Author Topic: 45-120 project DONE. AND VIDEO! (Read 4821 times)

tykempster · « **on:** June 07, 2008, 02:13:11 PM »

Ordered the H&R Buffalo Classic today. After I get it, and a date set up to work with my gunsmith (he's going to "teach me" stuff" I'm ordering the 45-120 reamer and go/no-go's, along with a recoil reducer,(or maybe some lead in the stock), a good recoil pad (not sure which), and a Williams target sight.

Eventually I'll be getting another stock set that is heavier, but that's down the road.

I'll either use Jeffeoso's loads from ammoguide or work up from 45-120 smokeless loads that are capped at <30K pressures until my shoulder hurts enough.

copdills · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2008, 01:31:34 AM »

Keep us informed this is very interesting Good Luck

tykempster · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2008, 11:06:46 AM »

If I get the Williams target sight, do I need to get a different front sight? One guy mentioned this in the midwayusa reviews.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2008, 11:23:44 AM »

If you read the long range sights links in the FAQs, you'd know the answer to that question.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2008, 01:24:12 PM »

FAQs know all.

I couldn't find the sight height of the factory sight. (try saying that 5 times fast!)
With the flatter trajectory of the 45-120, will the stock front sight get me anywhere near 600? Money is reeaal tight for me, parents and grandparents hopefully buy the gun, (although I just wrote the check, my checking account is hurting

) I'm responsible for all other accessories.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2008, 02:08:24 PM »

Factory 17A is either .494" or 584", not all are the same, but the .404" will get you better than 600yrds easy.
Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2008, 04:21:31 PM »

600 is fine...I can't hold that well with a peep sight I'm sure. I hit a 24" gong offhand a couple times at 600 with an M1. I was surprised how well it shot, especially with ball tracers, Watched em drop right in.

tykempster · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2008, 10:46:59 AM »

One more question for you quickdtoo, when you reamed out to 45-120 did you use a normal chamber reamer? It was suggested to use a reamer without a cutter on the rim to maintain proper headspace, but I haven't seen one of those.

ranger 76 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2008, 11:16:34 AM »

If you look on NEF/HR Classifieds right now there is a set of williams sight for sale by Ben for 30.00 you can't beat that .
Good luck Lorne

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2008, 11:52:15 AM »

Tyler, I had mine reamed by a smith, but if you go easy on the reamer and stop when it touches the rim cut, it won't be an issue, I just did two hand reamings, just go slow and it will work fine.

The sight set in the Classifieds is the same set that comes on the BC, a WGRS and 17A, probably a .494" or .584", not what you want on either count, a good buy tho.

Tim

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2008, 03:20:44 PM »

How much does a Dr. charge for a dislocated shoulder?

DP.

tykempster · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2008, 04:29:48 PM »

We'll find out. Check out my size, maybe I'll roll with the recoil-or fly?

LONGTOM · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2008, 02:15:28 AM »

Forget the Dr., you can put it back in yourself but it isn't pretty.
Hurts a lot more going back in then coming out.
I have had severail dislocations a couple of years ago while coaching little league which was the result of my rodeo days when I was a lot younger.
It hurts, but I still like to shoot my BIG BORES!

I also am thinking of a 45-120 rechamber of a BC. Just not sure I want to pay the price for the brass. I may opt for the 45-90 so I can still shoot 45-70s if I want. I can always go a little farther later. I already have about 60 pieces of new 45-100 brass. Haven't really decided which way to go.

A friend of mine just changed the stock on his BC to a pistol grip one with a pad. Don't look to bad and it sure helps calm it down a lot with full house loads. May do the same to mine.

LONGTOM

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2008, 05:11:53 AM »

Do you achieve anything the 45-70 can't do by going to a 45-120?

I'm sure you could probably go with lower pressure loads maybe a little more velocity due to the increased case capacity...Is it worth it???

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:05:58 AM »

Good question Stumpjmpr. I think we all have guns that will do what the others will do. My .30.30, 7mm-08, .308, .30-06, .45-70 and, in some peoples' opinion, (not mine) .22-250 and .357 will kill deer. I'm sure the last two do, but not the way I like to do it. It is just the phobia, the old, continuing Handiholic problem. Just gotta try another one! Why not, we only go around once. Late at night, when I wake up and roll over, this thing about a .35 whelen keeps creeping into my mind. Do I need it?

Won't the '06 and the .45-70 cover what it will do? Probably, but I think I need a Whelen. I gotta ask Dr. Tim if he's got a cure for this.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:22:53 AM »

If you're gonna spend the money for the rechamber, you might as well get the most return for your $$, the shock and awe of the big 120 will put a smile on everyone's face, the intial cost of brass @$1.75-$2 each is a concern, but at max load pressures of 31kpsi, should last forever, so you only need to buy it once, unless you give it all away, a piece at time when folks at the range want to buy one from ya!!

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=130865.msg1098484695#msg1098484695

NFG · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2008, 10:05:01 AM »

I was all cranked up to do my BC in 45-120 also...located a reamer...bought some brass...then took a look at the 45-90...got all cranked up to do that on instead...located a reamer...bought some brass but decided I didn't want to deal with the cleaning required for blackpowder...it's problem enough in my smoker rifle and pistol...so I just blew it off. Besides my BC shoots so well with most of the bullets I use I decided not to mess with a good thing.

