketed bullets
  

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Re: .45-60
Reply #12 - Aug 2nd, 2014 at 9:28pm
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QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Jul 23rd, 2014 at 10:38am:
ly.  But I have run into a wall trying to find proper case & reamer specs


You might want to buy  set of 45-60 dies made by who ever is your preferred die maker.
Make a cast of the FL die and size a few cases.
Those are the dimensions have to fit your new chamber. 
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: .45-60
Reply #13 - Aug 4th, 2014 at 9:16pm
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We have a design that will do the job and will meet the legal requirements.  basically similar to the 45-60.  BUT with a straight taper from the head at the base of the rim to the base of the neck with an OA case length of 1.8.  There was some concern that even the very slight shoulder of the 45-60 might cause problems with an overzealous woods-cop. 
   Obviously the "best ' solution would be to rebarrel a single shot (or a lever gun of adequate strength) with a barrel bored and chambered for the 460 S&W.  I know that Ruger produced some #1's in that cartridge a couple years ago. (may have been a special run for one of their large distributors).  But I wa looking for a way to use a rifles existing 45-70 barrel but setting it back slightly and rechambering.   
   Time and money will tell . . .  Roll Eyes
  

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