.45-75 Winchester brass

[Cliff Fendley]

Here is the response from Starline brass.

Cliff,



I?m sorry but we don?t currently have any plans to produce brass for the .45-75 Win.





Regards,



Hunter Pilant

Process Manager

Chief Ballistician

[Coal Creek Griff]

Well, at least you got an answer.  That's too bad, though...

CC Griff

[Cimarron]

Here is the response from Starline brass.

Cliff,



I?m sorry but we don?t currently have any plans to produce brass for the .45-75 Win.




Regards,



Hunter Pilant

Process Manager

Chief Ballistician

I'm glad to see someone other than me contacted Starline.  I got a similar response from Mr. Pilant today!  I wrote him back today and suggested they reconsider since they were making 348 Winchester brass which was the same head as the 45-75.  I also mentioned that I used their  50-90 Sharps, 45-70 and 38-55 brass.  I also mentioned that there were several shooters here at CAS City that were in need of 45-75 brass.  Didn't try to be pushy but urged them to reconsider making 45-75.  It can't hurt.  If they would make a batch I would buy 500 rounds.

[Cliff Fendley]

I'm glad to see someone other than me contacted Starline.  I got a similar response from Mr. Pilant today!  I wrote him back today and suggested they reconsider since they were making 348 Winchester brass which was the same head as the 45-75.  I also mentioned that I used their  50-90 Sharps, 45-70 and 38-55 brass.  I also mentioned that there were several shooters here at CAS City that were in need of 45-75 brass.  Didn't try to be pushy but urged them to reconsider making 45-75.  It can't hurt.  If they would make a batch I would buy 500 rounds.

That is my thinking, I never had much hope of them doing any 45-75 but when they came out with 348 I was thinking how hard could it be to set up for 45-75.

[Cimarron]

Has anyone here tried to form 45-75 brass out of 50 Alaskan?  Been doing some research on the process and it seems marginally simpler than the 348 fire forming technique.  I have also found that there is 45-75 brass available from Ammunition Artifacts.  Has anyone heard about them or used their product.  At $54 per 20 plus $8 shipping it seems a little pricey bus still cheaper than Bertram's product.

[greyhawk]

Has anyone here tried to form 45-75 brass out of 50 Alaskan?  Been doing some research on the process and it seems marginally simpler than the 348 fire forming technique.  I have also found that there is 45-75 brass available from Ammunition Artifacts.  Has anyone heard about them or used their product.  At $54 per 20 plus $8 shipping it seems a little pricey bus still cheaper than Bertram's product.

I been thinking about that 50 alsakan - its a good price at present - then I perused the ammo cupboard and decided I got enough brass - but then I wondered ........if I had a couple hundred 50 alsakan cases , maybe a homeless 50/95 would find me ??

I made 38/40 out of 44/40 Starline a while back - I lost 5 out of 100 to crinkled necks - have not had a problem with necks when expanding 348 - BUT - I didnt anneal that starline brass either just ran it in the sizer die - the ones that crinkled were all when I just stroked the lever a bit quick. 

[pinto beans]

Greetings All,

Reported a while back on getting a sack of Quality Cartridge brass in 45-75 and the measurement showing the rims to be smaller than that from other companies.  I loaded the development rounds but they will not extract period from the rifle and I know if they are fired it will be a rod down the barrel to punch them out.  After mulling it over I decided not to even try the loads.  Pulled the bullets and broke the cartridges down.  Gonna dispose of the brass and mark it up to a payment for stupid tax.  Not sure if the original cartridge had this smaller diameter rim or what is the reason for the difference but I am fortunate enough to have a good stock of RMC and Jamison brass so not willing to risk any malfunctions or harm to the rifle I have decided to play it safe.  Just wanted to report the fate of the trial.  Let us hope another maker will step up to the task of good quality brass for the 76 cartridges.

P.B.

[Cliff Fendley]

Bummer!

[greyhawk]

Greetings All,

Reported a while back on getting a sack of Quality Cartridge brass in 45-75 and the measurement showing the rims to be smaller than that from other companies.  I loaded the development rounds but they will not extract period from the rifle and I know if they are fired it will be a rod down the barrel to punch them out.  After mulling it over I decided not to even try the loads.  Pulled the bullets and broke the cartridges down.  Gonna dispose of the brass and mark it up to a payment for stupid tax.  Not sure if the original cartridge had this smaller diameter rim or what is the reason for the difference but I am fortunate enough to have a good stock of RMC and Jamison brass so not willing to risk any malfunctions or harm to the rifle I have decided to play it safe.  Just wanted to report the fate of the trial.  Let us hope another maker will step up to the task of good quality brass for the 76 cartridges.

P.B.

Do these guys make their own brass or reform other stuff? Seems strange if they make it from scratch that they get the rim size so wrong.
Have been told that Magtech 32 gauge brass shotshells make into 45/75 ok - we cant get em downunder so have not been able to try. rims on those might be too small too?

[Cimarron]

The ammunitionartifacts.com website list two 45-75 loadings available.  The one for "original" 1876 Winchester rifles uses the Magtech 32 gauge brass as the basis for it.  Their 45-75 "reproductions (read Uberti etal)" uses the 50 Alaskan brass as the basis for it.  He claims the difference in rim diameter is why he uses the different brass cases for the two versions of 45-75, original and reproduction guns.  That is why I have asked if anyone had tried the 50 Alaskan.  The head, if specifications can be believed, is close to the Jamison 45-75 that works well in my Cimarron/Uberti.  Its cheap enough I was thinking about ordering 20 rounds and seeing if I can form 45-75 out of it.

[greyhawk]

The ammunitionartifacts.com website list two 45-75 loadings available.  The one for "original" 1876 Winchester rifles uses the Magtech 32 gauge brass as the basis for it.  Their 45-75 "reproductions (read Uberti etal)" uses the 50 Alaskan brass as the basis for it.  He claims the difference in rim diameter is why he uses the different brass cases for the two versions of 45-75, original and reproduction guns.  That is why I have asked if anyone had tried the 50 Alaskan.  The head, if specifications can be believed, is close to the Jamison 45-75 that works well in my Cimarron/Uberti.  Its cheap enough I was thinking about ordering 20 rounds and seeing if I can form 45-75 out of it.

Dont know if anybody is interested - or - if it would work but midway has 100rounds of 8mm Lebel on special (67cents per unit) - rim dimensions are different .630 x.055 vs .610x.070 otherwise its a fit --this is Brazilian??  (Privi-something) or Eastern European??

I would like to try the magtech but cant find it downunder ....

[Ranch 13]

Seems that if you were going to make 45-75 out of 50-90, it would be easiest to trim to length, then run that 50 brass into a 45-90 size die and firearm the shoulder. I use that process for making 40-90 bn from 45-100, using a 40-65 die.
Hornady ran a batch of 348 brass a while back.

[Cimarron]

Received 20 rounds of 50 Alaskan Monday and trimmed, annealed, sized and finish trimmed.  It functions through the Uberti and ejects. Only took a couple of hours to process the 20 rounds.  I will be trying the same technique with some 50-110 Winchester brass I have coming.  About a dollar and a dime cost per case for the Alaskan.  If they don't work my experiment only cost $22.  The 50 Alaskan is .544" ahead of the rim or .012" small.  The 50-110 is supposed to be .551" in the same area or only .005" small.  The Jamison brass that I have measures .556" ahead of the rim so the 50-110 may end up being the better choice.  I thought about using 50-90 Sharps but would have had to turn down the rim several thousands on the lathe.  I have a Sharps in 50-90 and a good supply of that brass but the extra step in processing it may not make it worth the effort.

[greyhawk]

Received 20 rounds of 50 Alaskan Monday and trimmed, annealed, sized and finish trimmed.  It functions through the Uberti and ejects. Only took a couple of hours to process the 20 rounds.  I will be trying the same technique with some 50-110 Winchester brass I have coming.  About a dollar and a dime cost per case for the Alaskan.  If they don't work my experiment only cost $22.  The 50 Alaskan is .544" ahead of the rim or .012" small.  The 50-110 is supposed to be .551" in the same area or only .005" small.  The Jamison brass that I have measures .556" ahead of the rim so the 50-110 may end up being the better choice.  I thought about using 50-90 Sharps but would have had to turn down the rim several thousands on the lathe.  I have a Sharps in 50-90 and a good supply of that brass but the extra step in processing it may not make it worth the effort.

My 348 converted brass is .548 ahead of the rim - wish I had of got some of that Jamison brass back when it was around
The 50 Alaskan is a good price at the moment (maybe that changes when they run a new batch of it too?)
Please keep us posted on the 50/110 when you get it done

Does the 50/90 sharps need diameter reduced or rim thickness ? Diameter would be simple with a collet - thickness much more work!

thanks for the info on the Alaskan

[Coal Creek Griff]

Does the 50/90 sharps need diameter reduced or rim thickness ?

In my experience, it needs both. My process has been to do an initial trim, anneal, size in the 45-75 sizing die (in several stages), then mount the brass in a drill press (I don't have a lathe) on a mandrel. I use a file to narrow the rims, then a hacksaw blade to thin them from the top. I also cut an extractor groove to match the Jamison brass. After that, the brass gets a final trim and I anneal the mouth again. Then I go take a nap to rest from my labors, praying that Starline starts producing brass in this caliber.

There are likely easier ways, but that's what I have been doing...

CC Griff

[Cimarron]

Then I go take a nap to rest from my labors, praying that Starline starts producing brass in this caliber.

There are likely easier ways, but that's what I have been doing...

CC Griff

I absolutely agree!!!  I am sending another email to Starline today requesting 45-75 production.  Probably futile but it doesn't cost anything to keep after them.

[Cliff Fendley]

Ask anyone else you know to request. I figure if they know there is interest from enough people maybe they will.

[Cimarron]

50-110 Starline brass came yesterday.  Starline has made it with the same head dimensions as the 50 Alaskan.  So there is no need to keep them and I will be sending them back.  The books I have show the 50-110 being .551 ahead of the rim but this Starline is the same as the 50 Alaskan .544.  Not going to buy solid gold Bertram so I will keep pestering Starline.

[greyhawk]

50-110 Starline brass came yesterday.  Starline has made it with the same head dimensions as the 50 Alaskan.  So there is no need to keep them and I will be sending them back.  The books I have show the 50-110 being .551 ahead of the rim but this Starline is the same as the 50 Alaskan .544.  Not going to buy solid gold Bertram so I will keep pestering Starline.

Thanks for posting - saves me going through the motions

[Boone May]

I see that Starline is offering .348 Winchester brass now.  That at least gives us a source for forming .45-75 again.   The .45-75 brass I have now was made from Winchester .348 brass and it works very well in the original 1876 rifles I have owned.