Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Michigan 45-70 1.8 inch brass

Did you have to open up the case after you shortened it? The 444 uses a slightly tapered case.

I used a bell flare die from my 44 mag die set. I also customized a Lee Factory Crimp die to get a good crimp for my tube feed rifle.

Lee

BTW the taper would make the mouth larger when the case is shortened.

The length limit is a ridiculous law and undoubtedly written by a non hunter. Fortunately for me I live in the rifle zone so it's a non issue for me. Someday I'd like to hunt Jackson county with my High Wall in 38/55 but not until this law is changed

Just seat the bullets out to approximate factory OAL in that shortened case and ignore the differences thereafter. It will work as a normal .45/70.
Have done the same thing with .458 cases. Just trim the case shorter, load as usual and go hunting.

I used shortened brass with the Hornaday 325 FTX bullet seated to 2.55" or so and crimped it with a custom Lee Factory crimp die. 48 grains of H4198 gave me 1900 fps.

I killed 4 or 5 Whitetail does with while I lived in Michigan.

Rufous! I got the idea from you, as you know. I had BIL shorted the brass , and the crimping die. I am going to get some bullets this week. It’s starting to shape up.

Good luck with your project Whelenman. My combo worked great and I recommend it. My firearm is a Marlin 1895 SBL. I had been concerned about that bullet damaging too much meat on shoulder shots but purposely shot the last doe in the shoulder and was happy to see that meat loss was minimal.

I’m having trouble with a RCBS number 14 shell holder. I just ordered some 1.80 45-70 rounds from the Fury Bullet company.

Let us know what you think of them.

Will do!

Hate to be the dumb one here, but what's wrong with normal length 45-70 brass? Is there some stupid law in MI about hunting cartridge brass length?

In the southern third of Michigan, the "shotgun zone", the regulations permit the use of a rifle using a straight wall cartridge greater than .35 caliber with a maximum case length of 1.8". .450 Bushmaster meets these restrictions and has become very popular. .460 S&W does as well. Historical 45-70 case is too long so some are trimming it back to 1.8" to meet the relatively new standards.

I got the cartridges today ! They appear to fine. I will test them within a week!

What kind of trouble are you having with a shellholder? Do you not have a #14?
If so, I’m pretty sure I have one you can have.