45-60 Cases

[Marshal Deadwood]

Can 45-60 cases be made by trimming 45-70 brass ?

Thank you.

MD

[Grizzly Adams]

Can 45-60 cases be made by trimming 45-70 brass ?

Thank you.

MD

Yes.  Trim your 45-70 brass to 1.89 and your good to go!  

[Trailrider]

Not sure about repro rifles, but some of the originals need to have the rims THINNED by a few thousandths in order to fit.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Marshal Deadwood
I have a Chaparral and if I use cut down 45-70 brass the rims have to be thinned .

[Grizzly Adams]

Yes.  Trim your 45-70 brass to 1.89 and your good to go!  

Rowdy is correct.  Some of the Chaparral rifles have to have the rims of the 45-70 brass thinned in order for the bolt to close on the brass. 

I have a Uberti 76, and the 45-70 brass works fine without having to thin the rims.

[Llano County]

Ditto what Grizzly Adams said. I have cut down Winchester 45-70 brass. In fact, if you order loaded 45-60 ammunition from Buffalo Arms you get cut-down 45-70 brass. The Ten-X ammo I bought off of Rowdy Fulcher at the convention is actually head stamped Jamison 45-60 brass. I do not have to thin the rims for them to function in my Uberti '76.

Does anyone have a favorite brand of brass that they like? The Winchester brass that I have cut down seems thin walled and dents easily. Just my opinion. I have not tried Starline brass yet. I found some Norma brass but it was too expensive for my taste. I would like to find some once fired PMC brass. That is what I reload in .45 Colt and I have gotten many, many reloads out of their brass before the case cracks.

[Don Berry]

I have a Uberti that I got from Taylor Arms. Very nice rifle.  I cut down 45-70 brass and also have to thin the rims. I had done some reading on cutting down the 45-70 and it works fine in some of the rifles. It did not work with mine.  The rims were thin down to .062.  They work great in my rifle.  You'll have to see what works for you. As for brass, I have used both Star Line and winchester. Star line brass Does look a little better.  Good luck.

[Grizzly Adams]

I have pretty much settled on the cut 45-60 brass, so if any of you boys need some of the other I have some I can let go.

I have 19 new unfired Rocky Mtn Cartridge company cases.  Head diameter is 0.609, rim thickness is .062

20 Jamison once fired 45-60 cases.  Head diameter is  0.609, rim is .058.

Incidentally, an original REM-UMC 45-60 head measures at 0.616 head diameter and 0.062 rim. 

[Leverluver]

I also had a Uberti (Taylors) that needed the rims thinned.  With shortened factory (Starline) brass, the lever was still 30 degrees from closing.  At .060 rim it closed hard (too hard).  I thinned to .058".  I have the rifle apart for a rechamber to 45-75 and other work.  If someone else has a tight head space rifle that needs thinner rims, shoot me a pm, I'll make you a dang good deal to get yours up and running.  I have 50.     

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Llano;  FC brass is the heaviest, (thickest)  W-W is the lightest, and R-P is in between.  I don't have any Starline to weigh.

There you go!  Pick your Brass.

[Dirty Brass]

I cut down some 45/70 brass from starline, and it seems to work fine without touching the rim thicknes, but there IS slight pressure needed to lock into battery the last 1/4" of throw on the lever. It closes easily on the rims, but slight pressure is needed. I'm guessing the camming action of the links is getting a little pressure - do you think this is acceptable? As I said, it is VERY slight pressure - no forcing of any degree is used. Opinions?

[mrbig6045]

i used cut down starline 45-70 brass also.didnt have to change the rim thickness any,feeds and chambers really nice,that uberti makes a really slick 76

[Quick Fire]

I used Winchester 45/70 cut down in my Chaparral and didn't have any problems.

[Roosterman]

i used cut down starline 45-70 brass also.didnt have to change the rim thickness any,feeds and chambers really nice,that uberti makes a really slick 76

That makes me feel good! I'm picking up my new '76 tomorrow! WAHOOOO!

[cat1870]

I have trimmed 200 Federal .45-70 cases to 1.855 without any problems for my Taylor's/Uberti 1876.
I used a Forester case trimmer with an electric drill attached to it.  Works very well.

[Joe Lansing]

I use Starline brass. No trouble with rim thickness with Starline or any other brand (Rem.,Win., or Fed.) in my Chaparral.

One thing I do is to buy nickle plated brass for my '76. Helps avoid confusion with my 45-70 cases. It also resists corrosion better for the B.P. lovers.

[Grizzly Adams]

I cut down some 45/70 brass from starline, and it seems to work fine without touching the rim thicknes, but there IS slight pressure needed to lock into battery the last 1/4" of throw on the lever. It closes easily on the rims, but slight pressure is needed. I'm guessing the camming action of the links is getting a little pressure - do you think this is acceptable? As I said, it is VERY slight pressure - no forcing of any degree is used. Opinions?

Sounds like your rifle is set up properly.  Ideal would be a very slight camming action upon closing the bolt.

[Dirty Brass]

Thanks Grizzly Adams. I suspected it would be fine, but the BA loads I tried were reduced rim thickness brass, and they had no resistance at all. That is why I asked. Moot point, as I already turned down the thickness slightly to eliminate the tightness, but in the future any cases I trim will no doubt remain unturned at the rim. No sense in adding work to the process if not needed.