.45-75 Winchester brass

greyhawk · June 15, 2019, 07:43:58 AM

Quote from: Boone May on June 12, 2019, 11:36:34 PM
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.

I just wish they would make this brass correct size to the drawing dimensions instead of all of it (348, 50 alaskan,50/110) 10 to 14thou undersize. sheesh how hard would it be?

?

Boone May · June 16, 2019, 01:42:45 PM

I looked through all the boxes in my garage today and found 30 of the formed .45-75 made from .348 Winchester brass as previously sold by Buffalo Arms. I guess that will have to do for me until/if another source becomes available.

greyhawk · June 17, 2019, 06:36:32 AM

Quote from: Boone May on June 16, 2019, 01:42:45 PM
I looked through all the boxes in my garage today and found 30 of the formed .45-75 made from .348 Winchester brass as previously sold by Buffalo Arms. I guess that will have to do for me until/if another source becomes available .

despite my moaning my rifle is shooting dangerously well with 348 based brass - I have got used to the weird look of these cases that are way fatter in the body than at the solid head, .....plus side the necks are almost too thick and that keeps the whole thing centered in the chamber while fire forming so they blow out evenly - and its tough! mine is winchester brand - the forming process was not so hard .

Boone May · June 17, 2019, 10:26:13 AM

Doing a google search I turned up this supplier. Etsy? Looks like these are being formed from Starline .50-90 cases. I have no idea the quality or how they work through the action. Who wants to be the "crash test dummie" and order some?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/565628034/4575-winchester-center-fire-quantity-20

Boone May · June 17, 2019, 11:32:27 AM

Found these two mystery .45-75 cases in the stash yesterday. Not sure who made them, appear to be modern. They are marked .45-75 Win and have a picture of a little rifle at the bottom.

Sorry, not the greatest photo.

pinto beans · June 17, 2019, 06:03:08 PM

"Doing a google search I turned up this supplier. Etsy? Looks like these are being formed from Starline .50-90 cases. I have no idea the quality or how they work through the action. Who wants to be the "crash test dummie" and order some?"

Evening Folks, if all the same I am gonna pass as the "crash test dummie" this time. The Quality Cartridge sample did me for a while. One word of caution I would offer to whom ever does try these is grab the calipers and measure EVERYTHING before giving it a try. Will save the application of sever adjectives while trying get the #&#*! cartridge elevator out to clear the mother of all jams if the rims are to small!!

P.B.

greyhawk · June 19, 2019, 08:17:23 AM

Quote from: Boone May on June 17, 2019, 10:26:13 AM
Doing a google search I turned up this supplier. Etsy? Looks like these are being formed from Starline .50-90 cases. I have no idea the quality or how they work through the action. Who wants to be the "crash test dummie" and order some?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/565628034/4575-winchester-center-fire-quantity-20

went to the website - sez they made from magtech 32 gauge shotshells

Cimarron · July 13, 2019, 01:04:34 PM

This guy (Ammunition Artifacts) does make some out of 32 Magtech shotshell brass for original 1876 rifles, but also makes them out of 50 Alaskan (which led to my attempt) for the "replica 1876 rifles". Go to his website (click on all brass) and see all of the brass he makes. I thought about buying some but like was previously stated, I'll let some one else make the plunge first.

King Medallion · August 14, 2019, 02:14:05 PM

On Gunbroker, not affiliated, just passing along.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/826997229

Slamfire · September 21, 2019, 01:04:57 PM

I have 60 pcs. of Huntington 45 Basic Brass ( 3.250 in. ) ,, can they be used to make 45/75 cases,, or is the base to small ( .500 ) ??

smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

Coal Creek Griff · September 24, 2019, 12:52:07 PM

Quote from: Slamfire on September 21, 2019, 01:04:57 PM
I have 60 pcs. of Huntington 45 Basic Brass ( 3.250 in. ) ,, can they be used to make 45/75 cases,, or is the base to small ( .500 ) ??

smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

I was hoping that someone who knew for sure would answer you, but no one has. You'll have to settle for me and I only think that I know the answer.

I believe that most 45 Basic brass is made for standard straight-walled .45 cartridges, like 45-70, 45-90, etc. 45-75 Winchester brass is much larger at the base and cannot be made from .45 Basic brass. It is closer to a .50 caliber case necked down to .45 caliber at the mouth.

