Author Topic: My 45-120 ROCKS! (Read 7252 times)

quickdtoo · « **Reply #120 on:** April 24, 2009, 02:04:58 PM »

Do both!!

I have a 45-70 BC and 45-120 BC, plus three 45-70 Handis, you can't have too many .45s!!

Tim

AtlLaw · « **Reply #121 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:47:50 PM »

Quote from: brianscott12 on April 24, 2009, 11:21:25 AM

If I wanted to rechamber my 45/70 buff. classic to a 45/120, would it lower the value of the gun?

You're kidding... aren't cha? $:-\$ We ain't talkin a Purdy or H&H double rifle here! That's one of the great things about the Handi! You can do what you want and you won't loose much if anything!

Ifn you got they hots for a 45-120 I'll tell you what I'd do ifn I was you. I'd get a regular (22") 45-70 barrel for my BC frame for hunting with the 45-70. That BC barrel is a pain to maneuver in a deer stand... trust me!

Then I'd chamber and throat my BC barrel for 45-120.

Myself, I had an old ('88 I think) SB2 45-70. I bought a BC barrel here on GB's and rechambered it. What I'm gonna do is get another Handi in 30/30, match the 45-70 and 30/30 barrels to one frame and have the 45-120 on the other frame. The woodwork is the big reason for that. The 30/30 barrel and the 22" 45-70 barrel for use with Trapdoor level loads mated to a receiver with a light, streight grip stock will be really... well, handy. The 45-120 on a receiver with a heavy padded stock is a necessity!

Then there's also the fact that I think pairing up the 45-120 receiver with a 26" 45-100 barrel would be a GREAT idea... $:-\$

NFG · « **Reply #122 on:** April 24, 2009, 08:13:36 PM »

Ditto on Quick and AtlLaw...My BC(30" bbl) with brake is only 1 1/4" longer overall than my Rem 700 338-06 with 26" bbl, or my braked 23" Savage375 H&H...but a 22" 45-70 is a foot SHORTER...much better for quick handling for certain...send your BC frame in and have a 22" 45-70 barrel hung on it and rechamber/throat you 32" bbl out to 45-120 and start FEELING the need for speed....and BIG boolits

...I gotta get another 45-70 "Shorty"...I'm wussing out so bad I need to hire a gun bearer to haul it around for me just to go squirrel shooting with the "Big'un".

Besides a "shorty-Handy" in 45-70 loaded with 500 plus gr slugs will handle ANYTHING that happens to get in front of it...

...or just buy another complete rifle...they're cheap enough...Like Quick says..."you can't have enough 45-70's" or Handi's for that matter.

Luck on your quests.

brianscott12 · « **Reply #123 on:** April 25, 2009, 06:21:40 AM »

Quote from: AtlLaw on April 24, 2009, 03:47:50 PM

Quote from: brianscott12 on April 24, 2009, 11:21:25 AM
If I wanted to rechamber my 45/70 buff. classic to a 45/120, would it lower the value of the gun?

You're kidding... aren't cha? $:-\$ We ain't talkin a Purdy or H&H double rifle here! That's one of the great things about the Handi! You can do what you want and you won't loose much if anything!

No i wasn't kidding, I have a lot of expenses and getting any kind of new gun on my budget is a feat within itself and therefore I have a tendancy to coddle my guns and be kind of hesitant when it comes to making irreversible changes to it. You understand don't ya.

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #124 on:** April 25, 2009, 07:36:51 AM »

Send it in and have a second B/C barrel fitted.....then re-chamber the second barrel. If you ever sell it, you can offer it as a combo package.

brianscott12 · « **Reply #125 on:** April 25, 2009, 01:23:28 PM »

Quote from: smokinjoe5150 on April 25, 2009, 07:36:51 AM

Send it in and have a second B/C barrel fitted.....then re-chamber the second barrel. If you ever sell it, you can offer it as a combo package.

That sounds like an option, i actually thought about doin that. What would a new barrel run?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #126 on:** April 25, 2009, 01:27:18 PM »

$114 plus $37 fitting and return shipping, plus the cost to get your frame there, plus the cost of sights or scope rail since it come with neither.

Tim

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.asp

Chas. · « **Reply #127 on:** April 25, 2009, 02:56:36 PM »

And don’t forget all the ancillary costs. That’s what killed my idea. Some of these costs you may be able to whittle down:

$192.00 - 100 rnd 45-120 brass (Midway’s price, might find them on sale at Cabelas)
46.00 – 45-120 reloading dies
28.00 – reamer rental
70.00 – 100 really big bullets
70.00 – Williams FP-H&R rear sight
32.00 – Lyman 17AHB front sight
$438.00

Plus, I was going to have to buy a new press as mine doesn’t open wide enough to accommodate a 3 ¼” shell.

NFG · « **Reply #128 on:** April 25, 2009, 03:32:56 PM »

Wellllllll...."you gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie???" Josey Wales

Better you hang it on the wall and keep it polished, that way you save ALL that money.

