[Juan Tedman]

Hello gents,
As seems to be a semi common wish, I also would like to see a 94 in 45-70. However, all one needs to do is compare the rim width to the interior width of the action and it is clear, the option, is not an option at all. My thought is this, what about having a rifle made up to use the 458X2 round? Without further ado........

Could the standard 94 action rated to roughly 38,000 cup handle the pressure of the cartridge? This of course would depend on the load, which leads to the question of the performance potential of the round, when kept within these pressures.

Here is another idea, It seems reamers are reasonably inexpensive, what about taking the basic 458X2 and necking it down to use .454 or .452 bullets and barrels, thus making a reasonably easy swap for a 45 colt based 94 rifle?

Would the pressure increase of the smaller bore be enough to make much of a difference?

It seems this would, for the most part be a Winchester 94 in 450 Marlin. Why do it, because I am a fan of the 94 action, and I want to be able to push 405 grain 45 caliber bullets.

Any thoughts on the idea would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks Much
Juan Tedman

 

[MikeG]

Juan, Winchester is supposed to be putting out a 94 in .480 Ruger.... which is derived from a .45-70 case (smaller rim, and shorter, of course).

So, seems like there is no reason that the .45-70 couldn't be made to work (it's not too long is it?)?

But with the .480 Ruger you have pretty similar ballistics... just not the .45 bore.

Seems like we've taken a very round-about trip to reach the same end result.  Who knows why gun companies do what they do....

 

[Juan Tedman]

Mike G,
The rim on the 45-70 is too large to fit through any part of a 94 receiver. <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo--> I am not sure on length issues, as I figured it wouldn't matter anyway. What kind of bullet weights are an option with the 480?

Thanks
Juan Tedman

 

[pourboy]

Juan- If the 1894 can be adapted to feed the .480 Ruger, it can be adapted to fit the 45/70 too. The 480 is a shortened .475 Linebaugh. The 475 is based on the 45/70 case as I recall... Since the Bigbore action is dead, except for the Timber carbines, the point is probably moot as well. My understanding is that the .480 '94 will be offered in the standard action. This will rule out too much hotrodding. At best, I only expect Trapdoor ballistics, but with a bigger bullet. I still want one. Hmmm, I wonder just what it would do in the '94.

 

[MikeG]

.480 does have a slightly smaller rim than it's parent, or perhaps we should say, grandparent case.  So... Juan may be correct, it may be quite difficult to fit the .45-70 into the 94 action in it's present form, and Winchester probably doesn't want to go to the trouble of making up .45-70 cases with different rim dimensions.

.480.... I've seen load information up over 400 grains.  I think in a revolver this will top out around 1200 fps for that weight (at least in cast bullets), and pick up at least 250-300 fps in a rifle.  So that will be pretty potent.

 

[rgp]

i think the 450 marlin is the same as a .458 american, and the .458 american has been chambered in at least one '94 winchester...i apologize but i do not remember the name of the gunsmith who did it...

 

[hfc2]

John Traister did this and published it in either rifle magazine or handloader and in a book;  I had the rifle he used and sold it to a buddy; it was made from a winchester 94 big bore 375; my friend still has it and he has stopped handloading so we recently rechambered it to the 450 marlin!!!

(Edited by hfc2 at 8:40 pm on Jan. 10, 2002)

 

[Juan Tedman]

Do you have a contact number or e-mail for John Traister? I would love to talk to him.

Thanks