Multiple Calibers

[Four-Eyed Buck]

COOP, For those that are more authentically minded, the .45 in a rifle is a no-no because none of the originals were chambered for it. For those on the Darkside, the .45 case doesn't seal up well in semi-reduced loads and you get blowback fouling the action and getting into your face, same with reduced smokeless loads. I get sooted up cases with mine, even with a stout crimp. It lessens with 250g bullets as opposed to the 200's( which is what I use), but you still get some. The Win. cases seal somewhat better than the Starline or Rems. too. For dedicated BP shooters, the necked cases work best( 44-40, 38-40)............Buck

[Coop Trawlaine]

Thanks Buck,
That answers my question.   I am now using .45 LC with 250g slug, mainly to settle in with one caliber, I previously was using .45CL in pistols and .38 in long gun but made a trade with another pard here in CAS CITY to move me into the single caliber.   Thanks again, Buck.   I be learnin more each day.  

[Driftwood Johnson]

Coop:

Four Eyed Buck pretty much answered it for me.

I love the 45 Colt cartridge, but I firmly believe it belongs in a revolver. Rifles were never chambered in 45 Colt in the old days, and it just isn't right to chamber them for it today. My first CAS rifle was that old Marlin, chambered in 44-40. Soon afterwards, I was lucky enough to buy an original Winchester 1892, made in 1894, also chambered in 44-40. So I got real familiar with the cartridge, and how to load it. When I crossed over to the dark side, it was only natural that I would stay with the 44-40 cartridge for my rifles. It seals the chamber much better than the modern 45 Colt can. Keeps the rifle cleaner and smoother running than the 45 Colt can.

Now if you want to know specifically why rifles were never chambered for 45 Colt in the old days, take a look at this photo of an original copper cased, Benet primed, folded rim, 45 Colt cartridge from around 1874:



Take a look at that little tiny rim. This cartridge was clearly designed to be chambered in a revolver. All that little rim is good for is keeping the cartridge from sliding forward into the chamber. No extractor claw in the world could have gotten a grip on it to extract it from a rifle. That's because designed as a revolver cartridge, ejection was accomplished by poking them out from the inside with the extractor rod. The 44-40 case, on the other hand, was specifically designed as a rifle cartridge and has always had a sizeable rim, allowing positive extaraction from a rifle. The 45 Colt cartridge evolved over time, eventually aquiring a larger diameter rim, and an 'extractor groove' in front of the rim, allowing them to be successfully chambered in and extracted from rifle chambers.

But it's still wrong.   

[Coop Trawlaine]

Driftwood,

Thanks again for the information.....since I am still new to this sport (less than one year) we all know that along the way I will more than likely be making a lot of changes in the type and caliber of firearms, I just made my first change...LOL...for sake of caliber.   

Again thanks to all the Pards that waded in on this.

[Big John Denny]

Only one caliber, 45 Colt.