Has anyone reamed the 45LC to 460 S&W

[revbc]

Thinking about reaming my 45lc to 454 C.  Would there be any reason to ream it to 460sw?  I have a 45/70 that shoots great.  It seem like going to 460 in the small carbines would be overkill.  What ya think?

Bobby

[guns-o-fun]

It has been done several times over - most notably by Quick and Gendoc.  I had mine reamed out to 454 and learned the hard way that you have to be sure to check that H&R did not cut an oversized chamber to begin with.  The 45 LC is a low pressure round, so you could have an out-of-spec chamber diameter along part of its length and not even notice it in your cases.  Mine is now being redone to a 50 cal to clean the darn thing up - of course, now I have to have a rebore too.  Check out your chamber first.

[quickdtoo]

Go for it or the Casull Bobby, how's 2875fps with factory 460 200gr Hornady rounds sound to ya!!  Did mine by hand with a rented reamer.

Tim

[mcwoodduck]

It has been done several times over - most notably by Quick and Gendoc.  I had mine reamed out to 454 and learned the hard way that you have to be sure to check that H&R did not cut an oversized chamber to begin with.  The 45 LC is a low pressure round, so you could have an out-of-spec chamber diameter along part of its length and not even notice it in your cases.  Mine is now being redone to a 50 cal to clean the darn thing up - of course, now I have to have a rebore too.  Check out your chamber first.

What about reaming to 45-75 Winchester?
Bottle necked case about the speeds you want with modern Brass.
Some one was making new 45-75 for remakes and vintage 1876 Win rifles.  The Centenial Model.
And if I remember right the bullets for it are 452 rather than the 458 of the 45-70
Also guessing you could make some 500 S&W necked round to 454 to not have to re bore the rifle.  For that matter a 50 AE or 50GI necked to 454.
Do I hear "454 Guns o fun" as a new round?
454 -500 H& R Handi Express?  Or freight train if you do not like commuter trains.
or  call it by a British version of 500/ 454.

[krod47nw]

I've put off reaming mine because I've been trying to make that decision myself.  I was even going to buy a reamer and make it available as Tim did with his 357 max reamer.  I just can decide between the 454 Casull and the 460.  CW did his in the Casull because he too had a 45/70.  He seemed happy with his decision.  Tim and John did the 460 and are also happy.  

Hey Where has ole CWlongshot been?

Kevin

[quickdtoo]

CW was on yesterday, he's busy with other toys this time of year!! 

Tim

[revbc]

I think I would like the Casull.  It really seems of no advantage for me to go to 460.  Its going to kick like a mule, and if I want punishment just grab the 45/70 dump almost 60 grains of 4198 and a little 300 grain bullet and dislocate a shoulder   Wo be unto anything in its way!

Seriously looking at the Casull brass to trim to my chamber, may not really even need reaming?  It can handle the hot loads better from what I understand.

Kevin, I'll be your first customer if you decide to get the reamer.

Bobby

[Dill45]

Can the modern H&R frames take a full house 460 S&W load on?  I know a lot of the loads top out around 55-60k PSI for most H&R cartridges, but what about 65k PSI?

[quickdtoo]

The SAAMI MAP for the 270Win is 65kpsi, same as the 460S&W which has a case head of just .008" larger than the 270Win, so yes. The 500S&W has SAAMI MAP of 60kpsi and a much larger case head at .526"-.530" depending on who's drawing you look at.

Tim

Bolt Thrust Calculation

[Dill45]

Thanks for the info.

I see now its more than just the pressure generated by the cartridge when it's fired.

Hmm....I want a 460 barrel now...

[Sourdough]

I carry  .460 Smith, a carbine in that cartridge might be helpful.  May look for a 45LC gun.

[gendoc]

hey sourdough,  they do make a nice couple....... but both will wear you down on a long stalk in tha brush.
i think my handgun weighs more than the handi !!!

[guns-o-fun]

It has been done several times over - most notably by Quick and Gendoc.  I had mine reamed out to 454 and learned the hard way that you have to be sure to check that H&R did not cut an oversized chamber to begin with.  The 45 LC is a low pressure round, so you could have an out-of-spec chamber diameter along part of its length and not even notice it in your cases.  Mine is now being redone to a 50 cal to clean the darn thing up - of course, now I have to have a rebore too.  Check out your chamber first.

What about reaming to 45-75 Winchester?
Bottle necked case about the speeds you want with modern Brass.
Some one was making new 45-75 for remakes and vintage 1876 Win rifles.  The Centenial Model.
And if I remember right the bullets for it are 452 rather than the 458 of the 45-70
Also guessing you could make some 500 S&W necked round to 454 to not have to re bore the rifle.  For that matter a 50 AE or 50GI necked to 454.
Do I hear "454 Guns o fun" as a new round?
454 -500 H& R Handi Express?  Or freight train if you do not like commuter trains.
or  call it by a British version of 500/ 454.

It is going to be a 50 Alaskan.  Long story - detailed in another post.  I could have shot it as a 454 - but the brass life would have been very short indeed.  Others here have had good luck reaming their own.  Sometimes with the H&R barrels, it's a crap shoot (WHOA -don't want to start a fight or anything).

[gcrank1]

And for those comtemplating this, or other similar conversions, as regards the 'oversize factory chambers':
Get some 'cerro-safe' (sp?), I know, its kinda pricey, but you can reuse it forever, and do a chamber cast. With it properly done you can see, 3 dimensionally, your actual chamber, throat, and the leade portion of your rifling, and measure each, as needed. It can weed out those chambers ahead of time, and expense and dissapointment. What price would you put on that?

[quickdtoo]

Best price I've found on Cerrosafe is at Track of the Wolf, used to be $11 a couple years ago, but they went up like everything else, still cheaper than anyone else I've seen. Complete chamber casting links can be found in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/partdetail.aspx?catid=2&subid=204&styleid=1074&partnum=cerrosafe&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1&as=1

[gendoc]

bout 50 or so years ago, i watched my father do a chamber cast with wax !!!!
several steps are involved, but much easier than lead. and cleaning is a breeze.
i still use that when i need to check suspected problems.
i have used lead too. the wax, when properly applied and seasoned works just as good.

guess i've been lucky with my stock 45colt, rechambered casull and .460.
all 3 have great chambers and shoot very well with developed handloads.

i have seen people try to ream without removing the extractor !!!

not only will it destroy the reamer, it will cause a wallered out chamber 

but i'm sure there are some here that have done it successfully. i wud'nt try it.

some say "no need for a .460 if ya got a 45/70".....   why not !!! ifin its what ya want, go for it !!!
i did and i'm happy wif alla them