Enjoy your toys...

quickdtoo · « **Reply #129 on:** April 25, 2009, 03:53:10 PM »

You fellas that have been sittin on the dock with the 45-120 missed the boat on Norma 45-120 brass, it's back up to $90 per 50 now, but it IS in stock.

Tim

JerryKo · « **Reply #130 on:** April 26, 2009, 01:21:35 AM »

Glad I finally made the boat for once, and picked up some of that reduced price brass.

Jerry

Chas. · « **Reply #131 on:** April 26, 2009, 01:59:42 AM »

Quote from: NFG on April 25, 2009, 03:32:56 PM

Wellllllll...."you gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie???" Josey Wales

Better you hang it on the wall and keep it polished, that way you save ALL that money.

Enjoy your toys...

I've read this post probably 15 times, and I don't understand the acrimony. I was just trying to share with brian what I learned and I'm sorry if I intruded.

brianscott12 · « **Reply #132 on:** April 26, 2009, 02:17:40 AM »

Thank you Chas., you didn't intrude, I needed opinions from both sides. That's why I asked.

Dezynco · « **Reply #133 on:** April 26, 2009, 02:39:26 AM »

If you haven't tried it with REAL black powder, you're in for a treat! NOT Pyrodex or 777 or any of that junk, real black power like Swiss or GO-EX.

When I still had my right shoulder

I loaded my 45-120 (45x3-1/4 if you want to sound cool!), I would load with about 115gr "Fg" and 520 grain Lyman cast bullets from their 457125 bullet mold. That much real black powder will only launch the bullet at around 1500 fps, but its scary accurate.

And what a huge BOOOOOM when you light 'her off!!!!!!! Tons of white stinky smoke too! And lots of sparks dripping out the muzzle! It's just a huge thrill, nothing can compare! I may have a picture around here somewhere of my Sharps rifle in 45-120.

NFG · « **Reply #134 on:** April 26, 2009, 07:39:23 AM »

Jeezzz...it was just a play on words....where did you see any acrimony in it?

You need to lighten up a bit and stop looking for diss when there isn't any or was ever any meant. You seemed reluctant or unable to get where you seemed to want to go and I meant it as a "wait until you are ready, in the mean time just enjoy what you have". Da***...I really get disinterested in people that walk around just looking and waiting for the chip to get knocked of...If I wanted to flame you or be acrimonious, you wouldn't even be a pile of cinders now.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #135 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:08:43 AM »

acri who?

Do dat acri-money mean spending what cash you got on makin yo rifle-gun shoot better? $:-\$

Another weekend gone and no trigger time...

But besides my 405 gr loads I prep'ed another 6 pieces of brass to start working on some 350 gr. loads w/IMR 3031. I figger about 23-2400 FPS ought to make a nice deer load.

JerryKo · « **Reply #136 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:44:02 AM »

You can PM me some of those receipes if you don't mind. I'm sticking to 405gr lead since I still have close to 1k of them. Knocked deer over with cleanshot under these lasercasts in the 45/70 case. I have some lit from somewhere I'm trying to scan and will submit for the 45-120 and light starting loads of smokeless. It might beer from Lyman lit.

Still waiting for dies to arrive. They must be here tomorrow, or I just might have to call.

Jerry

Was going to edit my typo, but I'll try some sublimital shim making experiment. Let me know if you feel a necessity to make shims after reading this post.

I've tried some Ultra shims, boy are they good, I mean work good. I think I need another one.

tykempster · « **Reply #137 on:** April 26, 2009, 04:21:46 PM »

I can't wait to hit a deer with a 405 grain Remington at high speed...

IF you do chamber a 45-70 to 45-120 you still can techincally shoot 45-70 from it, but no guarantees on accuracy.

NFG · « **Reply #138 on:** April 27, 2009, 02:28:40 PM »

Yeah...that too...I like almost any kind of mony, especially the green, foldin' kind.

Ty...don't get them going TOO fast...you won't have anything left to prove you did it.

You know you need more than just an ear and maybe a piece of the flag...to be believed

You will most likely get some some grease and maybe some lead shaved off doing that, but you can clean it out by soldering or brazing a 308 Win case or any case about the same sizetol case to a short rod with a "T" handle. Run it over your 45-120 expander die enough to open the case mouth up a bit..Sharpen the inside of the case with a deburring cutter. It works like a knife to scrap away any garbage. That way you can get right down to the throat lip easy enough.

As far as accuracy goes...you won't know until you try it. Maybe yes, maybe no...it all depends...

AtlLaw...that sounds like a very nice load...for hard cast bullets...Maybe the Hornady 350 jacketed...depends on the jacket material and how the bullet is constructed...I had some 350 Trophy hard cast I shot up in the 45-70 version and the 458 WM...2400fs was easy to get to and lower on the pressure scale.

I got to go out ratting yesterday with my 17 Rem...naw, naw, naw, naw, nawwww, naw.

