45-70?

[Shoot-N-Nut]

My first deer rifle back in the 70's was a 45-70 built on a Siamese Mauser. That rifle was lost many years ago in a fire. Im wanting to build another boltaction 45-70, I own a few Savages and love the actions. I have one older large shank 110, would it be posible to build a 45-70 on this action?

[82boy]

No,
No one makes a bolt head for such a thing.

[handirifle]

You CAN build a 450 Marlin though. Uses std magnum .538 bolt head.

[Shoot-N-Nut]

Anybody ever try to open the face of a Savage bolt head?

[handirifle]

If you're thinking for the 45-70, I think one other problem is the feeding. Might be easier to convert the bolt shotgun, but not sure what kind of pressures it would handle.

[Blue Avenger]

OK, when you look at a rifle set up for a rimmed case you will notice that the case and rim are recessed into the barrel. This is to surround the case with steel that can support the explosion inside the case. This was how early first generation cartridges were made for single shot rifles.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v675/gcidso123/savage/headspacestretch-1.gif
trying to use a rifle with a rebated head allows some of the case out of the barrel.
Rimless cases are newer and are made with more brass in the bottom web to allow the case to stick out of the chamber. This makes it easier to work in a repeating rifle. This is a crude but basic explanation.

[handirifle]

Crude or not I learned something also. Good post. Looking at the post above, seems even if the headspace were flush with the back of the barrel, the case would be less supported from the rim to the back end of the barrel. There is still a few thousandths of case between the face of the bolt and the end of the barrel.

[davemuzz]

If you want a quality 45-70, look to buy a used Marlin Lever in Ballard rifling. I have a 1895XLR in 45-70 and with Williams peep sights it will clover leaf three shots at 100 and 200 yards. Yes, it's that accurate. You can pick up a used one for a reasonable amount of money.

[Shoot-N-Nut]

Even in the old Simease action there was some feeding issues that had to be dealt with. Years ago I seen a couple regular 98 Mausers that had the bolt face opened and chambered for the 45-70. I just thought it would be a neat project if it could be done. I like the lever actions, heck I like all of them! But theres something about a bolt action carbine in a big bore that just trips my trigger!

[bootsmcguire]

But theres something about a bolt action carbine in a big bore that just trips my trigger!
I hear that, I have a 458 WM in a Savage action and looking into that monstrous bore is just plain cool, but not too practical for me. You can load down a 458 to 45-70 levels easy enough, and brass will last long that way too. Something to think about.

[Shoot-N-Nut]

Ok, I was doing some reading on the 450 Marlin, I have a Model 11 chambered in 300 WSM, if I can find somebody to make a barrel will that round work with this rifle?

[bootsmcguire]

Isn't 450 Marlin Brass hard to find?

[handirifle]

Isn't 450 Marlin Brass hard to find?

Wasn't aware of any issues, but wasn't looking either. MidwayUSA has it in stock, on clearance. Might be a close out or a slow seller. Usually it says close out, and this does not.

As far as I know there should be no issues as far as feeding goes. You might have to get the std magnum bolt head though, since the 450's head is the same as rounds like the 300 WM, at, 532. The WSM's head is .535. Some of the other guys here should be able to tell you for sure. Also you will need to state whether it's a small shank or large shank action.

[Harry Pope]

I still have my M98 Siamese Mauser in .45-70. Regular Mauser 98s will not feed nearly as well due to the slanted magazine on the Siamese variant - it was designed for rimmed cases. Shot moose, caribou and brown bear with it when I lived in Alaska, like all .45-70s a real thumper.

If you are worried about availability of .450 Marlin brass then you could have a barrel chambered in .458 American. This is a 2" long .458 Winchester Mag case designed in the 1960s and is virtually identical to the Marlin except the headspace is somewhat shorter. You will never run out of brass for that one as it can use almost any belted magnum case shortened to 2". I would not be worried about running out of .450 Marlin cases - just buy 100 or so, that will last most of us forever. I contemplated rebarreling my M116FSAK to .450 Marlin but so far have kept it in .338 WinMag.


.

[Blue Avenger]

black powder .458 ... make um wonder what the heck your shooting!

[Apache]

Really makes 'em wonder if you use paper patched bullets with the BP in the 458! :p

[handirifle]

That's a cool idea, not to many folks with a BP bolt action...

[Shoot-N-Nut]

My old Simease action 45-70 was a carbine, loved the rifle and a big fan of .45 caliber. So with all that being said I have decided to go with the .458 Win Mag! Donar action is already stripped down waiting parts for this build. Its going to be a 20" barrel in a true carbine style rifle with a barrel band, banded front sight with a hood and ramp rear sight set on a quarter rib. The stock will be from a blank I've been working on, if you can picture a Ruger 10-22 with a bolt action rifle in it. Yea I know its going to be a kicker and it's not going to be target rifle but I will be able to load it for deer and if the circus train ever wrecks around here I will be able to protect the town from the charging elephants!

[Leonardo63]

I have a Contender in 45-70 and I think putting that case in a repeating bolt action would be quite an undertaking. I would like to see it chambered in a Henry lever-that would be hot.

[M.O.A.]

yes that would be one bad henry