Welcome Jake and Congratulations to you and your Pedersoli 1874 Sharps in 40-65 caliber.
* Learning about a '74 Sharps is secondary to making reloads for it.
Starters:
* The 40-65 caliber ...
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Reloads: Powder & Bullet ... 65gr 1.5Fg powder with a 260gr bullet = 1420 fps
Powder Source: Goex Olde Eynsford Powder, Inc.
1861 North College Ave.
Clarksville, AR 72830
479-705-0005, Fax: 479-754-6281
Toll Free: 877-833-1799
E-Mail: Powderinc@powderinc.com
All the 'stuff' needed for your reloads -
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Reloading Steps:
Case Preparation
Anneal the mouth of the cases to the seating depth of the bullet 650/680 degrees ( bluish/green color using a propane torch) Dunk the case immediately in a bucket of ice water
Full length size the cases
Not a absolute step to be performed use a case lube
Chamfer the mouth of the case with a 22 ½ degree chamfering reamer
to remove any burrs
Square the primer pockets with a pocket reamer
provides for proper seating of the primer
Deburr the flash hole with a flash hole reamer
removes flash hole burrs for better primer ignition to the powder charge
Size the mouth of the case using an M Die or Expander Plug for 0.001 to 0.002 neck tension so there is a very slight bell on the mouth to all the base of the bullet to be seated ½ way into the case
NOTE: Case length trimming (not absolutely necessary unless cases exceed the SAMMI case length a lot. VERY IMPORTANT: Do not trim any cases until AFTER they have been fireformed
Determining Extended COL of Loaded Round
Drop the bullet into the chamber and tap the base with the eraser of a pencil
Using a caliper, measure from the base of the seated bullet to the rim of the chamber (A)
Measure the length of the bullet (B)
Add A + B = C
Measure seated depth of the bullet in the case (D)
C D = Extended COL of the round
Measuring Powder Charge Height
Measure the distance from the top of the settled powder to the mouth of the case
Determine how much you want to compress the powder column
Adjust your compression die to the required length to achieve the amount of compression you want.
o NOTE: Adjusting the compression die requires
Fiddling do it in small steps
Charging the Cases
Primers: Favored primers are: CCI BR2 and Federal GM210M (LR Match)