I was 100 % out to 200 for the first 25...that is until I went around the corner and up the hill into the wind and 300-350. 15-30 gusts, fishtails, stop and goes, in your face, then up your shirt and no reading ANYTHING. I didn' hit anything rocks or dirt for the next 15. They finally duck into their holes and wouldn't come out. Very humbling. Good thing no one was around to verify so I can lie all I want...might have been more...

Let the world know how you do with those loads...

Luck with your projects.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #139 on:** April 27, 2009, 03:21:47 PM »

Quote from: JerryKo on April 26, 2009, 08:44:02 AM

You can PM me some of those receipes if you don't mind. I'm sticking to 405gr lead since I still have close to 1k of them.

Hey Jerry! All the loads I have I got from Tim, Tyler and the MyAmmoGuide site. With their permission I'll send you what they sent me. I'm about out of 405 Remingtons, need to check MidSouth again. But I also ahve some of the Hornady 350 gr RNFP's made for the 458 WinMag. I think I'll work on the 2 loads together. Then there's the 500 gr. hard casts from Montana Bullet Works that are on the way. I've got a goal of 2150 fps in mind for those!

NFG, I gather you haven't seen the results of Tyler's "possum" load!

tykempster · « **Reply #140 on:** April 27, 2009, 05:15:14 PM »

Feel free to distribute my loads but remember if something blows up, these loads were only safe in my gun. Oh, and don't shoot with a low eye relief scope.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #141 on:** April 27, 2009, 08:33:33 PM »

Quote from: AtlLaw on April 27, 2009, 03:21:47 PM

Hey Jerry! All the loads I have I got from Tim, Tyler and the MyAmmoGuide site. With their permission I'll send you what they sent me.

Works for me, just be aware that my data is predicted by QuickLoad 3.4 which is known to be inaccurate in straight walled cartridges, it worked fine in Tyler's rifle tho, so use with due caution.

Tim

JerryKo · « **Reply #142 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:52:20 AM »

I will start with a reduction and work towards an accurate load. I've been shooting my sons 300wsm Ruger frontier WITHOUT a scout type mounted scope and 180gr factory loads. I'm well aware of the scope to eye ratio. Its those flying empties from ejector rifles that make me twitch from time to time.

Looking forward to it.

Jerry

petemi · « **Reply #143 on:** April 28, 2009, 02:05:44 AM »

Jerry, I hate ejectors. That's a big reason why all my bolt guns are sitting around collecting dust these days. Thanks to Tim's help, all my Handis are now extractor. I have to admit my Ruger M77 MKII .308 is an incredible rifle; I nailed a fox with it a while back at 350 yards plus and have taken coyotes from 200 to 400 yards. I'll forgive it for ejecting.

Pete

JerryKo · « **Reply #144 on:** May 31, 2009, 02:54:47 AM »

WOW! You guys have been quiet here on the 45-120.

Finally got everything back together and made up some "test" rounds. Basically looking for ability to make smoke, and checked some velocities while I was at it. Nothing in the far reaches, but the Monte stock may have to go. Its beating the heck out of me with the 405's at 2100. But I'm also shooting it without any counter-measures either,for now. Got the 325FTX's over 2400fps with a three shot clover at 50 and iron sights. Only problem is anything shot with those would have to be, I'm guessing, no less than 150 yds away to stay together. The 405's shot well in the 1800fps range, but anything over 2k I couldn't keep them on 8 1/2 by 11" paper. Not sure why, but very scattered. No leading at the throat, but last 8 inches or so of muzzle end did show leading at those velocities. I don't know if a gas check will help or not. Never had that problem before.

I bought the barrel used and then the factory frame for it in another transaction, but my Ultra frame fit soooo much better to the barrel, that I sent it to my smithy that way. My cost was a little over $80 for the smithy and a 3week wait. Oh well...

I re-used my Smith peep ladder sight, and the wrong(read High) front sight, but with the buckhorns at 50 its about 1 1/2 high, so this will work ok for now.

Here's the 45-120 Ultra for now. Thanks guys!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #145 on:** May 31, 2009, 05:08:22 AM »

Skunk · « **Reply #146 on:** May 31, 2009, 06:04:14 AM »

Look at the size of those cartridges in Jerry's picture. They look like railroad spikes.

My heart is saying let's go,
but my shoulder is saying no.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #147 on:** May 31, 2009, 07:40:04 AM »

Yup, that's THE main reason I went with the 45-120 instead of the smaller 45-XXXs, shock and awe are what it's all about, you don't even have to shoot it at the range to get oooohs and awes!!

Tim

The "little" round on the left is a 45-70!

tykempster · « **Reply #148 on:** May 31, 2009, 07:59:58 AM »

I'm thinking about casting my own bullets for the 45-70 and 45-120, these big bullets cost too much.

awp101 · « **Reply #149 on:** May 31, 2009, 08:07:53 AM »

Wow, the full house .45-120s are bad enough out of my Quigley Sharps. I can't imagine them out of the Handi!

You are certainly braver than I Gunga Din!

Seriously though, what a neat idea, execution and great shooting!