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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140 (Read 3698 times)
RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #15 - Jun 15th, 2022 at 10:16am
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Dusty Texian wrote on Jun 15th, 2022 at 8:59am:
If you are wanting to slug the bore you could use a 54 Cal. round ball . I have found  swabbing the bore between shots is a must for best accuracy with the 45-120 , I would guess the 50-140 would be the same . That much Bp. leaves a lot of fouling . Good luck with your loading .,,,DT

Ohh, didn't even think of a 54 cal round ball. I have a few buddies that do CW reenactments. Going to see if they have any. Not versed using something that oversized. Any potential issues to be aware of?

Bent_Ramrod wrote on Jun 15th, 2022 at 9:25am:
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.  Smiley

BWahahaahaahaaahaaa hahahahahaahha OMG. If that was captured on video, perhaps the greatest moment in shooting history. I would have loved to have been there for that. And yeah, seems some get decent accuracy and others don't. Thinking of doing a chamber cast as well, just to be sure if there's any freebore that needs to be taken up. Or at least be aware of it. Seems like the freebore was done to accommodate paper patch shooters, and greasers and didn't do anything positive for no one. Just don't know what year that was started.

I'm actually excited to shoot it. Even if the recoil makes it and me reach for the sky. I just don't have the range to go past 200yd locally within 2 hour drive. There's one range that does have a 800yd range I found out about yesterday. But before you can open it up, they make you qualify with 10 shots at 200yd, then 10 shots at 300. No exceptions.
  
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RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #16 - Jun 15th, 2022 at 3:32pm
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Bent_Ramrod wrote on Jun 15th, 2022 at 9:25am:
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.


Forgot to address this, yes the SPG Black Powder Primer. Been trying to track one down. Called Huntingtons, and a few other places. Nothing in stock. Scoured fleebay, 100 bucks for it. Thats a bit of a hard pass for a book that msrp at 21.

Not sure if I should go with ch4d or Redding dies. I've a few comp dies from Redding for the 44mag and 45acp that I LOVE. My press is an old ch4d magnum press from who knows when. Rock solid and has been in use since my grandfather bought it sometime in the 70's or 80's.

Any thoughts on who'd you all pick for custom dies?
« Last Edit: Jun 15th, 2022 at 3:46pm by RecoveryOne »  
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ISS
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #17 - Jun 17th, 2022 at 7:05pm
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Wolfe Publishing now owns the Black Powder Cartridge  Magazine.

Just go to their website and order the book.  IIRC, it's about $30.  You can also subscribe to the magazine, it is a quarterly.  They are running a special on available back issues.  You may be able to find the one featuring the 50-140.  There is also an ad for a specific book on the 50-140 loading.

Sorry to say, I bought the brass and dies and chambering reamer for the 50-140 here a couple days ago.  $650 for all the stuff.  RCBS made the dies, check back with them.  You might also get in touch with Bertram Brass on their website.  I have a Meacham High Wall custom, chambered for the 40-90 Sharps Straight.  It is also a 3.25" case, and they make them.

As far as loading data, the one I had many years ago was on a Ruger #1 single shot.  I used starting loads for the .500 Nitro Express.  I had a Krieghoff double rifle in that cartridge.  I took it to Africa in 2008, IIRC.  That case is just 3 inches long, so I thought starting loads for the .500NE in a case 1/4" longer would be safe.  It was, but pretty ugly on the back end.  Not knowing about the Sharps, I would strongly suggest using the book for the 50-140 from the Wolfe book by Steve Garbe and Mike Venturino.  It will be BP, but very safe.

take care, and enjoy...

Rich

PS: the new edition of the BPC just arrived in the mail five minutes ago.
1.  Rocky Mtn Cartridge runs an ad there, so they might have
     some brass.  307-347-1547.
2.  Montana Bullet Works offers bullets.  406-244-3855.
3.  Starline, offers many calibers of brass.  1-800-280-6660.

I did not see an ad for the 50-140, but Wolfe may be able to tell you from previous ads they ran.  1-928-445-7810.

Hope this has been some help.
« Last Edit: Jun 17th, 2022 at 7:20pm by ISS »  
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RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #18 - Jun 19th, 2022 at 2:32am
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ISS wrote on Jun 17th, 2022 at 7:05pm:
Wolfe Publishing now owns the Black Powder Cartridge  Magazine.



Rich,
Thanks for the information. The cost of having rcbs just tool up for the 50-140 is fairly expensive. Ch4d and Redding seem the best bets. I'm sorta leaning to ch4d as I can pick up the 3 die set for a fairly modest cost vs Redding. 

Thanks for the info regarding BPC Mag. Going to dig there this morning since I'm up and about at this unholy hour for plant maintenance. Why I created 

So I managed to snag a total of 40 brass made by Bertram. Dixie Gun Works (which it seems has a history when it comes to the Sharps rifles) and Huntingtons had some in stock!

