Hello everyone,
I been scouring the 'net, asking various shops and smiths in my area, and even calling a few out west trying to track down reloading supplies for a Farmingdale Sharps 50-140.

Some fine folks on other forums said I should register here and ask so here I am!

Long story: My grandfather passed a few years ago and when the estate was settled, I was given his firearms. A modest collection of general hunting firearms from 44mag, to old 20ga shotguns that lived in the barn for who knows how many decades. Along with a few others that I never knew he had. I started the restoration/conservation of  the worst and just let the others that were in good to great condition sit. One of those happened to be a Farmingdale Sharps 50-140. The last one on my list that I've yet to shoot. All others are now in working order!

Well now, I want to take it to the range and have some fun. I have no brass, bullets, dies or anything for it. I've placed a call to ch4d about ordering dies. I'm looking at brooks molds to cast some bullets. I even called C. Sharps and spoke to their gunsmith who was VERY helpful with information and all around a great guy. Thank you Tim!

She's a 28" barrel from breech to muzzle and with the 3.25" chamber, when I try to calculate the rate of twist I'm coming up with either 1:34 or 1:36. I'm leaning more to the 1:34. The rod spins 3/4th of a way around before I run out of barrel. Also running into the issue that I don't have anything in 50cal to cast a bullet to slug the barrel. Serial no is 26xx which puts it 1978/9 as far as I can determine from other's who've posted their SN and year they received their firearm. I sadly have no other information for this firearm.

So here I am, asking for resources on reloading it. Is this a smokeless capable firearm? I'm versed with smokeless reloading, but not with something with this large of a case volume. Any good books or other resources on black powder reloading? I'm new to BP and casting bullets.

BP or Smokeless, I know it's going to be a butt kicker. I understand that it may not be accurate just due to the nature of it. No I do not want to re-barrel it, or sell it. It's one of the few things I have of my grandfather who showed me everything I know about hunting and firearms growing up. I don't want it to be a safe queen. There's something about this firearm that is just over all enjoyable to look at and hold.

Can't wait for the day to take it to the range. Thanks everyone!
RO

Wow, you missed it by a day.  Pretty sure a complete setup sold yesterday, brass, dies and the works.  A friend has one in this caliber and offered to let me shoot it.  I said no thanks, really don’t like heavy recoil anymore.  But, my son shot it several time and enjoyed it!  You might want to post a “want to buy” in the sales section.

You won't need a lot of brass as shooting for more than a few shots gets old fast   Years ago I had one, but with a faster 1:26 twist.  I shot something like 135gr of Fg and a 700gr Creedmoor bullet.  Pull the trigger and you get teleported about a foot behind where you used to be

I don't remember what brass I used, but I think it was some sort of .50 Basic case.  I remember they needed a lot of force to size in my Rockchucker.

Chris.

I shot it only at 200m.  Accuracy was not good at all, but for me it would have been entirely the recoil.  For all I know it was a sub-MOA rifle, but with that recoil and me behind it, it was probably a 3 moa rifle .   The slower twist with lighter bullets will hopefully help you.

Chris.

Glad you got tooled up for it. Take it and enjoy it for what it is. A piece of history both rifle and bullet...



JMH

Log onto the Shiloh-Sharps site and post your query: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I believe a frequent and knowledgeable poster -- bobw -- shoots a 50-140.

Ray_Newman wrote on Jun 14^th, 2022 at 6:03pm:


I've registered there a two weeks ago. Account still not approved. Also seems like most over there from my searching says the only good 50-140 is one re-barreled into something else. Or so the impression that was given. Over all just seems the owners/makers of that brand don't care for the 140 either. But if my account ever gets approved, will be sending some messages that way.

Deadeye Bly wrote on Jun 14^th, 2022 at 8:35pm:


I thought Accurate 5744 was designed to fill up those large cases? Know a buddy runs it in his 30-40 Krag and 38-55. Again, just looking for all data points I can gain.

First loads are likely going to be with Swiss 1F if I can ever pick up a can in stock. Seems a good idea to start out with 110grn. Gorex I don't think is in production yet are they?

Been calling all my buddies and my local shops to see if anyone has a pure lead 50cal I can use to slug. Sadly no one shoots anything this large. 

No matter what, likely going to be several months away before I can make up the first round. As I have been calling up friends and my shops I frequent, several people have lined up for a shot with it. Thinking about charging $40 a shot. At this point in time, I have about 15 people on the 'want to shoot it list'. Not including myself and my wife.

When running more than one round, is it common practice to swab the barrel between shots with BP? If so, what products or how do you go about it?

Thanks again everyone, I can't stress how much I appreciate the replies.
RO

There’s a paperback book on shooting the 3-1/4” calibers:  .40-90 Straight, .45-120, and .50-140.  Forget the author and title (I’m away from my sources), but Buffalo Arms, C.Sharps Arms or Shiloh may offer it.  Might be on Amazon or some of the gun book sources as well.

A friend shot a Shiloh .50-140 for many years.  I seem to recall he used 138gr of Swiss powder and a paper-patched bullet around 600gr.  Can’t remember the twist or any other details.  He finally gave up on it as not accurate enough for the Quigley and switched to his “light” rifle, another Shiloh in .40-90 Straight.

When he shot that thing offhand, the recoil drove the barrel up a good 60 degrees.  A “serious” black powder caliber, to be sure.

I remember one year he shot the peepee off the 805-yd Buffalo at the Quigley with the thing.  Buz Coker brought it back from a repainting session and was waving it around asking “Who did this?”  We were all like mice.