.54 Cal Sharps Loading Question

[John C]

I'm looking at getting a .54 caliber sharps rifle or carbine. This is the non-brass cartridge type.

I've read many posts about making paper cartridges, etc., and proper loads.

Every source I've read states that black powder arms need to have all empty space in the chamber filled, or over pressure will result. I've also ready that sharps rifles and carbines are often loaded without filling up the chamber.

My question is to what degree must the chamber of the sharps rifle/carbine be filled prior to firing? My understanding is that the standard load for the .54 caliber was 60 grains of powder, but one post I read stated that a fellow could get over 100 grains into his chamber without a paper cartridge (he was just pouring it in behind the bullet).

So what's the consensus?

Thanks!

-John

 

[Mercerlake]

There is considerable leakage with the percussion Sharps, wear safety glasses or goggles, this seems to reduce or eliminate the danger. I had one a few years ago, then sold it due to not liking having my face and mouth filled with smoke. The shear plate is supposed to seal the breach to barrel gap, sometimes it does. This leakage was one of the largest factors besides the convenience of fixed ammunition that drove the developement of brass cases. This type of rifle could be loaded in several ways; by inserting a bullet into the breach followed by a charge of loose powder, paper cartridge with a bullet, or from the muzzle when the breach block became too fouled to move (common occurance in a battle). I don't recomend Pyrodex as the flash channel from the nipple to the chamber is long and makes a couple of turns, at best you'll get delays in firing to absolute hangfires. With Bp it works okay.