Sharps 45-70

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Lakedaemonian

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So I got the Uberti Sharps (Standard 30 inch barrel) today when I got off work, along with 3 boxes of 45-70 (black hills 405 grain yikes!!) and a 45 cal boresnake. The boresnake wasnt even long enough to swab the barrel. Needed to add a longer starter string. So I swabbed it and shot it on a dirt road on my way home... (I just couldnt wait) It wasnt NEARLY as loud as I expected it to be and it kicks about like an AK. So far, I am very happy. Expect a range report shortly, and pictures of my first deer about a month later.

p.s. I know its a bit overkill for white tail deer, but its either that or a .223. Both would do the job, but I have a feeling the 45-70 will do it a bit more... efficiently. haha Plus, it will take anything I feel like hunting in the future.
 
Just be sure you know what's behind that deer. That bullet probably won't notice that it hit a deer and keep on trucking for a country mile.
 
the area I hunt is our original family homestead from 1881. Its high on wind and low on neighbors hence the wind bucking 45 slug I wish to throw. =)
 
The smart money says that you won't be the first person to ventilate a dear with a 45/70 on that piece of land :)
 
If you really want to see that rifle come alive start reloading for it. Taylor a load specific for that rifle and you will be very pleased.

Oh and factory ammo, short of Buffalo Bore, is under powered and has very little recoil. IMO.

Or even better, load with black powder. Congrats on the new rifle and enjoy. 45-70 is more fun than should be allowed.
 
To my knowledge all factory 45-70 ammo develop pressures safe for the Trap Door Springfield. If you want to see your sharps begin to perform, reload for it.
Even hot 45-70 loads loaded with smokeless powder don't kick as hard as you would think. Blackpowder will produce more felt recoil.
White smoke in the air and the smell of cooked sulfur always did smell better than smokeless any. Besides, smokeless powder is just a passing fad.
 
I was thinking reloading for it would be the ticket. That block looks like she's ment to take a good thud. Figured the factory rounds were underpowered. I can shake them next to my ear and hear quite a bit of powder movment. We have some relativly hot super X in 45-70 at my gunstore. That should fly a bit better. The rounds I got now are just the cowboy action rounds.

Plus I just found out that my great-great grandfather used a Sharps. He shot it out!! He was a buffalo hunter.
 
If you want that thing to standup like a RIFLE, not a gallery gun, load your own!
The BH stuff's excellent quality, but not meant to come anywhere near the potential that the caliber offers. :)
Denis
 
SAAMI maximum .45-70 pressure is 28,000 CUP and the Italian makers will not claim to handle anything more. That will get you a 405 to 1700 fps with a smokeless hunting load, which ought to be plenty.

The real fun starts with real black powder. About 68 grains well compressed under a 500+ grain bullet will take you back in time.
 
I bet that will very enjoyable. I have always wanted a single shot and have often Googled images of Ballards and other single action rifles. I love the rolling blocks too. I even like that little Stevens (now Savage)
"Favorite" .22. My next rifle may be a Ruger no 1, or something like you have (although a Marlin 1895 45-70 would be great fun too). Send photos with your range report.
 
you need to get a can or two of Trail Boss and have some fun with that...

400-500 grain cast bullets and anywhere from 10-16 grains max of the cheerios and you will have about a 800-1000 fps plinking load that won't hurt your shoulder and won't leave a mess in your barrel.

I use about 15 grains and a 300 grain jacketed hollow point in my TC 16" 45-70 carbine...won't leave my shoulder screaming, no mess, and absolutely no pressure signs on the brass. I came up with that load about a year before IMR released the data for jacketed bullets with trail boss.

AA 5744 is another good powder for a 45-70, as well as either of the 4198's.

Of course, if you want to "simulate" a BP load, all you have to do is get some bullets lubed up with a lot of SPG and a reduced load of Unique...and voila! Instant smoke. :)

D
 
Those Buffalo Bore 405s are a blast to shoot in my dad's H&R Buffalo Classic, if you don't mind a little recoil try some of those Lever Evolutions in it. There is a lot of difference in the two IMHO.

Congrats on the fun new blaster!
 
Congrats. I bet you'll love it. I have a Uberti 1885 Winchester copy and its' quickly becoming my favorite. I've had to invest in a shoulder pad. :)
 
Range day will be monday by the way. I have off of work and I will be going up to the homestead to do some long range Quigly action. Think I'm gonna get the hot loads for that. BTW... Im saving my brass!!!
 
I also handload for my 45-70, a Browning 1885 and it works great on deer. Just be very careful about the smokeless load you choose. Most books give three levels of loads: for trapdoor and similar guns, lever actions, and modern single shots like the recent vintage 1885 and Ruger #1.

Don't try the 1885/#1 loads in the Sharps replica lest you find yourself holding a bunch of broken gun parts, or worse. I run 300 gr. loads at just over 2500 FPS in my 1885, but that would absolutely wreck one of the replicas I'm afraid. A 350-400 gr. load running around 1800-2000 FPS should work a treat. I would also like to mention that I love the Starline brass, it holds up to high pressures much better than the Winchester brass I previously used.
 
dang,,i don't know what kind of white tail you have over there on your homestead,, BUT,, that cowboy stuff will kill a white tail pronto

these big fat bullets don't need the speed that them little ones do!!!!

i bet ya that the down loaded katrige will put that 405 slug kleen through a white tail at 150yrds. no prollum

you have entered the world of freight train kills and not that mambe pambe high explosive baby bullet stuff,, and don't let these guys trick you into believing these big bullets need to be goin fast to get the job done,,,aint true,,,12-1300fps will do it,,i have killed a lot of stuff,,including 3 buffalo with my guns,,,and none of the 2000fps seconds stuff was used,,,for the buffs a 480gr. movin at 1250 went through and though at 100 and 150 yrds,, no problem,,,the last one i killed the buff was standing at 300 yrds,,when we opend it up the bullet was laying just under the skin on the off side,,it was almost lost forever

and the best thing is you can eat all the way up to the hole,,not much blood shot like with the little fast movers

i been using a 45-70 on um for a long time,,,works good,, no need to change

all you need to do is find you a load that the sharps likes and that's what ya feed her,,,,i garontee you,,, she will not disappoint ya

you prolly do need to load for this new gal ya got and she will really show you some stuff then,,,whole new world of killin power

welcome to the single shot world,,enjoy your new toy,,,i'm sure you will

ocharry
 
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