Uberti 1876, 46-60

[Robert6588]

Newbie here, I have a Uberti 23.24" 45 Colt and love it. However I would like to get a Uberti 46-60 next. I have some questions about ammo. Commercial ammo seems to be unavailable. Some sites list it but show out of stock for long periods as well as be on the high side. It seems as if most are reloading their own from cut down 45-70 casings, which if true, is great because I own and shoot a 45-70. I am not into the reloading task yet but have been considering it. I have found a guy on the internet that offers 45-60 from cut down 45-70 at $35-00 per 20 count gadcutomcartriges@gmail.com anyone familiar with this service?  Also any pointers as to obtaining ammo for the 1876, 45-60 would be appreciated, the last thing I want to do is spend all that money for a rifle that cannot be enjoyed.

Thank you all very much

[greyhawk]

Newbie here, I have a Uberti 23.24" 45 Colt and love it. However I would like to get a Uberti 46-60 next. I have some questions about ammo. Commercial ammo seems to be unavailable. Some sites list it but show out of stock for long periods as well as be on the high side. It seems as if most are reloading their own from cut down 45-70 casings, which if true, is great because I own and shoot a 45-70. I am not into the reloading task yet but have been considering it. I have found a guy on the internet that offers 45-60 from cut down 45-70 at $35-00 per 20 count gadcutomcartriges@gmail.com anyone familiar with this service?  Also any pointers as to obtaining ammo for the 1876, 45-60 would be appreciated, the last thing I want to do is spend all that money for a rifle that cannot be enjoyed.

Thank you all very much

I have a Uberti 76 in 45/75 - made my brass from 348 winchester - that was a bit of a chore but I wanted the larger case for blackpowder - plus it is the original 76 round - If you would be shooting mostly smokeless a 45-60 would be a lot easier and that price for pre cut cases dont sound dear to me - I have the full size rifle 28inch barrel - think if I was doing it again I would go for the short rifle or carbine - still a solid piece but a bit more handy. Mine is ten pound empty but my favourite piece. The 76 just has something special about it.   

[larryo1]

Sorry to interrupt here but need to say something here.  I, too have a '76 and it is in 45-75.  I debated for a few minutes about the calibers but settled on the 45-75 and am completely satisfied.  I, too, started out with 348 cases and slowly converted to other makes.  I got burnt with Bertram brass, not with the quality but the price--so stay away from them for that reason.  I went to Jamison and so far have no complaints.  I had a relative who had a vintage '76 in 45-60 and I made lots of ammo for him with 45-70 cases.  I did sort of a Sneaky Pete on them as all I did was run them though my 45-75 trim die and cut them off to length as the cases lengths are pretty near the same.  Besides 45-70 brass is--so far--pretty darn cheap to buy.  Anyway, then all I did was expand the case mouths, put in the load and bullet, crimp and he was in business  all with 45-75 dies.  So--I guess--as far as easy to load, that 45-60 is a pretty good one.  Thats all I got to say other than I do like my 45-75 alot.

[Dave T]

Huntington Die Specialities sells Bertram 45-60 brass for $56.

Dave

[greyhawk]

Sorry to interrupt here but need to say something here.  I, too have a '76 and it is in 45-75.  I debated for a few minutes about the calibers but settled on the 45-75 and am completely satisfied.  I, too, started out with 348 cases and slowly converted to other makes.  I got burnt with Bertram brass, not with the quality but the price--so stay away from them for that reason.  I went to Jamison and so far have no complaints.  I had a relative who had a vintage '76 in 45-60 and I made lots of ammo for him with 45-70 cases.  I did sort of a Sneaky Pete on them as all I did was run them though my 45-75 trim die and cut them off to length as the cases lengths are pretty near the same.  Besides 45-70 brass is--so far--pretty darn cheap to buy.  Anyway, then all I did was expand the case mouths, put in the load and bullet, crimp and he was in business  all with 45-75 dies.  So--I guess--as far as easy to load, that 45-60 is a pretty good one.  Thats all I got to say other than I do like my 45-75 alot.

Larry o
I missed out on Jamison brass - my 348 base cases are way under specs at the base and it ends up looking like a boogered chamber in some old gun - my fired cases are .5575 at the widest but they only .546 at the soilid head  -  the drawings I have seen say .553 for the 348 just ahead of the rim - and there are specs around for the 45/75 that say .564 - a while back I was looking at drawings/details for 32 gauge shotshells - just  a tad fat but wondered if they would swage down to size ok just wonder it you have heard anything in that regard or are they not strong enough?

[larryo1]

Greyhawk:
I did see somewhere where somebody did that with those cases but that is all that I know.  My rifle must have a boogered chamber in that those 348 cases work okay for my rifle.  After about 5 or 6 firings that "Coke Bottle" seemed to disappear and they look sort of "normal".

Also, I might add here too that my rifle has the "Uberti" chamber which gives me about 5 grains or so more case capacity which I like in that I can stuff more BP in the cases.  More "Bang for the Buck" so to speak!  I read somewhere that some feller had pulled bullets from factory ammo and found that the factory was putting in 76 grains of Black rather than 75--so I gave it a try and found that those Mounties must have been some tough fellers to stand up to that load--shot after shot!  That creates one hell of a bang but it is fun and not too bad for accuracy either.

[dusty texian]

Newbie here, I have a Uberti 23.24" 45 Colt and love it. However I would like to get a Uberti 46-60 next. I have some questions about ammo. Commercial ammo seems to be unavailable. Some sites list it but show out of stock for long periods as well as be on the high side. It seems as if most are reloading their own from cut down 45-70 casings, which if true, is great because I own and shoot a 45-70. I am not into the reloading task yet but have been considering it. I have found a guy on the internet that offers 45-60 from cut down 45-70 at $35-00 per 20 count gadcutomcartriges@gmail.com anyone familiar with this service?  Also any pointers as to obtaining ammo for the 1876, 45-60 would be appreciated, the last thing I want to do is spend all that money for a rifle that cannot be enjoyed.

Thank you all very much

My 2cent , if you purchase an 1876 and want the most economical cartridge to produce , then by all means go with the 45/60 . Brass can be made easily from 45/70 , .458 bullets can be found  at reasonable prices , Lee makes a set of good dies at a very low price , with these you can also load your 45/70  cartridges also . One thing is for sure you will be ahead of the game by learning to reload your own ammunition for any of the 1876 cartridge's . I would suggest purchasing a reloading manual from Hornady / Speer /Sierra / Lyman ,  any are good read it cover to cover , ask questions and get into reloading , you will be glad you did .Good Luck and good shooting ,,,DT

[matt45]

Buffalo Arms sells black powder cartridges, as well as all the stuff for reloading.