Early Big Timber chamber question

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august west
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Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by august west »

I am looking at a 45-70 Business rifle made at Big Timber - probably in the early 80's. The serial number is in the 6500 range. The barrel is marked Old Reliable, and C. Sharps Arms.

Does anyone know what this rifle's chamber/throat situation would have been? Freebore? If it is one of the long freebore rifles I will pass on it.

The rifle will have to be completely restocked as it is. What might the current cost to be to stock a B rifle with a standard military butt and round nosed standard wooden fore end, as per originals?

Thanks
Ryan
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powderburner
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by powderburner »

You can look in the breech and see the big pp freebore if it has one
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by Kirk »

Give the office a call and they will price it out for you.

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august west
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by august west »

powderburner wrote: Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:37 am You can look in the breech and see the big pp freebore if it has one
Online. Guy doesn't know what to look for.
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powderburner
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by powderburner »

At the end of the chamber there is a very distinct bored smooth area bigger than the chamber before the rifling. It can be anywhere from 3/16 to an extreme of 3/4 inch.
Looks like a wide ring in front of the chamber.
And not all guns have them. I had to ask specifically for the one in my fifty i got in the early 80s. And they asked how long the bullet would be and reamed it accordingly.

I also have an old 50-2&1/2 that does not have it, and they are within 75 serial numbers apart.

Does this belp?
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bpcr shooter
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by bpcr shooter »

ya can always ream it out further to make it a 90, 100, 110 too. Did that to my dads rifle as his had .5in of that freebore in it. shoots very well now that its a 100.
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mdeland
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by mdeland »

Did the barrel have to be set back for the longer reamer to clear the free bore section or was it simply a reaming job to the larger chamber?
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by Kurt »

Mike you can do this with a throating reamer with a proper fit to the existing chamber wall. I did this to a Pedersoli turning a .45-70 to a 2.4
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by pacecars »

Would it clean up the free bore if you ran it out to .45-90, .45-100 or .45-110?
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by bpcr shooter »

depends on how much freebore there is. Dads had a tick over .5in so now he is able to seat greasers out (if he ever shoots them again) out a bit further. From what ive seen most are around the .5in mark so a 2.6 from a 2.1 should take most if not all of it out
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Re: Early Big Timber chamber question

Post by kcstott »

pacecars wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 7:41 pm Would it clean up the free bore if you ran it out to .45-90, .45-100 or .45-110?
the 45-70 is 2.1" case length
45-90 is 2.4"
45-100 is 2.6"
45-110 is 2.875"
45-120 is 3.250"
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