Sharps New Model 1859

[K9handler69]

Hello All,

I am brand new to this forum and I'm really impressed with not just quantity, but the quality of knowledge. That said, I have just acquired my first carbine and spent some time learning about it. It is a New Model 1859, that has been converted to 50-70. It is in beautiful, near new condition, serial number 50351. Aside from the usual markings, it has the letters "HHH" stamped in the rear of the stock, on top, by the buttplate. My research, if correct, indicates that the initials stand for HH Hamilton, an inspector for Sharps Rifles.

That's about all I could find out. Maybe someone on The Forum has seen this and has some knowledge of Mr. Hamilton.

I look forward to taking it to the range. I did an informal measurement of the muzzle, using a 50-70 round, which dropped to 1/8 inch above the top of the case.

Again, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

K9

[Kent Shootwell]

Howdy
You're correct that Hamilton inspected Sharps are marked HHH but there was also H.H. Hartzell that used HHH as his mark. Don't know if he did Sharps.
I'd quess yore Sharps isn't a lined barrel if the muzzle is that loose. Easiest way to tell is the Sharps rifling is six groove and the relined ones are three groove. The 52 calibre bore will reguire a soft bullet to shoot fairly well.

[Trailrider]

As was posted by Kent Shootwell, if the barrel has six grooves, it is probably not relined, even though it has been rechambered for .50-70.  If the original barrel was found to have a groove diameter of around .522 or less, they didn't reline them. If it was more, then they did, and the groove diameter (difficult to measure with 3 lands and grooves, which don't oppose each other) is effectively about .515".

I would see if you can find a .515" bullet and see if it passes through the bore easily or with just a little shove. If it goes through your best choice is to find a hollowbase bullet mould for a .515" bullet (the older Lyman 515141 and 515138 moulds would cast bullets that big. Most of the newer, so-called .50-70 bullets are actually around .510-.512").  You may need to have a custom hollowbase bullet made, cast the bullets of 1-16 or 1-20 tin-lead, and shoot BP or a substitute.  If the bullet just drops into the first inch or so of the muzzle you may have a worn muzzle.  The easiest solution in that case would be to have the barrel counterbored back to the good rifling (but no further than an inch or two).  I would have the gun checked by a competent gunsmith to be sure the metal is in good shape.

[K9handler69]

Thanks for the information. The barrel is definitely a three groove. The rifling is sharp from the chamber to the muzzle. I purchased 20 rounds of 50 70 from Buffalo Arms. The bullet diameter is .512. I used a bullet to measure the muzzle and it would have to wbe hammered to fit down to the rim of the case.

Weather permitting, next week, I'm going to try it out at the range. Report with pic's to follow.

K9

[jplower]

You won't be dissapointed if the bore is fine.  Three groove guns shot great, but the six groove originals are an excersize in frustration.  Although the percussion guns with six grooves can shoot great with buffalo balls and hollow base, I don't know of anyone making a good bold for hollow base that can be used in the cartridge successfully.  Groups are very large..

JP

[StrawHat]

...I don't know of anyone making a good bold for hollow base that can be used in the cartridge successfully... JP...

A group buy for a 450 grain hollow based copy of the Lyamn 515141 is happening here,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=116326

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

My Lyman mould 515139 is a 350 grainer that drops at .518 I use it unsized for my Swedish rolling blocks.

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm