Video - Making .45-60 brass for Winchester's 1876 Rifle

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 26, 2011, 05:56:28 AM

This video was based on a request from one of my YouTube subscribers who has an 1876 rifle in .45-60 and wanted to know how to turn .45-70 brass into the more expensive .45-60 variety. This video demonstrates that operation and it gives an overview of the Winchester 1876 rifle.

One apology. In the video I keep saying .40-60 when I mean .45-60. I guess it is a Freudian slip because .40-60 is the best 1876 cartridge.

Pettifogger · August 26, 2011, 11:17:52 AM

You need to add a slight caveat to the video. The process works for the Italian clones. However, original .45-60's had rims that were .010" thinner than the .45-70. My original won't close on a .45-70 case unless the rim has been thinned. Jamison brass in .45-60 has the correct rim thickness.

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 26, 2011, 06:11:05 PM

Thanks Pettifogger, and thanks also to Sir Charles deMouton-Black (as a Frenchy Canuck myself, I love that name) who sent me a PM on the same issue. One reason why I love CAS-City is the knowledgeable folks here.

Maybe I should have mentioned the rim thickness. I had a whole scene on the 1876 family of cartridges, but I cut it from the final video in the interests of time, and because I had already provided way more info that the original question asked for.

All the Winchester 1876 cartridges (.40-60, .45-60, .45-75 and .50-95 Express) have Rim thickness specs of 0.062" to 0.065"

In contrast .45-70 specs call for rim thicknesses of 0.060" to 0.70", but in actual practice they seldom vary from 0.064" to 0.068"

Since Uberti (I can't speak for Chaparral) is using a chamber that allows a 0.068" rim I knew this wouldn't be an issue. The difference between 0.064" and 0.062" is so slight that firing pins have no trouble setting off primers in the thinner rimmed brass.

So the clones should not be an issue, though originals, especially if the chamber is at the shallow end of the 1876 specs, may not fully close on brass made from .45-70s.

Great points to bring out. Thanks.

Rafe Covington · August 26, 2011, 06:54:44 PM

Thanks for the video, good to know I am not the only one who thinks the 40-60 WCF is the best '76 cartridge.

Rafe

Bottom Dealin Mike · August 27, 2011, 06:31:22 AM

Rafe,

You are in good company. Theodore Roosevelt thought so too.

Grapeshot · September 21, 2011, 12:00:19 PM

Went through that hoop once before. Sent you a PM on it. Good Work, love yor articles, keep 'em coming.

Bottom Dealin Mike · September 21, 2011, 05:47:53 PM

Thanks Grapeshot. I got it.

Are you still in the sandbox?

Grapeshot · September 21, 2011, 09:54:21 PM

Quote from: Bottom Dealin Mike on September 21, 2011, 05:47:53 PM
Thanks Grapeshot. I got it.

Are you still in the sandbox?

Currently I'm at Camp Taji, Iraq. I'll be back next September and picking up where I left off with my CAS activities. I wish all my Cowboy and GAF comrades well while I'm over here and will monitor all my favorite shooting sites. Take care and God Bless.

Grapeshot.