C. Sharps Big Fifty?

[billydixon]

It was really nice to read about the 50/90. I bought a barreled action in 1979. Std barrel of course but I was 25 then so the recoil wasn't to bad. I shot just about every bullet weight up to the RCBS 515 that cast about 540 I believe. I tried to get Shiloh to install a heavier barrel for 7 years. But in 2002 they said send it back. It also needed a new breech block. I shot over 3000 rds threw the original barrel. I told them at Shiloh I needed a heavier barrel that's all. They installed a 34" HB. They even matched the wood to the butt stock. I've never shot over 200 yards with it. I'm disabled now waiting to have a knee replaced. It's tough on a walker to carry a rifle that heavy. So I've been shooting Colt SAA's and lever actions. But maybe soon Ill be out of purgatory.

[Kurt]

There are times I wish my .50-2.5 had a slower twist then the 1/22. I like the big bore of the .50 and I also found it to be the easiest round to find a good load for and once you settle on the load and bullet it is the most consistently shooting rifle. I can have rounds loaded for several years and when I reach for the .50 for busting bowling pins at 200 yards I don't have to look or work with sighter shots to get it to hit center.
what is more fun then watching guys swinging bowling pins hanging from a thin braided cable hanging from a pipe with their little .223's and when you ask can I take a shot at your pin with my sharps and barrel sights? sure go for it, then glance at them and see them look at each other and snicker like he aint going to hit it
When that loud roar and big cloud of smoke hangs in the air and that pin that just got smacked with a 110 grains of 2F and a 620 gr lead slug hit it all that is left of that pin is wood splinters and plastic wrapping that held the wood.
I go down and hang a new pin and ask them you want to take a shot at it with Calamity? I never get turned down and seldom will they take a second shot

Keep up the good work and reports of your .50 Eric. I can see by your writings that you really enjoy shooting it.
Now all you have to do is; find the bullet and load and stick with it to really learn that rifle with the barrel sights and where to hold it when the winds kick up like you did when you had your first .22 rifle and got to know it.

Kurt

[Eric Johanen]

Thank you all for the positive feed back! This rifle is really something! I really was not looking for another rifle purchase at this time but, when I saw this one I had to buy it. This is the one I've been looking to own for many years. It is built just like the "Buffalo Rifle" in my mind and It has not disappointed me. Lucrezia plain flat out shoots!! I'll probably work up a bullet/load for the semi buckhorn sight out to 200 yards and then two loads: one grease groove and one paper patched to use with the ladder up at longer ranges. Kind of like a all purpose rifle for hunting, banging steel and paper to 4 or 5 hundred yards. I am beginning to believe that the 1X26 twist is the way to go in a 50 90. With the 50 70, having 2 really good loads for hunting and steel/paper targets is also working well. Just have to get my final loading for the paper patched bullet and I'll be good.

[Eric Johanen]

Received the Accurate Molds 50-590P from Tom in Saturday's post. Cast up a few today and they come out: 577 grains with my mix. OAL is 1.210, base at .506, at the break=.5045, at the nose transition=.4935 and patched with BACO .002 25% bond they are .5125. I'll load with GOEX 1 fg and lube wad and see how they shoot later this week. Very nice mold, they just drop free when you open the mold. Took Lucrezia to the Buffalo match yesterday and really had fun! Full color picture of the big shaggy at 500 yards reduced to 200 yards. Slightly quartering towards the shooter. Managed 11 hits out of 15. 4 sighter's all hit mid body up the front shoulder. First record shot a miss a bullets diameter over the hump! Next 9 good hits 1 in the lung area and most of the others near and around that spot. The off hand stage was shot last and as pleasant as Lucrezia is off the sticks, She is a heavy wench off hand when you are kind'a pooped out. First 2 shots misses, 3'rd shot hit, 4'th a miss and 5'th and last shot a hit. I used the Accurate 51-550S with 110 grains of GOEX 1 fg and a .060 poly wad with a CCI large rifle primer. Shot the 5 off hand with no fouling control and they shot where I put the front sight. Cleaned up with 4 damp patches and noticed just a few flecks of lead. This is a pretty good shooting load and I will continue to use it. We shot the match in the early afternoon due to a youth event scheduled for the day. Great to see the kids getting some safety training and a bit of shooting experience with rifle and handgun. As the range faces east the sun was a little low behind the line and I did have a bit of trouble seeing the break between the barrel and sight base causing vertical stringing. Good time was had by all and I shot the only real buffalo gun on the line and I did not place last!

