Paper patch bullets or factory loads?

[shotgunmessenger96]

I have been looking for an affordable sharps rifle for a while now and finnaly found one. I've been looking around the web for opinions on what type of 45/70 ammo to get for it and heard one fella say his was only accurate with paper patch bullets. My question is if I want my sharps to be accurate would I have to load the cartridges or would it preform fine with watever could be bought at wal-mart.

 

[Wedge]

A gun like the .45/70 BEGS to be handloaded. The chepaest rounds available for the .45-70 on midway's website are $30/20. You could pay for a meager reloading setup in under 300 rounds AND it will be more accurate for your rifle!

My reloading setup was $200 for equipment and consumables were about $25/100 rounds for .45 Colt. The consumable cost for .45/70 will be higher, but you will save a ton of $$$ in a very short period of time.

 

[shotgunmessenger96]

Do you think a sharps would make a good deer/elk rifle?

 

[MMCSRET]

The Sharps is a fine design, however, what is the quality, bore diameter, twist, etc. of your rifle? You must experiment with various components and techniques before your questions can be answered.....I own one wildcat smokeless that it took me 5 years to develop an accurate load and then the bullet was discontinued last year. Have fun.

 

[Jim Watson]

Paper patched bullets are what I consider advanced handloading.

Most Sharps replicas will shoot grooved cast bullets or the rather soft jacketed bullets used in factory loads quite well. If you want the best, handload. If you want the very best, use black powder. It won't give the velocity of smokeless, but the accuracy will be better, especially at long range.

Sharps is a fine hunting rifle if you learn its management and don't mind the weight.