I'm a little concerned about bullet stability. The WAG numbers I'm running based on my 1:36" twist out of a barrel with only about 25" of usable rifling is coming out with a Sg value of 1.02 to maybe 1.25 (Hard to find some bullet coefficient of the custom molds I been looking at). So over all, she's going to be a tad all over the place. Seems the best I can do is to drive the bullet fast and/or make it heavy and long.

Still having a heck of a time finding someone with a 50cal or a slightly oversized round ball. Thinking about just buying a 30 buck lee mold that's sized at .515 and just casting a single bullet.

Thanks again for the info! Hope you are having a good weekend!
RO
  
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #19 - Jun 19th, 2022 at 4:53am
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You could try a fishing sinker.
Gumpy
  
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #20 - Jun 19th, 2022 at 10:51am
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RecoveryOne wrote on Jun 19th, 2022 at 2:32am:
ISS wrote on Jun 17th, 2022 at 7:05pm:
Wolfe Publishing now owns the Black Powder Cartridge  Magazine.



Rich,
Thanks for the information. The cost of having rcbs just tool up for the 50-140 is fairly expensive. Ch4d and Redding seem the best bets. I'm sorta leaning to ch4d as I can pick up the 3 die set for a fairly modest cost vs Redding. 

Thanks for the info regarding BPC Mag. Going to dig there this morning since I'm up and about at this unholy hour for plant maintenance. Why I created 

So I managed to snag a total of 40 brass made by Bertram. Dixie Gun Works (which it seems has a history when it comes to the Sharps rifles) and Huntingtons had some in stock!

I'm a little concerned about bullet stability. The WAG numbers I'm running based on my 1:36" twist out of a barrel with only about 25" of usable rifling is coming out with a Sg value of 1.02 to maybe 1.25 (Hard to find some bullet coefficient of the custom molds I been looking at). So over all, she's going to be a tad all over the place. Seems the best I can do is to drive the bullet fast and/or make it heavy and long.

Still having a heck of a time finding someone with a 50cal or a slightly oversized round ball. Thinking about just buying a 30 buck lee mold that's sized at .515 and just casting a single bullet.

Thanks again for the info! Hope you are having a good weekend!
RO


Pm your  address. I have some .516”, 440 grain bullets cast in 30/1 you can try. Cast from a Lyman 515141. At least slug the bore if nothing else. 

Probably no need to buy cartridges specific dies until you decide how much you’re going to shoot it. 

Look for a 50-70 set. Much more likely to find one and about 1/3 the cost. You can sell it later and get most of that back. Place a want to buy here if you can’t find a new set.

Run the case into the forming die just enough to size the neck. You should really never need to size the full case length since you are starting with new brass. Seating and crimping will work the same way. It’ just takes a bit more thought when setting up.

De-capping can be done with a punch or universal die.

Lots of ways to load on the cheap and get a taste of the game.



  
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RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #21 - Jun 19th, 2022 at 6:52pm
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Aew thanks!
I'll drop you a PM here later tonight ot tomorrow. Plant maintenance this weekend and I am a zombie at this moment in time. Couldn't even recall my login info here.

Shoot me your PayPal or whatever so I can cover cost of shipping.

  
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RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #22 - Jun 19th, 2022 at 8:34pm
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Everyone,
Thanks for the pms! Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you. Life been crazy this weekend.

I appreciate the time everyone has offered up to help out. My 40 cases of brass showed up yesterday and as silly as it sounds, I just didn't realize exactly how large the 50-140 brass is next to my loaded 45-70 shells. Even my wife was questioning me if I really intend to shoot it.

I so cannot wait to take it out to the range. I am not one for YouTube videos or such, but might have to take one. I have seen a few others post the 50-140 being shot, and the smiles on their faces is like mine the first time I touched off my Thompson Center 45-70 super 16 on the handgun platform.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend!
RO
  
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #23 - Jun 20th, 2022 at 12:03pm
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Be sure to anneal the Bertram brass before you do anything with it.  Might split on first sizing or firing if you don't.
  
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RecoveryOne
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #24 - Jun 21st, 2022 at 10:20am
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waterman wrote on Jun 20th, 2022 at 12:03pm:
Be sure to anneal the Bertram brass before you do anything with it.  Might split on first sizing or firing if you don't.


Thanks for the reminder. Put a note with my brass telling me to anneal it. I was reading up on Bertram and various case failures. I'll treat it like some of my Starline brass that needed to be annealed before first reloading.

RO
  
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Re: New to me Farmingdale Sharps 50-140
Reply #25 - Jul 1st, 2022 at 11:14am
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Oh happy day!
I decided to go with ch4d dies. Just received them. They appear to be very nice quality. I also manged to find a copy of the SPG Lubricant's BP Cartridge Reloading Primer, copyrighted 1992 from a local shop I placed a want at at.

Very happy about that as the gun they used was a Shiloh Sharps 30 inch barrel with 36 inch twist. Don't say if it was a Big Timber make or old Farmingdale, but happy to have it. And the book makes a nice addition to my collection of reloading manuals.

I hope everyone has a great and safe weekend!
RO
  
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