Sharps shooting

[Bunk Stagnerg]

 Hello the Camp.
This cowboy needs thoughts on loads for informal target and feral hog hunting with an 1859 .54 caliber Pedersoli percussion Sharps modified with the Hahn machine works breech using a 450-grain bullet and in that caliber I think  FFg powder would be appropriate in a Hahn tube.
Usually I will run a wet patch through the bore every 5 or 6 shots. Any thoughts on what brand and granulation powder to work best with this setup?
Right now, I have GOEX FFg, and FFFg, and Graf FFg on hand and was gifted with almost full can of Olde Eynsford FFg a full can of Swiss 1 ½.
I use FFFg in revolvers and FFg in shotgun loads, but have enough of the other brands to find a working load. Those tubes will hold a little over 50 grains of FFg which is the tube almost full to the base of the bullet.
This Sharps rifle is a learning curve for me and I am looking for some experienced shooter for guidance. Cartridges I know, but paper tubes not so much.
Thanks, and Hold Center
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

[cheatin charlie]

Read thru this and it will give you an idea of what works for other shooters.

http://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/6132-Pedersoli-1859-Sharps-Rifle-loads

Or talk to Charlie himself

http://hahnmachineworks.com/html/SharpsMod.html

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Thanks CC. That is a lot of great information.
I have tried to get in touch with Moose for a better bullet mold, but they don't respond to Emule and their phone won't tke any more messages. No idea what is going on.
Bunk

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings My Good Bunk -
My .54 sharps papercutter likes a LARGE bullet, like the Christmas Tree, and *at least* 60 gr of 2F. But I am not using Charlies tubes, so stuff as much in as it will hold.

In the hands of a better marksman than myself, with a loose powder load, mine seemed to preferred the large bullet and 90 gr of 2F. like this one at TOTW


However, using a compressed load of ~ 60 gr 2F in a "brass cartridge" it shot well to ~ 125 yds.


I am hoping that with a Lee hollow-base minie with oversize bearing bands it will work with lesser charges, cuz the big bullet is like a .54-90 and it kinda hurts.

I still need to try roundball.

If I can't get it shooting accurately I may reline or rebarrel to .45 and use .45-70 cartridges (with no primers) like a pedersoli I saw....
using a well made .45-70 blank or liner allows one to use stock .45-70 bullets and shoots just like a cartridge gun.

hth
prof marvel

[Kinchafoonee Kid]

Howdy, sir. These percussion Sharps are a lot of fun, just require a little extra care and feeding.

In my Shiloh 1863 military rifle, I use 62 grains Swiss 1.5, a pure lead bullet cast from a Steve Brooks Moulds, Charlie's tubes with ladies hair curler paper end cap and a RWS cap.  Lube it with a mix of beeswax and sheep tallow.

I can shoot 50 rounds without problems with functioning and good accuracy.

Kirk at Shiloh machined a slot to fit an adjustable blade front sight and fitted an extra gas plate, so I'm probably good for 100,000 rounds!

Matt

[Bunk Stagnerg]

Mine is the Confederate (Pedersoli) copy with the Hahn modification. Marble "Bullseye" rear and a Lyman Ivory bead front.
A friend milled in the dovetails. It makes for a very accurate sight picture. Right now my bullet is the Lee Minnie ball  and 50 grains GOEX FFg in the Hahn tube. On order is a 515 grain ring tail mold that should work better.

BTW The CCI so called "general purpose" musket caps are relabeled "reinactor" caps and are not hot enough to light a mouse phart much lass FFFg powder. RWS caps work like a charm, but I am still sighting in so accuracy is still to be determined.
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

[Professor Marvel]

Mine is the Confederate (Pedersoli) copy with the Hahn modification. Marble "Bullseye" rear and a Lyman Ivory bead front.
A friend milled in the dovetails. It makes for a very accurate sight picture. Right now my bullet is the Lee Minnie ball  and 50 grains GOEX FFg in the Hahn tube. On order is a 515 grain ring tail mold that should work better.

BTW The CCI so called "general purpose" musket caps are relabeled "reinactor" caps and are not hot enough to light a mouse phart much lass FFFg powder. RWS caps work like a charm, but I am still sighting in so accuracy is still to be determined.
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

Since Charlie worked his magic, you are the envy of the neighborhood :-)

I have no idea what CCI thought they were doing    Many of us were flimflammed by the "re-enactor" caps ... I am stuck with several hundred. Fortunately others have found that one can improve them with a large Big Bang paper cap or a little 4F held in with "something" .... please stand by and I shall go look it up :-)

update: from another forum, Hawg had excellent results using Legend Roll Caps:
If you want an easy way to boost your caps try some Legends roll caps. Just punch out the spot and stick it in your caps
no need to glue.

yhs
prof marvel

[Bunk Stagnerg]

To use up 1K of those lousy caps a flintlock pan primer tool from DGW spits a little FFFFg powder in the nipple and gives instant ignition in both the Sharps and Smith carbine.
Last time I shot the Sharps we ran about 50 rounds with no problem using RWS caps. The breech face was slightly smudged with fouling. One wipe with a patch and it was clean as a cats whisker. The first 36 were shot as Cody Dixon Single Shot (percussion) not  SASS sanctioned category, but club members loved it and they shot some more after the match until I ran out of ammo.
Bunk

[Professor Marvel]

To use up 1K of those lousy caps a flintlock pan primer tool from DGW spits a little FFFFg powder in the nipple and gives instant ignition in both the Sharps and Smith carbine.

Excellent! I'll try that. Did you "fill" the nipple or ... ?

The first 36 were shot as Cody Dixon Single Shot (percussion) not  SASS sanctioned category, but club members loved it and they shot some more after the match until I ran out of ammo.
Bunk

And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

I have found manh of us get far more enjoyment out of "local club unsanctioned categories"  that have nothing to do with the Founder's rulebook ( let alone gamers speed shoots) .

It's much like the "Annie Oakly" and "Turkey" shoots my trap club put on ( OMG well over 30 years ago).
It's importnat for all of us to remember to Have Fun in addition to the "officially scored sanctioned" stuff.

There's a place  for everybody to play in this game.

yhs
prof marvel

[Bunk Stagnerg]

usually one push of the primer gizmo is all you need. To clean out the fire path for the first shot I fill the nipple and pop one of those CCI caplets. Next round in the tube goes BANG using RWS caps very time. That tool is really a worthwhile addition for the musket shooter especially a gun with the serpentine fire path of the Sharps or Smith.