Have any of you do a re-chamber on a 40-70ss to 40-65?
 
Don't worry collectors out there, this rifle is a modern gun.

since the 40-70 is a bit difficult in getting it to shoot well, plus brass is unobtainium. I would like it rechambered and not rebarreled.

Thank all

I don't have any 40-70, but have been reading a lot of email/articles etc that seem to indicate issues, plus brass is very very hard to come by. I have plenty of 40-65.

I have 3 rifles in 40-70 SS and they all shoot pretty well.  Black powder in an original Sharps and a rebored Remington rolling block, and smokless powder in a Shiloh.   I see 1" groups all the time at 100 yards from the sitting position.

George

OH, re. 40-65 accuracy:
It has been one of the easiest cartridges to build accurate loads. Like "falling off a log"
Also, shot a record 800yds string at Lodi BPTR of 99-3X.
File pic too large to post here.
beltfed/arnie

And, that exactly the kind of thing I want to stay away from...would make things a little more tedious than I would want. I noticed this particular rifle has been lined, from what I do not know, and there is not much information ergo my wondering about changing the chamber. I think setting the barrel back is the best option as I would then be dealing with somewhat known quantities

Similarly, I was thinking something closer to that utilizing a 30-30 case blown out since that brass is not too hard to come by, but then would be faced with a completely new barrel which mean not being able to shot it until next year the way thing are going (not)

577Nitro wrote on Jul 21^st, 2021 at 12:10pm:


Nitro, sounds like you have been doing some reloading since you have 40-65 brass so here is what I would do for what it's worth. Don't give up on the 40-70 sharps yet.  Buffalo arms has brass for about a buck 30 a round. Order 20 or 25 rounds and load them up and see what you get. Make sure you measure your rim depth and get the right rim thickness that you need. A lot has been written on the internet especially on one website that has a lot of misinformation. Keep in mind that if one person has had a bad experience, and posts it on the internet, it'll be repeated by 10 other people that have never tried one . The 40-70 will shoot just fine. Tell us more about the rifle and how it's configured. That might give some of us an idea as to what you need to do to save money. The way I see it, no matter what you want to do, it is going to cost you a minimum of 350 bucks if you use a good gunsmith.

Well, if it is something you are looking at with the possibility of buying, and you think the 40-70 SS is a pain in the butt to get shooting (which it isn't), save your  money and get what you would rechamber it to.   For me, the 40-70 SS is working out very well.   The 40-60 Maynard is about 1/4 inch shorter and can be easilly made from 30-40 by simply blowing it out to a straight case.   Back about 50 years ago it was called the "40-Krag."   I had a rifle made up in that caliber by Didk Hoch on a Ruger #3 and never did get it to shoot worth a hoot, but Steve Garbe won some national championships with that cartridge.   No matter what, with almost any black powder cartridge you need to do a lot of tinkering to get it shootilg like you want it to.

George