50-70 Shiloh Sharps Military Rifle

[Eric Johanen]

I had a chance to shoot the 50 70 Military rifle at 200 yards today using the BACO 500 grain swaged and cast bullets. Load was OS Dixie brass, CCI BR primer, 70.0 grains OE 1.5 fg with a card wad, SPG cookie another card wad and the bullets seated .225 in the case. I found them to be pretty good at that range. Horizontal held good but had trouble with the vertical because the right side of the U on the ladder is filed a little higher than the left and it was difficult to judge just how much front sight I was holding. Have to get out the files and change that. Cast bullets impacted on the left of the 10 ring and the swaged bullets went to the right side. Elevation was basically the same. 6 O'clock hold and impact between 9 and 3. Target used was the standard SR with a Dirty Bird bull in place of the SR bull. The black is a little smaller and I like it better when using open barrel mounted iron sights, (less target to wallow around on). Core group for the cast bullets went: 4wX3h with 3 shots into 2wX1h. The BACO swaged bullets core: 4wX2.5h with 3 shots into 2wX1h. Last 4 shots fired were with the swaged bullet with no fouling control. They loaded very easy and the group was 2wX3h. Really surprised by how little fouling was left in the bore by OE powder. After the 4th shot the bore was still shiny amid the fouling left in the bore. I noticed the same condition last time out with the Accurate Molds 50-465 greaser and last 4 shot with no fouling control. It sure looks like this powder burns clean! I will see how many rounds can be fired before accuracy drops off or chambering becomes difficult on my next range trip. Spending the time with load development and learning how to shoot the rifles this season, all of my Sharps rifles are really shooting well. This has proved to be time well spent and I really feel confident with these rifles performance and have no doubts shooting at distance. Pretty great way to spend a summer shooting season!