50-70 Shiloh Sharps Military Rifle

[Mike]

Eric, I have one .50/70, a 30" round barreled '74 Sporting Rifle by C. Sharps Arms and I have another one on order from the same maker with a 26" half-octagon barrel. For a grease-groove bullet I like the Lyman-Ideal 515141 and I just got an older "Ideal" marked mold that has the square lube grooves. I'll give that bullet a real workout soon, powered with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F. My thought is that the square lube grooves will carry more lube, probably not necessary. And for a paper patched bullet I like #50-470T by Accurate Molds. With 16-1 alloy that bullet weighs very close to 473 grains, the weight of the old original for both the 50/70 and the .50/90. With the paper patched bullet I use 70 grains of Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F and I do hope to hunt with that load this fall.