greetings waterman,,

the shilos are rated with the num 1 and 3 rugers. they can allmost be loaed up to a 458 win mag.. a lot of fun to shoot..

..ttfn..grampa..

Definately don't even try to make a magnum out of your Shiloh 45/70 by trying to shoot 500gns out of it at 1500fps with smokeless.
The first thing to ruin is the gilt edge on the fine rifling, second the design does not lend itself to high pressure loads and third, in my experience, it will need to have all traces of copper removed from the barrel before and resemblance of accuracy returns after firing jackets.

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My assembled BP loads L to R 40/65, 577/450 & 45/70

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This is the level of accuracy you can expect from good BP loads in your 45/70 at 100 yards

Visit the Shiloh forum and pose the same question to Kirk.

Sharps1874,

I think that Bad_Ass_Wallace was refering to shooting 500 grain jacketed bullets in the 1874 Sharps. Earlier in in this thread I said the same thing!

Don't shoot jacketed in the Sharps! It is a waste of money for one thing; "NON-Trditional" for another and worst of all wears the fine accuracy off the rifling way too soon.

So far as shooting heavy bullets, Lead bullets that is, the only thing a man needs to consider is the twist of the rifling such that long heaivies will be stabilized.

For example; at the Montana 1000 yard Championship I saw a lady shooter (she came in third) firing 590 grain bullets through her Sharps rifle. Safe, very accurate, cheap and there is no way the barrel will ever wear out when used in this way.

Good morning,
Forrest

Yes I was referring to "jacketed", however even plain based cast bullets have a limitation on how fast you can drive them before leading or even stripping in the rifling occurrs.

Bad_Ass_Wallace,

Sure, there is always the limit a fellow can press any lead bullet, plainbase, gas checked or even paper patched. But on this thread the rather unusal possibility of shooting jacketed in the 1874 Sharps rifles is being considered. Quite possible of course, but why?

You and I can see all kinds of reasons why not but perhaps there could be reasons such a thing might be done.

What bullet is that in your 50/70 and 50/90?

I have a 50/90SS which I shoot with a 690 grain Jones bullet in the 1000 yard matches, what are yours used for?

Good morning,
Forrest

Both bullets are from a Lyman mould 445gn at 1:30 mix.
I've just ordered a custom 510gn short bore riding mould for the 50/70 and should soon have a PJ 650gn Creedmore for the 50/90.
I use the Lyman bullet initially for fireforming new brass in the 50/90.

The BPCR Silhouette National Championship was won by Brad Rice with a CPA 44 1/2 in 45-70. The Long Range nationals was won with a Pedersoli.
The Pedersolis' are nice rifles for the money, but I would recommend that the sights should be of a better quality, if you are shooting in competition.
I own a Shiloh 1874 in 45-70 and shoot a Jones Creedmoor bullet at 535 grs. Powder charge is 60 grs Swiss 3f and a Remington 2 1/2 pistol primer, over primer wad and bullets .010 into the lands, lube is White Lightening. This is a very accurate load and will shoot in all weather conditions with no fouling. Of course this, is my Silhouette load and I have yet to wound a Ram. 
I have been using my CPA in 38-55 at BPCR Silhouette and have done very well. However, wind conditions can give the spotter headaches.

The problem (the MAIN problem anyway) lies in the fact that there's a large air space left in the case when fast-burning smokeless powder is used. The actual mechanics of the chamber ringing are still being debated in some cases, but the facts are clear, the ringing doesn't occur unless there's an air space.

This ringing can occur with any rifle chambered for a large-capacity case when small quantities of fast-burning smokeless are used. Weak rifle or strong rifle doesn't matter if the elastic limit of the barrel steel is exceeded.

Three solutions occur to me:
     Use a filler with small smokeless charges, with CAUTION
     Use Everlasting or reduced-capacity cases with smokeless
     Use a slow-burning smokeless & load to full density

Three problems occur to me:
     Fillers sometimes cause ringing, blowups & other problems
     Reduced-capacity cases are difficult to find for some calibers
     Recoil is too much for pleasant shooting with full-density loads


All of these problems can be solved but require compromises.

I won't get into the details of fillers 'cause I don't understand all I know about their use, maybe the famous (notorious?) xxgrampa can give us some enlightenment on this subject.

ONE reduced-capacity case is easy to make but it's difficult or impossible for the layman to make a number of 'em with all having exactly the same capacity. The best bet for this option IMO would be to have RMCC or whoever make a batch of 'em.

Recoil is a bear. Suck it up or use one of the other options.

Face it, these big cases were all designed for black powder & are unsuited for smokeless except with full loading density. And, come to think of it, they don't work very well with black at less than full density either, plus compression!

I personally use a case full of whatever powder in all calibers that I shoot, for full loading density. Makes things a lot simpler.
JMOFWIW, good luck, Joe

Hello Everyone,

Am I correct in what I’m hearing that it sound like it would not be wise to shoot any rounds over 500 grain bullets in my Sharps 45-70? Ya I know some of you think that I’m crazy to shoot Smokeless in my Sharps, since more then anything else the rife was and still is designed to shoot Black Powder. I would rather take a safer approach for me by starting out with Smokeless and working up to black Powder, hey, you all have been doing this Black Powder for a long time, and yes I’m the Newbie when it comes to Black Powder. So hey give me a bit of slack and try not to be too critical in that area. All I’m asking for is the advise on when I do use Smokeless and later Black Powder, please do help me from not making any stupid mistakes that all of you can pass on to me. This loading for the 45-70 sure is a totally different ball of wax compared to my standard loading that I’ve been doing for years. And please I hope that no ones feelings are hurt, I do appreciate all of your help and knowledge, I’m humble enough to know that you are the experts in this area and I’m not, thanks.