45-60 Rifle

[curdog]

Well guys I did it, I went and picked up an 1876 yesterday. Now I have to go and load some ammo for it. I'm going to use black and smokeless. What loads have you guys used in 5744 and sr4759? I also snuck a Rodeo in with the 76. But I's got to be carefull cause the little lady don't know about that one.

[ndnchf]

Congrats Curdog 

But we want details man, details!  Uberti or Chappy?, barrel length?, sights? etc.

Can't help with the smokeyless powder, never touch the stuff myself.  But do a search, there have been plenty of discussions about it.

[Dirty Brass]

I've had good results with 21 gr. 5744 and a 300 gr bullet. Haven't tried 4759, but I've seen data for 24 - 26 gr over a 300 gr bullet for that powder, varying by type of bullet used...... HTH

[curdog]

ndnchf I got the uberti it's a little more $$$$ but I was able to pick between a pair. If I bought a chappy I would have to special order and I don't like crap shoots. It has the 28" barrel and the usual sights from uberti. If I really like the rifle it will end up with new sights. I like a flat top rear sight for my hunting rifles. Which is what this will be used for since I don't do the cowboy matches. I love old guns but have never been interested in doing cowboy action. Nothing against it, I'm glad there are people that do like it. It has brought a lot of nice guns back to life. Has any one tried the RCBS .457 325 boolit in there 45-60? What  are your favorite boolit molds.  Thanks Curdog

[Joe Lansing]

I have been loading with 4759 for years. 'Been using it in ,38 Spl., 44-40, 45-70, and more recently in 45-60. For a starting point, I use the 40% rule (O.4 X Black Powder wt. = Smokeless Powder wt.).

In the 45-60, I top the powder charge with several pieces of Quaker Puffed Rice to fill the void between the powder and the 300 gr. flat nose cast bullet. I use the same number of pieces each time. These weigh vertually nothing and I find no powder residue when I use them as opposed to significant residue left behind when I don't use the puffed rice. I also use lg. rifle primers. I  use this technique loading 44-40's as well.

I shoot the 45-60 loads in a Chaparral '76 rifle with a 24 inch barrel and the 44-40's in an Uberti '73 also with a 24 inch barrel.

Disclaimer: I assume no responsibility for any injury or damage resulting anyone attempting to duplicate or imitate my experiments as outlined in this post.

                                                                                   J.L.

[curdog]

Thanks Joe, I read on another site that a guy has been shooting 22gr of 4759 in an original. I personly wouldn't do that but I think our new ones should have no problems shooting this.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Curdog
If you want to shoot your New Rifle and New Pistol , NCOWS offers a class called Working Cowboy and you only need a pistol and a Rifle and they are allowing the 76 . If interested go to ncows.org Good luck with your new rifle and pistol they are both GREAT choices .