Shiloh Rifle Forums

A shooyLater, David Barfielding pardner of mine has the opportunity to purchase an original 1885 in 45-75. From the pictures of the cartridge, it looks like basic .50 brass necked down to .45 cal. Does anyone have any experience loading and shooting a 45-75?

Later, David Barfield

DHHMU ! Get a copy Cartridges of the World ! If i remember right some people were making cases out od 348 win brass ! But today 45/75 brass is being made again ! 300 to 350 gr bullets is what they use to be rifled for so check your twist ! JAGG

David,
You might want to have your friend doublecheck the rifle model and caliber. The 45/75 was intially designed for the 1876 winchester. The 45/75 used a shortened case (shorter than 45/70) to cycle in the '76 toggle link action (based upon the 1873 action) I did not know that the 1885 (or the 1886) was chambered for this round. If the gun is a 1876 with good bore it can be very accurate, my '76 is a 45/60 and is a very good shooter (but it has a mint bore). I use the lyman gould 330gn hollow point and it shoots well. MLV's book on lever actions has a good chapter on the 45/75.

keith

The .45-75 WCF was the introductory cartridge for the Model 1876 Winchester, but it was also chambered in the Model 1885 "High Wall", as were about 80 or 90 other rounds. Never for the Model 1886.

It uses a bottlenecked case 1.89 inches long. Workable cases can be made from .348 Winchester brass, but they may form a slight bulge about 1/4 inch ahead of the rim. Ready to load ones by Bertram can be bought from Huntington Die Specialties in Oroville, CA. They are expensive. Rifling twist rate for a .45-75 is proper for 350 grain flat nose bullets. Rate is 1 turn in 26 inches according to George Madis' THE WINCHESTER BOOK.

And I hope that helps.

I make 45-75 brass out of starline 50-90 brass buy reducing the rim diameter, cutting back to 1.89 and running into the resising die

Comparing the original.45-75 WCF cartridge I have to my Starline .50-110 WCF , I would form .45-75 cases from the .50-110 Starline brass. BACo. has the brass in stock.

Blackstone wrote: ↑Sun Feb 24, 2019 7:14 pm I make 45-75 brass out of starline 50-90 brass buy reducing the rim diameter, cutting back to 1.89 and running into the resising die

Just an FYI-You replied to a almost 15 year old post.
May want to start a new thread.....
Good luck...
Gary

had (and just sold) a 76 original in 45 60, very accurate round. the bullet is the same and
I used a Gould hollow point mold. as per the original. Ken