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#1: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: liljohn, Location: Very North-East Indiana

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:00 am
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Here in Indiana we can hunt deer with pistol cartriges and a buddy called and asked me...I don't have foggiest so I will ask here.

Could you shoot modern factory 45 Long Colts in a 45/70 single shot rifle like you can shoot .38 special in a .357 Magnum?

I have never shot or owned a 45/70 and don't know if the casings are the same dia.

He says he wants to use his rifle in 45lc for woodchucks up closer than the 45/70 ranges.

#2: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: roklok, Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:52 am
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NO !!!

#3: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: Pumpkinslinger, Location: NC foothills

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:56 am
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Absolutely NOT. About the only thing the two cartridges have in common is the ".45" in the name.

#4: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: 1895ss, Location: Not Here...!!

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:16 pm
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Like they said "NO" and "Absolutely Not."

One is a .452 caliber the other is .458 caliber and the brass dimensions are totally different.

#5: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: liljohn, Location: Very North-East Indiana

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:02 am
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Isn't there 45lc and another that shoots with the 460?

#6: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: SingleShotLover, Location: Illinois

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:19 am
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I assume you mean the 460 Rowland? It is a slightly longer .45 ACP round that is a rimless cartridge. Since the .45 LC is a rimmed cartridge the only way that the Rowland could even chamber would be by using "half-moon" clips like used on .45 ACP revolvers when using .45 Auto-rim cartridges.

Yes, there are cartridges that interchange...but only within a very narrow group...and it makes a difference which way you go: .44 Specials can work in .44 Magnums, but not the other way around. .38 Specials work in .357 Magnums, but not reversed. .45 ACPs could possibly work in .45LC single-actions but require a different cylinder.

As to your friend's question, don't even try it. The .45LC has a smaller rim diameter, a smaller case diameter and the bullet itself will be undersized (which will give you very poor accuracy anyway). Firing the .45LC in the 45/70 will cause severe case splitting at best (if it even will fire since the rim may even allow the cartridge to slip deep into the chamber) and severe firearm and personal damage at worst.

It really isn't worth the danger to experiment without understanding pressure and dimensional differences. No one is trying to ruin your fun...we just don't want to see you or anyone else get hurt. Like they say "Safety is no accident." Please stay safe!

Last edited by SingleShotLover on Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:54 am; edited 1 time in total

#7: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: SwampFox, Location: Destin, Florida

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:02 am
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".45 ACPs could possibly work in .45LC single-actions but require a different cylinder. "

Indeed, Ruger offered a "convertable" Blackhawk for years in 45 Colt and 45 ACP with dual cylinder.
Ed

#8: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: SingleShotLover, Location: Illinois

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:57 am
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Yes they did (still do?). Having never personally tried the .45 ACP cartridges in their cylinder conversions I can't speak as to the accuracy. It never made any real sense to me, but I'm sure it appealed to some people, especially back when there was so much cheap .45 ACP surplus ammo..

#9: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: liljohn, Location: Very North-East Indiana

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:56 pm
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I reloaded for target freestyle with a contender in .357, and all I used was factory brass for my loads in .38 sp. and .357Mag, and have been away from reloading for 20 years.

I will start getting back into it with all the right manuals now that I have learned about the .357Max.
This in a single shot rifle seems like a great way to go with a .357Mag pistol for backup.

I am still in the research mode for now, (.357Max, .357Mag, .38Sp, and I think .360DWesson.) and my buddy was thinking about his 45/70 and I didn't know...I wanted to check before he did something dumb, and without any loadbooks I figured here was a fast way to find out.

Thanks for all the information!

#10: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: Dimitri,

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:24 pm
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I may sound like a idiot but I heard (never tried it or gave it enought thought before to look it up) that the 45LC works in a 410 shotgun no ?? Confused

Dimitri

#11: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: chambered221, Location: Lost for good !!!

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:26 pm
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Dimitri

You heard correct, T/C makes a barrel for their Contenders set up to do this.
It even has a screw in choke for the 410.

I belive Taurus just came out with a defense pistol set up for both.

And I think you can get a Darringer that shoots both.

I would CAUTION this in just any gun, make sure it's safe for your firearm befor doing so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#12: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: Dimitri,

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:46 pm
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Neat thanks for the information. Smile

Dimitri

#13: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: Pumpkinslinger, Location: NC foothills

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:32 am
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I would NOT fire a .45 Colt in a regular .410 shotgun!! That said, there are some guns DESIGNED to fire both. The T/C and the Taurus "Judge" are two.

You can fire a .45 Colt in a .454 Cassul and apparently the .460 S&W, like firing a .38 Special in a .357 Magnum.

As has been pointed out NEVER use a cartridge in a gun unless the gun manufacturer specifically says its OK.

#14: Re: 45 Colt in a 45/70? Author: Arron, Location: Cen.Iowa, by way of SWIowa

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:35 pm
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NEF/H&R makes a barrel for the Handi-Rifle that will also do this and I am told it can handle some serious loadings. I am considering getting a barrel fitted for mine, and loading the balistic tipped Hornady bullets they use in the .460S&W. I was also under the impression the .45 Schofield would work safely in a .45Colt. Same for the .44Russian and .44American and .44Spec in a .44RemMag. I have also heard it told the .45AutoRim will also work in a .45Colt such as Rugers or Freedom Arms. And the Dan Wesson Supermags up the ante just a bit, such the .445 and I thought it was the .355(?) Supermag. OKay if this is true to form what about the .444 Marlin what are the case diemensions on that one? And as it is lever action then I would hazzard to say that if the cases are the same then you could logically fire any of the same diameter lesser cartridges in it if the need arised. But I am not so sure that would be a good idea because of the problems with leading. Personally I just never did see the advantage to the .444 not to knock anyone who uses one. I even told a friend to get the .45-70Gov instead and he did and was glad of it when he started seeing the amount of commerical loadings for the .444 versus the .45-70, and that was one of the main factors that made him lean towards the .45-70. There are just too many choices sometimes, and this can get very confusing even for those of us in the shooting sports.

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