30 cal x 45/70 or 45/90

[bikerbeans]

Just bought a 308 x 444.  Close to a 309 JDJ but the shoulder just a tad different.  2 trips to the range and I like it and am looking forward to finding the perfect load.  A friend has a couple of wildcats based on the 45/70 case, but none are 30 cal.  I am thinking I might want to try a 308 x 45/70.  Would appreciate any information regarding this cartridge, I am assuming someone has already made one.

thanks

BB

[jedman]

   The closest match I can think of off the top of my head, ( wonder what that really meens ? ) is the 30 X 284 cartridge.  It has the same head diameter as a 45-70 and  length could be plus or minus a tad from the 30 X 284.  It would take several neck forming passes to get it to a 308 neck with the somewhat sharp shoulder angle that round has.   Jed

[Nobade]

Very similar to the 7.62X54R Russian round.

[stimpylu32]

One thing to consider is that the 45/70 & 45/90 cases are on the thin side and not designed to support real high pressures , so with that in mind , you would have to do some research to find powders that would work well in the lower pressure ranges and still give the resalts your looking for .

stimpy

[Catfish]

One thing to consider is that the 45/70 & 45/90 cases are on the thin side and not designed to support real high pressures , so with that in mind.!!!! As Stimpy said, is the mian reason I would never build build that round. That and all the trouble necking down that far just make to many other cases a better choice, at least in my oppenion.

[shot1]

45-70 down to 30 cal basically the 7.32X54R

45-90 down to 30 cal basically the 300 Win mag.

Like others have said the 45-70 or 90 case it too thin.

[redneckdan]

I have a set of .30-284 dies.  I could give it a shot if you want.

[bikerbeans]

Dan,

I have the attention span of a hyper-active 2 year old.  Got distracted from the 30 cal project and I am now working on a 410 fully rifled slug gun and working up ammo for it and kinda forgot about the 30 cal rechamber project.  I will probably not get back to this gun until after deer season, which is early Feb in Ohio.  Thanks for the offer, I appreciate that.

Tom

[redneckdan]

I tried it with two cases.  Both buckled.  I think you will have to get a hold of some forming dies.  Probably 416-284 and then 375-284

[bikerbeans]

Dan,

thanks for the information, now if I can just remember it until Feb.

BB

[jedman]

   This pic is of one of my wildcats based on a 45-70 that BB spoke of, it's the top 2 " of a 340 Weatherby.
It's formed in 2 passes, from 45-70 to 45- 39 to 45-34, it might go down to 30 cal. with 1 more necking.
Another wildcat version would be the top 2" of a 300 Weatherby, case capacity would be between a 308 Win. and a 30-06 in a 2" case, nothing exceptional but fun and easy to do.          Jed

[redneckdan]

what do you use for the 45-39 die?  I have an unused set of .300 wby dies.  Also have an unused set of 338 win mag dies that could take the place of the 340 die as an intermediate step.  Might even be able to use it in a 'tender as long as the loader doesn't act like a jackwagon and hot rod the heck out of it.  Seems like the case would have a nice long neck suitable for casted boolits if that is your thing.

[jedman]

   Dan,

   The die I use to stepdown the 45-70 case is a homemade die.  I bought a 2 ft. long piece of 7/8-14 all thread rod, just mild steel and bored the hole in it with a 1/2" drill bit that I hand ground to the general neck profile and then polished it up inside with a abrasive compound so it wouldnt scratch the brass.
For other wildcats I have just used common dies to start necking down the brass, you dont need expensive forming dies you just need to shorten some dies to do what you want it to do.
    The 2" 340 I have would be a good cast bullet round with its long neck but good  gas checked bullets in .338-.340 dia. are kinda hard to find.  I shoot 225 gr. jacketed w/ Varget for around 2300 fps a mid load but it shoots great and will kill most anything.
  The rifle I built it on is a H&R handi rifle and I bought a Weatherby take off barrel that was chambered in 340 and I just cut the breech end of the barrel off until I had it right and stubbed it with a 20 ga. barrel stub, no reamer required and cut down a set of 340 Weatherby dies , and built my own forend , ended up costing less than $ 100 for everything minus the origanal gun.     Jed