45/70 Sharps. using it for long range.

[telshe49]

l have a Pedisoli 45/70 sharps. octaginal barrel, which is 28" long with set triggers. l have adjustable fore sight plus a Creedmore sight which is 4" high with 2 windage ajustments plus the eye piece. l use nitro not black powder. Yesterday l cronagraphed 2 lots of loads, One was 50grs of Rel 7 which gave a avereage of 2,038 fps.[A bit hot.] the other was 29.5 grs of 2400 this gave me 1619 fps.the bullets were 326grs RNL 2/3rds lead 1/3rd lino. /Gas checked, lubed and sized. [nice round to fire]. When l got back home l ran the numbers through The Sierra suite 17 program to find out how it would fare and was surprised to find 2,038 fps load drops below the speed of sound at 313 yds and the 1619fps drops at 194yds. My question to you shooters of these guns is how much elevation do you need to get out say 1000yds?. And what would the ideal velocity be. l look to any advice you can give me.
Many thanks.
Telshe.

[John25]

Telshe,

Give these guys a shout

http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/html/

Nice bunch of blokes and happy to help.

[ovenpaa]

Also you could PM kri5h on this forum as he shoots similar at longer distances.

[Sim G]

I had a Pedersoli Long Range Express in .45-70 and took it comfortably out to 600. I started with 405gn RNFP, then went to 500gn RNFP and eventually a 500gn lead spire point, all of tyem from Lee molds.

The Pedersoli Sharps action is proofed for 28000 CUP so puts them into the "Band 2" category or loads. 39gns of H4198 gave just over 1500fps at the muzzle and comfortably went to 600. I always wanted to take it to 1000, but something else came my way and she was sold, regretably so.......

[kri5h]

Hi Telshe49,
I havent shot nitro in a Sharps in nearly 8 years and exclusively use black powder only these days. From the velocities that you are pushing, say at around 1600fps, I would guess you might need elevation in excess of 160 mins or so. Have you tried the JBM ballistics programme online, which is free? It's gives you a ball park elevation to start with.

All I can say about 50 grains of Re7 is 'ouch' :lol:

If you ever feel like shooting black powder, do drop me a line as I can get you in touch with SSBPCRGB and HBSA, where we shoot long range with Sharps and other single shots regularly.

BTW, it would be nice to know what kit you are using; both rifle and vernier sights. And pics would be welcome.

ATB,
Krish

[Gun Pimp]

Telshe,

I used to shoot a 45-90 at 1000 yards using a 535gn bullet and 85 grains of Swiss No4 black powder. Barrel was 34 inches and muzzle velocity was about 1230 fps. Back sight elevation was about 1.75 inches above my 100 yd zero - if I remember correctly.

Vince

[telshe49]

Kri5h
Thanks for your reply, l have a couple of shooting friends who are members of the Historic Breechloaders assoc and will certainley have a chat to you all regarding my Sharps. Hope the pictures do justice to my rifle 1st time l have managed this [thanks to my grandson.]
Also thank you all for responding.
Telshe.

[kri5h]

Hi Telshe,
That is one nice looking rifle.

It looks as if you got a crescent type butt plate. How comfortable do you find it? I hear they can be quite painful when shooting with heavy loads, especially nitro. The sights looks like Pedersoli’s own brand? My Pedersoli too had a similar sight setup. The front globe with the spirit level is extremely nice and I still have it on mine but I did change the vernier tang sight as I couldn’t get on with it. Presently I have a Rex Holbrooke 'Goodwin' vernier on mine.

Your rifle will have no problem hitting the bull’s eye at 1000 yards or even 1200 yards for that matter as long as you do your part.

Good shooting and all the best.

[telshe49]

Kri5h
Many thanks for your reply, The only way l can fire it is by using my shooting jacket especially if the loads are slighltly warm, other wise l end up with a crescent shaped cut over my eye. I`m not surprised people don`t whant have ago when l offer. The rear sight is like you said a Pedosoli one. l also bought a very long brass scope from a company in the states called Dixey Gun Works. You can see the little screws that supposed to hold the scope on a rifle with that sort of recoil. l believe you can buy quite a good one from Midway UK. something for the furture.

Regards Terry AKA, Telshe49,

[kri5h]

Terry,
this recoil pad may help you with that crescent butt.
http://www.talarms.co.uk/acatalog/Onlin ... s_158.html

Try dropping in at Bisley at one of our long Range black powder shoots one of these days if possible. It'll be great fun.

Regards,
Krish