Sharps 1874 range trip

[TomADC]

1st time out 45-70 Pedersoli Sharps.

These are the two loads I was trying out using Varget powder, very mild recoil, cases almost fall out of the rifle, no signs of pressure.



This is 405 gr Magma bullet with 11.0 grs of Unique the are 5 rounds inside the 9 ring, heavy gusting wind from right to left.

 

[Schofield3]

Very Nice! now we need a pic of the rifle

 

[TomADC]

That rear sight and these old eye's don't make for a good team. I have a Creedmore tang sight I'm going to try next time.

 

[Schofield3]

Sweet, she's a beauty!

 

[alemonkey]

Get that tang sight on there and you'll notice a huge difference. It'll be a tack driver. The Sharps barrel mounted sights suck, I can't hit anything with them.

 

[Birddog1911]

Definately get a Montana Vintage Arms vernier tang; worth every penny. Get a Lyman globe front site. Then take Winchester brass, Federal Primer, 65.0 grains of Goex Cartridge black powder, a thin vegetable wad, and top it with a 520-530grn solid lead Postell bullet. You won't regret it!

 

[pahuff1]

tomadc

There is a lot of empty case with 11 grains of unique. What kind of if any filler material are you using?

 

[TomADC]

pahuff1

No filler, didn't call for one, I just tilt the case back so everything goes to the primer end. I was really impressed with it, zero recoil not much louder than a 22lr and even with the barrel mounted sights a tack driver.
I mounted a Pedersoli Creedmore sight a USA431 now I need another range trip. Going to try some more of the 405 gr with 40.0-42.0 grs of Varget.

 

[iamkris]

I shoot a Billy Dixon model Pedersoli. With my tang sight, 405 gr hardcast and IMR 3031, I can do 2" groups everytime and have shot a number of 1-1/8" groups. You will definitely like the peep sight.

 

[TomADC]

I have a can of 3031 but haven't loaded anything with it yet, I take it you are using IMR's data? toward the lower end?

 

[stubbicatt]

It is a shift in paradigm, but you owe it to yourself to try out blackpowder and cast lead bullets in your rifle. What a hoot!

 

[TomADC]

stubbicatt

That is going to happen inabout two hours off to the range this time with BP!

 

[Jim Watson]

Now you are getting smart.
My .38-55 hasn't touched smokeless powder in over ten years, and my .40-65 has never gotten close to the stuff.


Friend of mine got into BPCR early on and had to reinvent the wheel. He and his group went from not holding the target backer to MOA.
There is a lot more information available now and you can get started right if you follow directions. Mike Venturino's book on "Shooting the Buffalo Rifles" is a good source and interesting reading.

 

[pahuff1]

malcolm scope

Thanks. are you using a magnum or regular primer?

I gave up on my tired eyes. I used a rear tang mounted sight and would shoot regularly out to 500 yards. Now the closest range is only 100 yards so precision is more fun than 9 inch groups because of bad eyesight. I opted for a Malcolm scope. 6 power gives my tired old eyes a better picture of my target.