45-75 or .50 Express, That is the Question.

Possum Toed Rick · March 18, 2008, 09:42:55 AM

Howdy,
I currently have a Chapparel 76 in 45-60 and it's great, shoots well and all that stuff, but, there's something about the 45-75 and the .50 that could reduce ones dependency on Viagra

. I've got a guy that wants to buy my 45-60 and then I could order a new one. I've read the posts on brass forming and the likes, and it seems the 45-75 is the winner in the brass forming dept. and for originality. Any thoughts?

Rick

Dirty Brass · March 18, 2008, 11:52:53 AM

I'd have to agree with you on the 45/75. From all I've been able to read about the two, the 50 is a benchmark of power and prestige as the ultimate in 76's, but the ammo is really expensive, brass is hard to come by, and the 45/75 does almost everything the 50/95 does - just a little more economically. I read somewhere it has all the smoke and bang of the 50 - just a little less recoil. That can't be a bad thing. Now that Starline is going to offer brass in the 45/75, (or so I heard), I've also leaned towards the 45/75 and may sell the 50/95. I will hang on to the 45/60 though. I recently finished trimming 100 cases from 45/70, so I'm pretty well set for awhile to reload those.

Hobie · March 18, 2008, 04:34:42 PM

The buy-in for the .45-75 is much better (now) than for the .50-95. It is the cartridge for the 1876.

Possum Toed Rick · March 18, 2008, 06:08:07 PM

Hobie,
I've read your posts on re forming the 45-75 brass from the 50-90. Do you trim the 50 down and then use the sizing die to form it or do you have a special re-forming die. It wasn't clear to me from reading the posts.

Rick

Sloan Dodgy · March 18, 2008, 11:42:08 PM

It's .50 for me, at least 'til they make one in .577

Yes, there are lots more choices in bullets for the .45-75 and Starline is (eventually) going to produce brass for it, _and_ dies are available from Lyman at a great price for .45-75, but I still want a .50-95. It's sorta the apotheosis of impractical....

Hobie · March 19, 2008, 08:43:28 AM

Quote from: Possum Toed Rick on March 18, 2008, 06:08:07 PM
Hobie,
I've read your posts on re forming the 45-75 brass from the 50-90. Do you trim the 50 down and then use the sizing die to form it or do you have a special re-forming die. It wasn't clear to me from reading the posts.

Rick

Rick,

It concerns me that I wasn't clear enough that I'm using the full-length resizing die to form cases. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm going to go back and reword that so that it is clear.

The full-length resizing die is all that is needed to form the .50 Alaskan case to .45-75. Dittos for the .50 Sharps. I now anneal AFTER running the case into the die but before case mouth expansion and first load.

Buck Stinson · March 19, 2008, 07:50:32 PM

Rick,
I have all of the calibers in original 1876 Winchesters. I really like my .50 Express guns and have a great time shooting them but I think my favorite caliber in the .45-75WCF. It it easy and cheaper to load, and just as much fun to shoot. The Express has a mistique about it, but the .45-75 was the first cartridge and maybe a little more nestalgic. Here are a couple of my Express rifles and one of my favorite .45-75's.

Adios,
Buck

Fox Creek Kid · March 19, 2008, 11:47:48 PM

Does anyone know the rate of twist for the Uberti 50-95?

The originals were one in sixty something I believe for the light 300 gr. bullet.

sass2924 · March 20, 2008, 05:50:51 PM

Quote from: Fox Creek Kid on March 19, 2008, 11:47:48 PM
Does anyone know the rate of twist for the Uberti 50-95? The originals were one in sixty something I believe for the light 300 gr. bullet.

I believe it's 1/48

Buck Stinson · March 20, 2008, 08:18:33 PM

1 in 48 may be the correct twist for a Uberti .50 Express. The original 1876 Winchester in.50 Express is 1 in 60. The same twist was also used in the 1885 Winchester Highwall single shots rifles, which were chambered for this caliber.

Adios,
Buck

Dirty Brass · March 24, 2008, 04:29:56 PM

Well I hemmed and hawwed for awhile, but inevitably I opted to trade my 50-95 Taylors for a Cimarron 45/75 model. I just didn't care for the stampings on the barrel. I was a little dejected though, as the 50/95 had some gorgeous wood on it, but when I opened the Cimarron, it was just as nice, so all's well that ends well. Waiting on some dies and Starline brass to load some ammo, but I may have to purchase some (ouch!) just to give it a break in.

I sure like these rifles - oh....I kept the 22" 45/60 Cimmaron - that one is real nice too!

Been turning down brass and rims and finished running em' through the expander die this afternoon. All primed - just need some Pyrodex. I have some Montana Precision Swaging 300 gr. bullets I got from Midway - I'm going to try them in both rifles and see what happens......

Scully fan · April 29, 2012, 09:47:23 AM

Hello mr. Buck Stinson,
whatt to say ?' I'm eyes out in watching TWO "Express" '76, and in what shape moreover... the same for the 45/75.
Fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!

Here in Italy I rely mainly on Websites to see the nice stuff, but things are near-impossible to do if thinking at abroad. Currently do own one 1876 in 40-60 (late 1887, s/n 59,9XX) and one 50-95 Express but, this one has been totally reblued and not-professionally.
But, at least it is perfect as for markings, corners, and action....was possibly the only way to get one in a still decent price range, here in this country.
(Still to regretting, for it is a 22" round barrel and half-mag, with the British proof markings...a real Big Cats Gun, but so-so reblued!!)

Shotgun Franklin · April 29, 2012, 09:54:54 AM

Teddy Roosevelt owned a Bullard Repeater in .50-110, if I recall right, and a Winchester '76 in .45-75. Based on his writings it seems that the .45-75 was his 'go to' gun for anything that he hunted in the West. That says a lot because he could afford to own and use any gun in the world.

Scully fan · April 29, 2012, 02:57:48 PM

Hello from Scully Fan,
don't know whether this is the correct sub-topic, but I have a question for wich I thank in advance anyone helpful,

might a "normal" rearsight in buckhorn-style (shall send photos) be original with my "Express" '76?
I read somewhere the multi-leaf -it is correct the word?

- type was the real "African sight" but, I believe an Express do not means necessarily having been used in shooting lions or Bengal tigers by any Her Majesty Queen's officer/hunter there down...
even if, it has the "coveted" (so I read) 22" barrel and 1/2 magazine.

What do you think ?

Skyrider · June 01, 2012, 11:30:20 PM

I ordered the .50/95 from those boys down in Texas! I thought long and hard, but being cheap to shoot is not one of my needs so to speak, kinda like buying a motorhome and wondering if you can get 15 miles (I get 6.5 to 7.

to the gallon. I just think the .50 iis the way to go for me. I like having something different than the rest of the crowd I suppose.