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Blain,I'm not being a smart... but what is a full nitro 45-120? I started the whole idea of a double rifle with the 45-120 in mind,sort of a step up from my very hot 45-70 loads that I dont any longer load for my 1985cb. Then Judson comes along and muddies my water with that siren talk about way cool 4 1/2inch cartridge in the 450 # 2 at 25,000 psi. So many guns so little time.
My loading manual has no mention of either one. how do they compare?
what do you thing of the 45-120 brass that cabellas has in it's store?
John

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In my context I mean a full on smokeless load of 4000FPE+ with a modern jacketed bullet. The 45-120 Sharps were originally black-powder loads (as are most of the old British rounds), therefore I differentiate between the old load and my loads. I pretty much match the 450NE loads.

450 #2 is a 3.5" case, and produces 13 tons breech pressure per GW data. The 45-120 is a 3.25" less volume than the 450#2 and is best guess around 16 tons at equal full nitro load. I keep my loads around 10 to 11 tons using, again, GW data/load for the 450NE for that pressure loading. Its probably a little more than that, but the velocities are coming out exactly as he publishes them. i.e. 450NE, 80 grains RL 15 with a 480 Woodleigh equals 2050FPS. My loads, with the same amount of powder and bullet match this exactly per my chrono.

Who makes the brass? Cabellas? I have some old Bell brass which splits or drops the primer after about 5 shots. 45-120 brass is easy to get and fairly cheap...577NE on the other hand is $5.00 a pop!

Blain

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You horde gold, I horde lead.

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