Reloading the old calibers of the West: .45/75 WCF

[Sportsdad60]

Dad (now 85) has a 95% or better condition Winchester .45-75 1876 Sport model that he's had since he was 10 years old. Him being an ex-101st Airborne Sargent (Korean Conflict) needless to say this firearm has been pampered over the past 7 decades and the photos show it. Each year he takes it out and oils it, applies a good wax to the stock.

He's flying out from Minnesota for his youngest grandson's final senior year in Football for Senior Night in Oct this fall and I'm surprising him with 100 rounds of .45-75 ammunition. He said he's not shot the rifle since the late 40's (A Garand replaced the Winchester as his "Go To" deer rifle after the war).

The first step is ....taking the step and ordering the brass, which I did. Now I will be motiviate to purchase the die set, black powder and lead bullets however this will follow in the next few months (I have to go slow on ordering as I'm ramping up my own supply of 5 calibers in prep for the Hillary win ;) Wife "Flak" starts peppering my fuselage when I'm overspending in enemy territory)

They will be ready when he gets here in October.

Any old winchester loaders here recommend a good black powder? I'd like to keep this a low pressure round.

A little history of the rifle before I show the pictures, in his own words:
"Serial # 57XXX, The rifle is King's Improvement, Patented March 20,1866 ....October 20, 1880. Round Barrel, Interior Brass Shell Feed and Extractor. with Lever Action. Rear fold down Elevated Sight. It is really in good shape for its age and has never been refinished. I bought this gun in the early 1940's at around 12 years old and used it as a youngster for deer hunting....at my Grandpa's Resort at Cass Lake, MN.

During the second World War there were not any new firearms for sale. My Uncle Ed who was a traveling salesman bought it in Iowa from one of his customers before he was drafted into the Second World War. He use to take me deer hunting and put me in the woods somewhere on a log while he went off and tried to chase deer my way. I paid for it from the money I made at that early age by taking people out fishing from my Gramp's resort on Cass Lake. It cost me a whole $10.00 that was a lot of money for a kid in the 40's. So basically that is all the info I have on it."


I have since found out with some research and local experts in the Winchester field that he has a rare collectible if I am not mistaken. Either way, I made sure he was insured up to $20k for the rifle on his insurance rider. I am sure you folks know more about this rifle than I do as my expertise area, as green as it is, is in Trapdoors. I welcome you to share your thoughts!

https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-WRXSZ9x/0/O/i-WRXSZ9x.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-wpwBdLQ/0/O/i-wpwBdLQ.jpg
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https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-MM9xSK4/0/O/i-MM9xSK4.jpg

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https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-Cz9bDgK/0/O/i-Cz9bDgK.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-GFDr4nX/0/O/i-GFDr4nX.jpg

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https://photos.smugmug.com/45-75-winchester/n-hdZjb/i-MQqfhwq/0/O/i-MQqfhwq.jpg

[Sportsdad60]

I looked around and shopped around for a nice wood box to put Dad's rounds in.
Considering Dad was born in the depression (1930) he'd prefer something that didn't cost as much.
So I thrift shopped, found a faux leather Trunk/Chest looking item for $2.00 that was reasonably stout! (Turns out they're on Amazon from China for $17)
He loves a bargain even though he's very well off. That's a trait of that era!

Then I added a 5/8 particle board base, and a 1/2" piece of old cedar fence on top of that of which I will drill out with a Forstner drill for each shell.

(The shells are just set in to check for clearance and whatnot)

My neighbor is taking a 1.3" backstrip of cedar fence and burning "45-75 WCF" onto it. When he's done, we'll stain it, put it together and add the cartridges. :)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-stZkDF7/0/M/20160927_171409-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-Nbg2Bpw/0/M/20160927_171354-M.jpg

[Sportsdad60]

1.5 hrs of dinking around getting everything set up so I didn't crush a $1.80 shell case. I only had 20! :)
Only made one. Now that I have the dies set up, downhill tomorrow.

Bullets: Bitteroots Components 350 gr .458 dia, SPG lubed bullet
Brass: JBA .45/75 (Annealed slightly)
Primer: Federal Lg Rifle Magnum
Powder: 64 volume Pyrodex RS (41.9 grains weight) low pressure load.
See text above each picture below

Bitterroot 350 gr .458 SPG lubed bullets
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-LdbRDtg/0/O/Final%20Loading6.jpg

I started off with a flare of .005 to accept the .458 dia bullet
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-wJVWmJ4/0/O/Final%20Loading2.jpg

A Drop- tube was used to add 64 grs of Pyrodex RS Select into shell casing, leaving .440 between neck base and top of cartridge. Then a John Walters .060 vegetable wad was added and compressed with a Montana Precision Swaging Compression Die. to .500 allowing for another 1/8 inch of compression with bullet seating.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-hkqqkvv/0/O/Final%20Loading3.jpg


After adjusting the bullet seating depth on the RCBS die set, I added the proper crimp to the crimp groove. You can see the taper crimp in this picture. OAL is 2.250. (I cannot chamber cast the rifle since it is 1739 miles away. So I have to go with what Winchester published back in the day.)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-vcRNDtS/0/O/Final%20Loading5.jpg

The final bullet, cleaned up, ready for Box Presentation. 19 left to go!
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-Z6PGVpp/0/X2/20160928_181305_resized-X2.jpg

Size perspective: The '45s' cartridge family. .45ACP 230 gr, .45/75 350 gr and .45/70 500 gr (old cartridge)
https://photos.smugmug.com/Reloading-45-75/i-PV3c3GX/1/L/20160928_193808_001-L.jpg

Final post will be reloaded shells, box presentation.

And hopefully a test shot with Dad's rifle when I get back there t