.50-70 Work-arounds?

[Dick Hosmer]

Was contacted by someone who asked if 32ga, brass shotshells could be adopted. Anyone try this? Apparently cases are a REAL problem. I've got a few Dixies, and they last forever.

[wstrayer]

I bought out the Bell cases when Buffalo Arms sold them.

[John S.]

.50-70 cases can be made from .348 Winchester brass but that is a case that is at least as scarce as .50-70 brass,

[Dick Hosmer]

.50-70 cases can be made from .348 Winchester brass but that is a case that is at least as scarce as .50-70 brass,

I have a bunch from when I was going to load some .43 Spanish, 60 years ago. That involved turning a little material off the case body just ahead of the rim - something probably NOT needed/wanted for .50-70. I'll see if I can find them - IIRC, some were turned, some were not. May not be a problem as case walls are quite thick at that point. Bug me if I forget.

[Tom Trevor]

There are videos on u-tube about this and its no cake walk to do it. 50-70 at head .559, 32ga. .567. At mouth 50-70 .530 ,32 ga .560
Sizing die needed as well. If Magtec brass shells used they are what was called folded head cases very thin as well and made for large pistol primers not rifle primers. So pocket is shallower.

[Dick Hosmer]

There are videos on u-tube about this and its no cake walk to do it. 50-70 at head .559, 32ga. .567. At mouth 50-70 .530 ,32 ga .560
Sizing die needed as well. If Magtec brass shells used they are what was called folded head cases very thin as well and made for large pistol primers not rifle primers. So pocket is shallower.

Just watched the Rakum video - LOTTA work if you reform the rim. For a case that will last almost forever, I'd be inclined to pay the price for real ones! You're not going into battle, so you'll never need a whole lot at once. In fact, if you load at the range you can make do with just one.

[Tony Beck]

You can also make 50-70s from 8MM Lebel. It's a lot of work, and once you're done the rims are under 50-70 diameter, so extraction can be iffy. 348 rims are undersize too.

[TKacook]

I have heard of people using .50 Alaskan brass to make 50-70. I purchased some to make some rounds for my metric Rolling Block. I used my Lyman 50-70 dies on it. The rim is somewhat smaller.

Andy

[gew98]

If I had to go that route of brass mod I'd get some 50 110 and cut it down. I got real lucky some months ago and got 100 starline new brass for $2.15 each delivered from a former collector. Had about 50 + reloadable on hand and it's set me decent for my trap and sharps carbine in that caliber. Though I seek an original sharps carbine rear sight as some bubba put a big buckhorn in the original dovetail.