I posted this in another section, but got few responses. This may be the more appropriate section:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=778983
Any suggestions?
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=778983
Any suggestions?
.50 70 Government with bore diameter of .541"
- Thread starter orpington
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D. Buck Stopshere
Member
From http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Articles/Cartridge/50-70_govt.htm
"The second arm to be converted to accept the .50 caliber cartridge was the 1863 Sharps percussion breech loader.The Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company received a contract on October 26, 1867 to convert the abundant surplus of carbines left over from the Civil War.The Sharps conversion consisted of relining the .52 cal. barrel to .50 cal. and modifying or replacing the breech block and hammer, as well as other less significant changes. Interestingly enough, if the existing .52 caliber barrels were found to be in good repair and not oversized, they were left "as is" to fire the .50 caliber cartridge in a .52 cal. barrel.Accuracy certainly suffered, but was considered "good ‘nuff for government work" back then."
You may have one of those noted above that were left unlined at .52 caliber.
You state the firearm has six grooves. The original 1863, I am told, has 5 grooves, and the relined barrels for the .50-70 Govt have 3 grooves. So, there is a snag there, maybe you have five grooves. If so, likely yours is one of the unlined .52 caliber barrels.
Malumute's suggestion about a chamber cast is good advice.
I discovered, I hope, more helpful advice here:
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=34444.0
Buck
"The second arm to be converted to accept the .50 caliber cartridge was the 1863 Sharps percussion breech loader.The Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company received a contract on October 26, 1867 to convert the abundant surplus of carbines left over from the Civil War.The Sharps conversion consisted of relining the .52 cal. barrel to .50 cal. and modifying or replacing the breech block and hammer, as well as other less significant changes. Interestingly enough, if the existing .52 caliber barrels were found to be in good repair and not oversized, they were left "as is" to fire the .50 caliber cartridge in a .52 cal. barrel.Accuracy certainly suffered, but was considered "good ‘nuff for government work" back then."
You may have one of those noted above that were left unlined at .52 caliber.
You state the firearm has six grooves. The original 1863, I am told, has 5 grooves, and the relined barrels for the .50-70 Govt have 3 grooves. So, there is a snag there, maybe you have five grooves. If so, likely yours is one of the unlined .52 caliber barrels.
Malumute's suggestion about a chamber cast is good advice.
I discovered, I hope, more helpful advice here:
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=34444.0
Buck
Jim Watson
Member
Flayderman thinks a Sharps barrel has 6 grooves.
The guy in D Buck's link admitted his error and actually had a 3 groove reline.
The guy in D Buck's link admitted his error and actually had a 3 groove reline.
D. Buck Stopshere
Member
If your groove-to-groove diameter is .541, then its likely, you have one of the unlined barrels mentioned in my previous post.
The late Frank Sellers book on Sharps will be the authority on number of grooves in the unlined .52 caliber barrel.
One of the posters in the CASCITY.COM link stated he used a 395 gr.,.535 HB bullet in his unlined barreled Sharps.
Lots of good info that might help you in the CASCITY link.
Good luck!
The late Frank Sellers book on Sharps will be the authority on number of grooves in the unlined .52 caliber barrel.
One of the posters in the CASCITY.COM link stated he used a 395 gr.,.535 HB bullet in his unlined barreled Sharps.
Lots of good info that might help you in the CASCITY link.
Good luck!
D. Buck Stopshere
Member
Then you have one of the unlined barrels that I mentioned in my first post.
Check out the discussion on the CAS CITY website link.
Check out the discussion on the CAS CITY website link.
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