[hillbilly]

Found this article and figured y'all might find it interesting.

http://The_Montanan.tripod.com/Sharps.html

Excerpt reads:


This group of scientists generally agreed that any projectile form a BB on up needs about 300 fps velocity to inflict a possibly lethal wound. Those .50 caliber Sharps bullets fired at 35 to 45 degrees were coming almost straight down at impact but were still going 350 to 400 fps. In other words they were still deadly out at 3500 yards.




hillbilly

[longtom4570]

Not only that it gives you time to get in your car, drive down to your target and watch your round hit:evil:

[4v50 Gary]

When Billy Dixon raised his gun, the Indians were lined up on the crest of a ridge surveying Adobe Walls. Windage wasn't as important as was elevation. If the bullet drifted either way, chances are it would hit someone. This doesn't make Billy Dixon's feat any less remarkable. What is remarkable is the shot fired by Jack Bean but that's another story.

[JohnKSa]

Billy Dixon always claimed that the shot was pure luck. Even if he hadn't, the gun was borrowed which would make it difficult for anyone to believe he knew the trajectory well enough to make the shot on skill alone.

[mete]

Interesting article , another fine example of people thinking that " those guys in the old days didn't know anything" .I get great pleasure hunting with my 45-70 , that ancient round that surprizes many and still holds it's own with all those silly magnums.

[elkhunter]

I recently bought a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 and love it. Methinks I see a a 45-110 and a whole slew of blackpowder reloading equipment in the future....... :rolleyes: :evil:

[Murphster]

If any of you ever get a chance to see a black powder cartridge rifle competition, try to go. The accuracy on those rifles at distance is incredible. (And they produce a soul-satisfying "boom", not a "bang.")

[buzz_knox]

The Wound Ballistics Lab once determined that the energy threshold for injur is 58 ft-lbs. So, backcalculate to figure out the minimum velocity required.

[Hal]

What is remarkable is the shot fired by Jack Bean but that's another story.
Gary,
Please don't keep us in suspense!

[Thunderstick]

I saw a guy on the American Shooter TV show a couple years ago shooting steel cut outs at about 1000 yds as I recall. The coolest part was that after he shot, he lowered the rifle and then there was a delay until the round hit the target. It was really cool!

I was reading on-line about some vietnam sniper that killed a VC at 1900 yds. At those ranges, he had time to fire his rifle, operate the bolt action to load a new round, and re-acquired the taget before the sound of the rifle reached the target. Now that's a long shot!