45-120 Brass

[Pritcher]

Hello all, first post on the site, though I have read through a fair few threads in the past. So, I bought a fairly inexpensive 45-120 made by some obscure Italian brand from the 70s. I had always wanted one of the Petersoli units, but they are somewhat price prohibitive for me. At any rate, the rifle is on its way to me, and I already have dies, all I need is brass. However, it seems as though nobody has even a hint of it anywhere. To boot, the folks selling cases on gunbroker want an arm and a leg for them. My question is, might there be anywhere one could find reasonably priced cases for sale? I only need a small number (perhaps 20), but I really don't want to shell out more than five bucks a case to the handful of guys selling on gunbroker.

Cheers,
Jack

 

[TennesseeHunter]

I just did the same thing since acquiring a 45-120 a few months ago.
I don’t have any cases to spare but I was able to find a few from someone else on this forum, so I’m not much help.

From what I understand based on what little I know, these cases basically don’t exist since every company that’s made them is out of business besides Norma, who hasn’t imported them for several years I guess. I did at one point see some available at northern shooters supply. Out of stock now anyways but they are in Australia so they might export for a pretty penny.

My suggestion would be to ask around even further. Could do some goofy things like call Buffalo arms, (the source of all things black powder cartridge rifle shooting) and ask the person who answers the phone if he or anyone else who works there has any. Talk to enough people you might find something. Or ask the folks at the Shiloh rifle forum.

Secondly, there’s Rocky Mountain cartridge who cnc machines any case you want. That doesn’t answer your question since it’s still about $10 a case and they’re months behind due to equipment failure, so I was told.

I would assume that eventually 45-120 cases will be made again if people can ask ten bucks or more for fired 3-1/4 basic brass.

That’s a long winded way of saying I don’t know but best of luck.

 

[Pritcher]

Thanks for the info, I will call around. I had actually ordered some from an English website a week or so ago, but they said that (despite having them "in stock" online) there were none available and Norma was not due for another production run until summer. Seems like even overseas folks are high and dry for these rounds.

 

[jambrdly]

Would Kynoch .450 cases help?

 

[Pritcher]

Would Kynoch .450 cases help?

I don't know if it would work, the rim is considerably thinner, on the nitro cartridge. They are pretty similar otherwise though.

 

[jambrdly]

I don't know if it would work, the rim is considerably thinner, on the nitro cartridge. They are pretty similar otherwise though.

Buffalo arms has loaded 45-120 in stock at $7.50 a round. Someone on GB has 19 45-120 cases at $200. Someone else has a set of dies and 40 + brass for a whopping $700.

Bertram makes brass for this caliber too but they have lost their stateside dealer. If you want to go through the hassle of getting the forms from BATF, you can import directly from Australia. It takes a while to make it happen though.