45-120 or 458 win mag handi???

[giddens1972]

Has anyone ever attempted a 45-120, or 458 win mag rechamber in a Handi???  Is it even possible???  Just something my devious mind was pondering on last night...and I thought it might spark some good conversation!

John

[quickdtoo]

Several of us have done 45-120s, but the Handi isn't a suitable platform for any most magnum rifle chamberings, the 458WM wouldn't be an option, at least with full pressure loads any way. 

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,201350.msg1099040817.html#msg1099040817

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,56895.msg338963.html#msg338963

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,166935.msg1098764418.html#msg1098764418

[bikerbeans]

45-120 Nitro Express (ammoguide.com's name for a 45-120 loaded to pressures greater than 28K C.U.P.)

350 Grain Hornady RN @ 2,600+ FPS

405 Grain Rem SP @ 2,500+ FPS

500 Grain Hornady RN @ 2,100+ FPS

Same general velocity as a 458WM with less pressure.  Trade off is that it takes more powder because of the large case.   

BB

[gcrank1]

But they dont list what recoil pad to use........

[knight0334]

The Handi model with it's 22" barrel wont really gain much with a 45-120.   You almost NEED the 32" Buffalo Classic barrel to make it worth rechambering to 45-120.   Heck, the 22" barrel doesn't even take the 45-70 to it's full potential - with a 45-120 it'd just waste powder being burnt in the air outside the barrel with a 22" tube.

BTW, I'm on the list of 45-120 owners here..   I did mine right after Tim did his a few years ago.

I'm pushing hogged out(bored/drilled out) 300gr JHP's weighing 250-265gr to 2800-3000fps with my 45-120.  Pushing full 300gr slugs to 2700-2800fps.   I don't shoot anything heavier because my 45-120 is a groundhog gun.   I wont give out loadings because I use a duplex load to keep the pressure spike low, but retain a sustained pressure throughout the bullet's transit down the tube.

[tykempster]

45-120's are TONS of fun.  You won't regret the decision.

[tykempster]

Also you would have to shoot the 458 at low pressures, and it's case capacity isn't that much more than the 45-70, the 45-120 will have a very large advantage.

[gcrank1]

Why dont we hear about the 45-90? Seems like a decent balance of increased case length for the performance.
As I recall, the cases are a bit less expensive and readily available too.

[Smokin Joe]

You don't hear about them because we that own them keep it quiet so there's no run on components! 

It's a great round........and less expensive. The last hog that I shot really didn't know if he was hit by a 120 or a 90.