shooting the 50-90 I was warned

[Eric F]

ok so I just got back and thought I would let you folks know what it was like...............it was wet but not raining at the moment so I set up a target at 50 yards, first shot I set the trigger I waited for the breathing heald a half breath got the sight picture perfect and 1 pound of trigger pull a hard hit in the shoulder and some chicklets falling out of my mouth, huh I thought thats not right.  I put my hand up and spit a little there it was a large peice of my mouler.  ARG I thought.  then the pain then the tast of blood.  It has become a love hate relationship now.  the bullet hit 5 inches low and right 4 inches which is exactly where the rest of the 10 rounds went.  I couldnt concentrate any more my mouth was hurting too much so 3 patches and 1 spit patch the bore was clean enough back home I went.  Got home took some heavy pain releivers and cleaned/ oiled the monster and now typing before I become incohearent.  What a beast I was warned but so much fun, I have a nice drift pin to adjust the sights next time.  Thanks for all the help with all the questions I have had.

[Roosterman]

Loading with BP?

[Eric F]

oh yeah it came out to 93 grains ffg with a thin over powder card, a .090 grease cookie and a 530 grain flat nose lead.

[Doctor Bill]

Sounds a lot like my 45-120. 

Go shootin' when there are lot of other folks usin' that non-smoking stuff and see how many you get askin to try your cannon out: "Just one shot."  I usually offer them use of the recoil pad and most of them refuse. 

Doctor Bill

[Professor Marvel]

I commiserate, mi amigo. When shooting the Percussion Sharps one has the option of loading loose powder behind a hand-seated .54 Sharps bullet, approximately  435 grain. When measured that came to 95 grains of 2F, giving me a .54-95, but still 100 grains short of your bullet weight :-(
I padded both the buttplate and the cheekpad , and made certain to carefully clench my teeth. Unless I am planning on shooting elephants I shall most likley stick with the 65-75 grain load in the paper cartridges. Hope your dentist can make repairs soon
your humble servant
Professor Marvel

[Deadeye Don]

We are bound to have one or two oral surgeons on this website.   

[Delmonico]

If ya want ta know how hard you were hit, here you go.

(Projectile weight in grains + Powder charge weight in grains) X Powder Charge weight in grains
___________________________________________________________________________

                                         Weight of the gun in pounds X 80


Although the last time the question of recoil came up, the asker was upset I didn't do the cypherin' for him.

[bear tooth billy]

How heavy is your gun? My 50/90 weighs 16+ lbs and I load 95 gr Swiss 11/2 with a 650 gr bullet and I don't think it kicks bad. Do you have a pad on your gun? how about on your shoulder? Some people drill out the stock and add lead in it. If that doesn't work you can shoot my deer slug gun with 3'' mags after about 10 of those that black powder will seem pretty mild

[Eric F]

I have a billy dixon Armi sport fairly heavy, I really do not blame the rifle or the load, my tooth has had issues for 3 years it was just time. after 10 I had a nice swollen patch the size of my fist on my shoulder and the bruse is now quite nice to look at, no wonder some folks say 600-700 gr bullets, that much less powder!

[Mossyrock]

I feel your pain!  I used to routinely shoot both a 45-70 and 50-70 rolling block with lots of drop to the stock.  THEN I got a mouth full of braces (at 43!  What was I thinking?!?).  I shot my 50-70 roller ONCE after I got braces...and bled all over myself.  Now, I mostly shoot my 56-50 and 45 Colt 1873.  I'll wait until I get my braces off until I shoot the boomers anymore!

[Cyrille]

Me? I'm too ole an bruse too easy to shoot anything more than my 45/70  but I do like thet rifle-gun!

[fourfingersofdeath]

We are bound to have one or two oral surgeons on this website.   

Known as Fang Farriers in Australia ( a farrier is a blacksmith that shoes hosses)

[Cyrille]

Yep! my grand dad was one! A farrier that is, not a fang whatchmacallit!

[ndnchf]

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but one of the few times I listened to my elders was when they told me that those BP cartridges with 90+ grains of powder kill on one end and wound on the other 

Many years ago i had an original 1863 Sharps carbine converted to .50-70.  I used to shoot it a lot with full BP loads and 450 gr bullets.  That carbine was light and kicked like a mule.  Now I shoot a .50-70 1868 model trapdoor musket with the same load and its quite managable.  Many of the the 'ol buffalo runners swore by the .50-70, including Buffalo Bill Cody.  Its plenty powerfull for anything in north America, within its range limitations.  It was the first successful centerfire, US military cartridge and still one of the best. Needless to say, its my favorite cartridge

[sundance44`s]

Sounds alot like my first experience shooting my 45/70 ..I have shoulder problems and knew I couldn`t take much punch ...But I used my sand bags and bench to sight in my new toy ..loaded with 65 grs of goex 3f under a .405 gr bullet ..
I got the breathing right and squeezed off the first round to sight her in ....wow I thought I had dislocated my old shoulder ..tears came in my eyes from the pain ...ok so I didn`t have her held tight ...I admit but how could black powder hurt me so bad  ...any way lucky I was alone , no one around to laugh at me ...I was hurting so bad I went home , cleaned the rifle , got back in the truck and drove to SportsmanWarehouse and bought one of those sissy pads you wear over your shoulder ...yea I get alot of ribbing when I shoot ..but at least I don`t flinch from the pain anymore . Glad I didn`t have my cheek pressed hard against the stock ..I can`t afford to loose anymore teeth .

[Cyrille]

Not to say you were wrong in useing FFF in the 45/70.  Mr. sundance44's, however, I believe that the recomended powder to use is FF.
To my way of thinking FFF is a handgun powder. just my opinin though.