May be a stupid question...but sincere

Wild Bill Bucks · October 6, 2008, 02:34 PM

I was wondering if you could use a 45-70 rifle bullet, in a .50 caliber ML sabot.
Would it fit, and would it shoot right? Any one ever tried?

I had a guy give me a box of Barnes 45-70 bullets at 300 grains, and I was just wondering if I could use them, but thought I would ask first. Sure are expensive bullets to let go to waste, and I don't own a 45-70.

simonkenton · October 6, 2008, 03:18 PM

I imagine they would work.
Do you know the caliber, to the thousands of an inch?
Find a sabot that would fit I bet they would work.

arcticap · October 6, 2008, 05:46 PM

45-70 bullets have a .458 diameter, and MMP does make an orange sabot designed to shoot .457-.458 bullets.

http://www.mmpsabots.com/

DrLaw · October 9, 2008, 07:36 AM

But this one is not. I agree with the others. Sabots are designed to allow the use of smaller caliber bullets in larger caliber guns. If you can find one to fit, it should work. The thing is that you would also have to shoot a few of those expensive bullets to figure out what your gun is really going to like in terms of a powder load for it.

The Doc is out now.

Ironwood · October 9, 2008, 05:48 PM

Articap has it right. The 45-70 bullets have a .458 diameter. The Orange sabots are made for .451 bullets for the 45 ACP, 45 Colt pistol bullets. I think you might have a hard time getting them down the barrel. If you want to use those bullets you might look into Paper Patching them. However Paper Patching usually involves all lead bullets. I'm assuming they are jacketed bullets.

Next best thing might be to swap them for some .018" lubed patches and .490" roundballs.

October 6, 2008, 02:34 PM	#1
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	May be a stupid question...but sincere I was wondering if you could use a 45-70 rifle bullet, in a .50 caliber ML sabot. Would it fit, and would it shoot right? Any one ever tried? I had a guy give me a box of Barnes 45-70 bullets at 300 grains, and I was just wondering if I could use them, but thought I would ask first. Sure are expensive bullets to let go to waste, and I don't own a 45-70.

October 9, 2008, 07:36 AM	#4
DrLaw Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Location: Wild Western Illinois Posts: 559	Never a stupid question, unless it is one But this one is not. I agree with the others. Sabots are designed to allow the use of smaller caliber bullets in larger caliber guns. If you can find one to fit, it should work. The thing is that you would also have to shoot a few of those expensive bullets to figure out what your gun is really going to like in terms of a powder load for it. The Doc is out now. __________________ General McAuliffe said it best "Nuts."

October 6, 2008, 03:18 PM	#2
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	I imagine they would work. Do you know the caliber, to the thousands of an inch? Find a sabot that would fit I bet they would work.

October 6, 2008, 05:46 PM	#3
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	45-70 bullets have a .458 diameter, and MMP does make an orange sabot designed to shoot .457-.458 bullets. http://www.mmpsabots.com/

October 9, 2008, 05:48 PM	#5
Ironwood Member Join Date: October 9, 2008 Location: East Texas Posts: 34	Articap has it right. The 45-70 bullets have a .458 diameter. The Orange sabots are made for .451 bullets for the 45 ACP, 45 Colt pistol bullets. I think you might have a hard time getting them down the barrel. If you want to use those bullets you might look into Paper Patching them. However Paper Patching usually involves all lead bullets. I'm assuming they are jacketed bullets. Next best thing might be to swap them for some .018" lubed patches and .490" roundballs.