Thinking about my first 1876 need advice

[BobinIL]

I am thinking about getting an 1876 rifle to play around with.  I am sure it will be a Uberti version either Taylor's or Cimarron.  Not sure about the caliber though.  I can probably rule out the 50 cal.  Not sure my shoulder is up to that with a metal crescent butt plate.  Which is more accurate the 45-60 or the 45-75??  I would probably be shooting both smokeless and black powder.  Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

[larryo_1]

Well---for what it is worth,  i have a 45-75 and love it.  I shoot both smokeless and BP.  On the other hand,  A cousin of mine has an original '76 in 45-60.  I had made some dies for him out of some  old 45-70 Herters dies.  If you want to economize then that would be the caliber to get as 45-70 cases are pretty plentiful (were) and 45-60 cases can be made real easy.  Just run them into a trim die and whack off what sticks out and you got a 45-60 case.  I made quite a few for the cousin.  He passed away here last fall and I would have liked to grab onto that rifle but his family doesn't want to part with any of his guns so---.  Anyway, as I said, I really like my 45-75 and it came with the larger Uberti style chamber which gives me more case capacity but don't know if those chambers are still available as there was so much complaining about them that as I understand it now the rifles come with the correct size chambers  I got my rifle about 6-7 years ago and there have been alot of changes. I had to rework the trigger on mine as it was a nice 12 pounds and now is about 4 which is where I like it.  and, fussy me--I scraped off the finish and re-did all the wood to my taste. Anyway, you can't go wrong with either caliber and there are lots of very satisfied 45-60 shooters out and about so good luck.

[Oregon Bill]

Bob, I chose .45-75 because it was the original '76 chambering, and it gets ballistics closer to .45-70 than the .45-60. But then I also hope to hunt with it. I also chose mine in the North West Mounted Police carbine edition, and .45-75 was the only '76 caliber the "Mounties" used as far as I know. I have cases from both Buffalo Arms (made from .50-90) and from Rocky Mountain Cartridge.

[pinto beans]

BobinIL,

You are in a good spot trying to make up your mind on a great project!!!!

Myself I went with the .45-75WCF just because I liked the cartridge and the full length rifle.  My only problem has been a hiatus from working with it for last 2 months due to older family members being ill, but you take care of family first!  That being said, I can attest that what little I have shot the .45-75 it has proven to be more accurate than I can do justice to open sights with.  Loads for it have been built around smokeless with filler that the rifle seems to like. 

About all I would offer here, as I had the cartridge and rifle configuration I wanted set in my head, is to read and research on this site what others have reported.  Excellent information and first rate folks here.  Then get what strikes your fancy!!!

Best of luck.

PB

[Silver_Rings]

Bob,

My first 1876 is in 45-60 and my second is in 45-75.  If I had to have only one it would be the 45-60.

If you look under the post for loads for the 45-60, you will see it can be loaded with enough power to take any game animal in the lower 48.  The 45-60 is accurate as is the 45-75.  The straight wall case of the 45-60 is easier to load.  You will be less likely to damage cases reloading 45-60.  Cases for the 45-60 are less expensive and usually easier to find.

The 45-75 I have has the larger Uberti chamber, so the cases hold more powder than the standard 45-75.  The 45-75 can be loaded so that it has more power than the 45-60, but unless you plan on hunting grizzly bears, its not needed IMHO.  The hotter loads come with more kick that I can do without.  The 45-75 ammo does look cooler with it bottle shape.

Silver Rings   

[larryo_1]

Silver rings:
As I have stated earlier and many times before---I also have the larger chamber and it does offer many, many more oppurnities  to load more powerful loads if that is what one desires.  I have done that, been there and now am perfectly satisified with a load of 72 grains of 1½ Swiss BP.  Still backs you  up but not as bad as a 76 grain load--which by the way--apparently was what the Mounties used.  Them were MEN in them days!  I have to agree with you about the 45-60 in that it is easier to play with, cheaper to load and the brass is easier to find.

[ndnchf]

The .45-75 is a fine cartridge and the soul of an 1876.  If I were to buy another, that's what I'd get.

That being said, I have an Uberti .50-95 that I bought 4-5 years ago directly from Taylors and I love it!  By the cartridge's name, you woud expect it to kick like a mule, but I was plesantly surprised how mild it is. Since it uses a fairly light express type bullet and it's a fairly heavy rifle, recoil is not bad at all.  While I haven't shot a .45-75, I've shot a lot of .45-70 and .50-70 rifles and recoil was no worse than those.

Choosing a caliber really depends on what you want out of it.  I'm not a hunter, so that use wasn't a factor in my decision.  For me it was a all about the mystique of the big 50!  Childish perhaps, but I have a fondness for the half inch bore and this won my heart.

You can't go wrong with any caliber.  They are all great.  If I had the wallet, I'd get one of each

[Grizzly Adams]

I have both.  My favorite in terms of reloading and shooting is the 45-60.  It's a honey.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Pards
My favorite is the 45-60 . I have killed Deer with it and it works for me . Fun to shoot .