Pedersoli Sharps "Big 50"

[Jeremiah Justice]

Howdy folks! I just bought a Pedersoli Sharps Big 50 and could use some advise. (Actually, a lot of advice) This is my first BPCR. It's still new in the box and needs the rear Seoule Tang Site mounted. The rear sight is marked for 1200 yds.  The gun has a 34" barrel, weighs 11 3/4 lbs. and is rifled at 1/26" I plan on hand loading my own ammo and could use any advice at all that anyone has to offer in regards to loads, paper patch vs lubed, bullet weights, where I can get bullet moulds etc. I plan on having a gunsmith mount the rear site.  Any and all advice/opinions are welcome!   Thanks!

[Montana Slim]

Based on experience with friends rifles....I suggest boring holes in the buttstock & start adding lead to "heavy" it up a might  

My 45-70 is 11 1/2 lbs & pushes me around enough.

BTW, the cartridges I shot were near 700 grain bullets & used for driving steel buffalos into the dirt.

Regards,
Slim

[Kent Shootwell]

Being a 50 Sharps shooter myself I'd recommend buying "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West" by Venturino. He covers a lot from primers to cleaning. The grooved bullet is by far the way to go and of coarse black powder. Keep your back straight up while shootin and recoil isn't that bad, leaning into it particularly at the bench is what hurts. Note the back starts straight but moves back a bit.

[Ranch 13]

Jamison International will be the place to go for brass.
Sage Outfitters for the fiber wads
Montana Bullet works for a selection of good cast bullets before you splurge for a mould.
1f Goex powder.
The worst part about shooting the 50-90 is the way it torques into your cheek,but even at that it's not a very punishing cartridge to shoot, especailly if you stay with the 600ish gr bullets.

[wildman1]

Go to handloads.com    WM

[Jeremiah Justice]

I'd like to thank each of you for your great input on this. I've been searching for answers for a while now and your advice has led me in the right direction! I bought two boxes of 540 gr. cartridges with the rifle that are loaded with .510 diameter bullets. How would .512 diameter bullets shoot with a 90 grain powder charge in the same bullet weight?(theoretically speaking)









Experimental weapon with experimental ammunition. Lets experiment.

[Ol Gabe]

N.L.,
Welcome to the 'habit'! Now that you have the 'bug' you'll always have someplace to get rid of your extra $!
Just a few quick questions and they'll help you get started faster: 1. What type of Soule tang sight do you have? If it is a Pedersoli model I'd say don't install it as you'll be wanting a different one pretty quick-like, it is is a good sight but there are others that are far better and will help you succeed quicker in hitting the target. An inexpensive one that is really built well and works great is one sold by Red River Sights, formerly the Ukranian sight sold under Parts Unknown. It is solid, easy to adjust and read and fits like a glove on a Pedersoli that is already tapped on the tang. Info can be had by contacting them via e-mail at: red.river.a.a.p@mts.net
Other great Soule tangs are made and sold by Kermit Tool at: www.kermitool.com and Distant Thunder www.distantthunder.com
You can also get high quality sights from Baldwin www.baldwin-sights.com as well as the top of the line from MVA at www.montanavintagearms.com
The extra you spend on better sights now will keep you happy in the long haul and be sure and get one with a 'Hadley' eye cup as your eyes will appreciate it.
2. Where are you located at? If you can let us know we can guide you to other BPCR Pards that live or shoot nearby, we all like to help!
3.Whenever you ask a question, please give as much info as possible so a positive and productive answer can be returned, it will save everyone lots of e-time. Example- "My XYZ 45-90 shoots 6" groups, how can I make it shoot better?" Extra info such as type of rifle, sights, powder, bullet, wad, weather conditions, etc., give us more data than you think we'll need and the answers will probably be just what you are looking for!
Best regards and good shooting!
'Ol Gabe

[Ranch 13]

I suspect that with the .510 bullets you will experience a lot of leading.
The .512's will be better, but according to the available info as to what Pedersoli says about their 50 barrels, a .513 or 514 diameter bullet will serve you best.

[Jeremiah Justice]

O.G.

      The Soule sight I have is the one that came with the rifle and is the Pedersoli site. I live in Houston but I'm currently working overseas for the time being. I plan to go on a buffalo hunt within the next year or two and have plenty of time to learn all I can and get the right equipment and accessories for this rifle with the exception of hands on experience...for now. I should probably check the actual bore size before purchasing a quantity of bullets to load. I'll definitely get one of the sights that you suggested. I've been an active hunter/outdoorsman for 35+ years and my main concern with taking game is shot placement for a quick humane kill. I like to learn the easy way which is to listen to those with experience. I've read some about the Hadley eye cup along with tons of other information. I'll get the Hadley. It would be great fun to meet up with some folks in the Houston area that have the 'bug'. I have a variety of modern firearms and a Hawken .50 cal. muzzleloader, but this Sharps bug dug in deep! If I'd had more patience, I would have held out for a genuine C. Sharps. I'll probably get one anyway a little further down the road.
Thanks for the help!

Best Regards,

N.L.




Ranch 13,

    Thanks for the info on bullet diameter! I just read online a few minutes ago about leading the barrel and the many causes. Guess I'll have some cleaning to do after I shoot the .510 rounds! I'll probably start with the .513's in various weights. I read online the other day that .001 larger than the actual bore diameter is great for accuracy, but then, I started reading about leading in the barrel caused from undersized bullets, unsuitable lead hardness for the powder charge, and a multitude of other causes for leading. I wonder. . . did the ol' buffalo hunters back in the 19th century know about this kind of stuff?
Thanks again for the advice! I'm open to any suggestions you have.

Best regards,

N.L.

[Ranch 13]

 It's sort of a stretch to try and compare what the old deadguys did to what we have to work with today. The chamber deminsions and throat angles and even the depth and twist of the rifling were all different that what we have today.
But for the most part the odg's shot a 473 gr paper patched bullet in the 50's.
There's also the myth about how the odg's only used soft or pure lead bullets, that's not exactly true, they used bullets as hard as 1-10 alloy, 1-20 and 1-16 alloy were probably most common in the cartridge guns.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Nantan,

Since you live in the Houston area, you might want to get in contact with a couple of the CAS clubs in the area.  There are a number of folks that like to shoot the BPCR's.  The Thunder River Renegades are in Magnolia, and would be closest to you.  There are also the Willow Hole Cowboys in North Zulch (between Madisonville and Bryan).  Both clubs have locations to shoot your rifle.

I am on the BOD of the Renegades, and also shoot regularly at Willow Hole so please feel free to PM me or call.

www.thunderriverrenegades.com

www.willowholecowboys.com

[rustyrelx]

Half the fun with these rifles is studying up on their users. Get the "Buffalo Hunters Encyclopedia" and enjoy.

[StrawHat]

Which "Big 50" cartridge is your rifle cut for?

Lots of fun trying to get these shooting well.  I have found them to be easier to work accurate loads than a smaller caliber but have heard from others who have experienced the opposite.