Now that I've said that, someone else will come along and prove me wrong...

CC Griff

Buck Stinson · September 24, 2019, 08:39:40 PM

You can not make .45-75 WCF out of .45 basic brass. Rim is way too small. Mentioned on this forum many times in the past, that .348 Win. brass makes excellent .45-75 ammo. Been using it for over 40 years without a single failure.

Slamfire · September 24, 2019, 08:41:28 PM

Hey Coal,, thanks for the reply,,, think'n about selling them any way ,, I got plenty of 45-70's ( I reform 'm to 40-60 win. ).

smoke'm fi ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

larryo1 · September 25, 2019, 07:45:14 AM

I agree with Buck. I do have and use with great success--50-90 Sharps brass. Have heard tales of woe about this stuff but it has never give me any problems. As I have said, in the past, maybe I gots a rifle that works with the stuff. As far as 348 brass goes. That was the first stuff I got way back when there was no other to use. No problems.

pinto beans · November 06, 2019, 04:16:22 PM

Greetings All,

After getting things set to rights on the failed trial of brass from Quality Cartridge, I did what should have been the course of action to start with. I contacted Rocky Mountain Cartridge to see if they were still accepting orders. Yep. 45-75wcf still available? Yep. I commissioned 100 rds of new 45-75 brass. Now this has to be fabricated first so delivery can take few months which presents no problems to those who already have brass, like myself. Will post up when it does arrive and the workup on it but the brass I already have from them has been 100% quality and spot on dimension wise. I am very happy these folks are still taking orders and making brass. The price is higher yes but this is good quality products that should last a long time. Being turned from brass rod as opposed to extruded makes a very robust case that fits the extractor, chamber and other areas of the rifle better than the extruded brass from now extinct Jamison, and that is good stuff too!

Working toward that chance to go shoot and post up adventures there as well. Everyone keep ya powder dry!!

P.B.

pinto beans · December 14, 2019, 08:40:35 AM

Greetings All,

Quick check in and report that good things do come to those who wait. Just got 100 rounds of brand new 45-75 brass from Rocky Mountain Cartridge. The company is still taking orders and turning out great products. Couple months wait but well worth it. As I get time to process and load up the new brass will share how things go. Gonna be a slow process, got some sickness in family but hopefully time will be there to do a little along. Am thankful that these good folks are still taking orders and we have an option for good brass still.

Keep ya powder dry.

P.B.

Baltimore Ed · December 14, 2019, 09:05:40 AM

I and others went through a similar shortage with our beloved Krags when .30-40 brass dried up and you were forced to pay too much for used stuff or make do with what you had [.303]. But now it?s available. While the .45-75 would have been correct for my NWMP ?76 carbine I bought one in .45-60 as I already had 45-70 dies and plenty of 45-70 brass that i could trim down. Don?t even own a 45-70 anymore but had 4 of them over the years. May you successfully form your brass with but a few sacrificed to the brass gods.

pinto beans · December 14, 2019, 09:17:23 AM

Bonus pics. Now as has been documented in other posts I am a TERRIBLE photographer so forgive the images even with new phone. Three photos showing the product as it is unwrapped and the primer pocket which is nice and tight on these cases. As it is sometimes noted without pics it didn't happen so here is the proof!!

pinto beans · December 19, 2019, 02:28:55 PM

Greetings All,

Quick report on the new brass. Measured, prepared and loaded 20 rounds. These are spot on in dimensions and cycle in the rifle with NO problems. Took several pics of the process but nothing that hasn't been seen before so will share one of the 20 loaded rounds and 80 rds of brass to go!! Just a little chance to test the new brass in midst of life happening.

Merry Christmas!!

P.B.

Coal Creek Griff · December 19, 2019, 02:50:28 PM

Thanks for the report, sir. It's good to know that a solution to our brass problem exists. Let us know how they work when you test them.

I can't believe that I keep choosing guns with brass "issues". I have a Shiloh Sharps rifle in the process and I'm going with 44-77. I must somehow enjoy not being able to readily purchase components... Actually, there is something about original or very early configurations that intrigues me.

CC Griff