Brass cartridges for Sharps percussion carbines?

[Palehorseman]

Back in the late 1970s I got a Sile (importer, mfg unknown) .54 PC Sharps. It came with a stainless steel gas seal, it worked well enough, but accuracy was not too good with different minnies and RB. I then got a Lyman copy of the original sharps design bullet with the tail on it for tying off the nitrated PC. (I still have the mould) Accuracy was then very good, but later I retrofitted it to 45-70 using a Ruger #2 barrel.

 

[Mike OTDP]

For reenacting, paper is definitely the way to go. Especially since you aren't shooting bullets, doubly so because that is how the original guns were shot.

 

[rocky branch]

I have a Piedersoli 1859 rifle I haven't fired yet.
Did a bunch of research on the various loading methods.

The cartridges hold significantly less powder-50g than the optmal load 60g.

Think I will go with O-ring mod, paper and/or loose loading.

I approached a guy who had what looked like a well used piece and he said he had only fired blanks.

 

[ofitg]

Th ONLY thing I don't like about it is after 5 or 6 shots, it's so fouled, you have to lubricate the breech unless you have 2 strong boy's and a mule to help you work the lever!!

It sounds like the same problem I've been having with a percussion Sharps repro - the breechblock is not sealing properly - I understand that this gas leakage is a common problem.

I looked around on the N-SSA forum and learned that a couple of guys are doing mods to the breechblock and/or chamber sleeve to fix this problem. One of the guys is named Charlie Hahn; I have been unable to contact him, it seems like he just dropped off the face of the earth a few weeks ago.

Another guy is named Bob Hoyt - I shipped my rifle to him yesterday.