[Eric Johanen]

Out this morning with Lucrezia at 100 yards with the 25 yard timed and rapid fire NRA Pistol target. Load was Starline brass, CCI large rifle primer, 110 grains of GOEX 1 fg, .060 poly wad and the Accurate 51-550S seated out to the first band exposing 1 lube groove. Holding 6 O'clock on the black the first 8 shots printed in the top of the 9 ring and 8 ring centered up nicely. Light seemed soft and somewhat diffused and I believe it caused the shots to print a little high. Last 12 rounds I held line of white at 6 O'clock and they dropped right into the 10 ring. With the exception of two 9's at 1 and 3, 6 middle to outside 10's and 4 X's. 3 inches wide by 2&3/4 inches vertical. I do believe this is not too bad using the open barrel sights! The 51-550S is well stabilized by the 1X26 inch twist in this barrel. Recoil is pleasant with just a hint of torque and I could shoot this load all day long. I fired up to 5 shots without fouling control so it would make for a good hunting load. The rifle was easy to get really nice shooting loads quickly. She is a keeper!

[Hiwall55]

Eric have you tried that 660 gr. yet?

[Eric Johanen]

Not yet. I am concentrating on the 51-550S to have one really good shooting load for the rifle. I tried the 50-590P once and it shows promise. The bullets are patched and I'll load them up next week. I have figured out the seating depth and will probably start with 100 grains of GOEX 1 fg. I'll load half with a .030 vegi wad and cork and the other half with .030 vegi wad and felt and see how they fly. The 51-550S load is working really well and shooting as good as I can see on any given day so that one is a keeper. I have not cast any of the 625 grain Creedmoor bullets yet so that will need to be tested as well. Still have a few 45-90's to use up and a bunch of 45-70's to empty as well. I want to start the next season with all fresh loads.

[Eric Johanen]

Had Lucrezia out this morning benched with the NRA 100 yard target posted. Light was not too good but I managed to hold hard on most of my shots and ran a nice group in the lower right quad of the black. Starline brass with CCI LR primers, 110 grains of GOEX 1fg and a .060 poly wad. Accurate 51-550S seated with the first grease groove exposed. I ran 10 rounds using the same load only bullet seated to cover all the grease grooves and shot them without any fouling management except 3 puffs into the breach. Cartridges seated easily and shot pretty darn well! These will work well for a hunting load. I am going to run this load again and see how many rounds I can get off before I foul out or can't chamber without using a seating tool. Seated deep they will not pick up grit and carry it into the rifle. I did a bit of rough filing on the rear sight ladder to lower the bottom U notch and deepened the V but have not shot it at 200 to set final. Waiting for better weather before final setting on the sight.

[Don McDowell]

:roll eyes: I don't know Eric, but it just looks to me like you're having way to much fun these days.
Good shooting by the way.

[Fogman01]

"I like the big bore of the .50 and I also found it to be the easiest round to find a good load for and once you settle on the load and bullet it is the most consistently shooting rifle."

I have found this to be true also. I love my Big 50-90. When I was sighting it in for my buffalo hunt, it was in the fall when all the deer and elk hunters were sighting in their smokeless rifles for the big game season. I found it satisfying to shoot better 100 yd groups with my barrel sights and black powder than most of them with their 9 power scopes. I'll have to find some bowling pins though!