Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Send TopicPrint
Normal Topic 40-70 Sharps/35 Wesson/38-50 (Read 423 times)
Shanghai Jack
Junior Member
**
Offline



Posts: 93
Location: texas
Joined: Apr 6th, 2014
40-70 Sharps/35 Wesson/38-50
Jan 14th, 2026 at 8:22pm
Print Post  
One of you wonderful gentlemen made mention to me of using a 40-70 set of dies to use in loading either a 35 wesson or or 38-50.  I rushed out and got a set of 40-70 dies but lost the discussion somewhere.  Anyone help me? If you can't help I'm going to have to buy a 40-70 sharps and my wife will kill me.   

thanks in advance
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
vbull
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 111
Location: Lake George, Champlain region
Joined: Sep 19th, 2004
Re: 40-70 Sharps/35 Wesson/38-50
Reply #1 - Jan 15th, 2026 at 8:06am
Print Post  
I've have a .38-50 RH and have been using the Lyman 40-70 seating die (unaltered) and the neck flare die with a custom made button.  I have a 38-50 full length sizing die that I used initially to form from both .303 Brit and .30-40 Krag brass.  I have to neck size the .303 brass after each use as the case walls are thinner than the Krag brass.  Up to now, I've only shot black powder but may try smokeless in the future.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
rr2241tx
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 134
Location: San Marcos
Joined: Mar 27th, 2012
Re: 40-70 Sharps/35 Wesson/38-50
Reply #2 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 11:52am
Print Post  
I'd sure hate to see you come to an untimely end, so the obvious solution is to buy two:

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Both cases can be made from Starline 30-40 Krag so you're saving money by getting double use out of the dies you already own. It's like girl math for why she needed two pairs of new 👠, she will understand the perfect logic.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
4060may
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 192
Location: Richfield
Joined: Jul 12th, 2006
Re: 40-70 Sharps/35 Wesson/38-50
Reply #3 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 1:02pm
Print Post  
when I made thee cases for my two 38-50RH, one on a Hepburn, the other on a CPA
Hepburn chamber was done by Ron Snover, the 30-40 case was big about 1/2" from the rim, Ron said to use a 303 Brit die cut off the top to size down the case, I fired the case then annealed it and fired it again, Cream of wheat and Bullseye, then trimmed to case length, in my two rifles , the case inside dim. was ok, even better for shooting Paper patched bullets, both rifles had 1-12 twist barrels, Hep had Shilen, CPA Green Mountain
I only shot BP in both rifles at the time, can no longer shoot BPCR, sold The Hepburn, Will post the CPA, at a later time
I made a compression die using a Lyman body, other than that don't need much to shoot it with acuracy
FWIW 1 1/2F worked best, .060 poly, and .060 cork together both GG and PP
HTH
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send TopicPrint