Still......

Good luck on your project.

Ty...I HATE peole like you...I can't even catch a cold when it come to the finney things.

VERY NICE CATCH. Hope a bug bites your toe...

'Njoy

jacksbark · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2008, 10:21:35 PM »

I have one of the BCs in 47-70, of course. But, being cheap and loving to improvise, what i did was get me a wooden ML short starter and cut it off to the same length as the 45/70 case. I load the .45-70 case full to the mouth with my favorite powder (black or otherwise) and cap it with a thin compressed felt or cardboard wad. So, now I have an artillery style charged case. Then I take my favorite cast bullet and ram it into the chamber and push it home with the short starter - well up into the rifling. Then comes the case which, when the action is closed, is forced that last 1/16" up against the base of the bullet ..... then its PARTY TIME. This is a poor man's 45-100 or so and really has proven to be consistently accurate. Recoil can be a bit stiff though - but I solved that problem by putting the fancy walnut checkered stock and its steel butt-plate-from-Hell into storage and mounted nice soccer mom rubber recoil padded stock that came from another Handi. So many Handi and only one life to enjoy them all - it just isn't fair.

tykempster · « **Reply #18 on:** June 14, 2008, 02:11:20 PM »

Guess what I got today...

I do not like the sights or the stock finish...but those will change. Quickdtoo, how did you refinish your stock? It looks much nicer than my factory finish. Or I might just wait until I can buy a stock set off the internet, in higher grade walnut. The front sight is awfully small as well, need a new one of those, but it's shootable. Fired off a round today, as well as two workers at the gun club. Low Ruger level loads/max Marlin level with 300 grain JHP. Recoil wasn't that bad, but the stupid buttplate hurts, can't wait for a good pad. The 32" barrel probably had 200 fps on the 18" GG barrel I'm used to, so 2500 fps give or take a bit.

Oh and another, dual 21 lb Channel Cats.

Check out those scrawny arms

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2008, 02:22:23 PM »

Congrats Tyler! I didn't refinish the stocks on any of mine, they're all factory finished, some stocks are just nicer than others.

Nice catch!!

Tim

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2008, 03:05:47 PM »

Oh, ya. Takes me back to my youth, runnin trot lines all night and then working on the farm all day. Shoulda saved some of that energy for now.

DP.

tykempster · « **Reply #21 on:** June 14, 2008, 03:43:06 PM »

Both of these were rod and reel, except I had to go get the second one...he was stuck in some weeds.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #22 on:** June 14, 2008, 03:50:53 PM »

As I work with my 38-55, I think I'll take the fancy butt stock off and go with the sissy recoil pad off the bench. Gonna try to step it up a bit to see if it tightens up things by slugging up to fit the bore better. Good luck with yours, they are nice. DP. Oh, where are my manners, welcome aboard!

:

tykempster · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:45:59 AM »

Getting ready to make an order. Any quality difference between Lyman and RCBS dies? And Bell and Norma brass? I planned on ordering from track of the wolf or buffalo arms, unless there is someplace cheaper.

henry1 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 18, 2008, 02:00:54 PM »

In my opinion, there isnt much difference in the dies except operating, and at thats a slim difference. Its mostly all what you prefer. I own both, RCBS has been awesome about everything i have ever had a problem with. I really like their cust. serv. If something breaks they send you new one at no cost. Dont know anything bout bell brass, I have always thought Norma brass was expensive, but then again i am a cheep person. And i dont have a .45-110. Well I cant give you anymore advice from my perspective because Im out. Hope it works out for ya!
Later Henry.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** June 18, 2008, 02:19:22 PM »

I think it's a moot point, RCBS doesn't make dies for the 45-120, just Lyman AFAIK. I'm real happy with my Lyman dies, only paid $36 for em at Cabelas, but they've gone up since of course. $:-\$

Bell brass has worked well for me, the only Norma brass that I've shot was in the 7x64, it seemed to stick real bad compared to Federal brass that I used, so I've always steered clear of it. When I bought the Bell brass direct from Mast Technology, I inquired about it's strength, it's tested above 60kpsi, so that was good news when you're paying upwards of $2 each, it's nice to know that it's well made. I sectioned one and compared it to 500S&W brass, it's thicker in all comparable locations.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #26 on:** June 19, 2008, 06:20:12 PM »

Looks like it's Lyman dies and Bell brass.

Here's RCBS 45-120 dies though:
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4933.html

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** June 20, 2008, 04:39:35 AM »

Hmmm, missed it at RCBS, they don't list it in the die sets, forgot about their Legacy dies, that would be a good set of dies, I'm sure.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #28 on:** June 20, 2008, 04:08:20 PM »

One more question, this might be the last one, I swear.

As far as recoil pads go, Kick-Eez 1 3/8" inch, or a Limbsaver? I like that the Kick-Eez can be molded to the curve of the stock, but if Limbsaver works better, then I'll be getting it.

Kick-Eez comes in brown too...would this look good on walnut? Never really seen it done.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #29 on:** June 20, 2008, 04:25:00 PM »

If you mean the slip-on Limbsaver, even the small doesn't fit the BC stock well, it's too lose, dunno about the Kick-Eez, but the small Galco leather slip on fits pretty good.

Tim