Thinking on a new rifle

[mustanggt]

I thought I'd make my first post here and take opinions on what caliber for another rifle. I have hung out at Castboolits.com for six years now and frequent the blackpowder forums. I've lurked at Shiloh off and on gaining a great education along the way. Now that I've found Don's site the trifecta is complete! I have a 50/90 for fun(just a little) or the buff that's in my future. I have a 45/70 set up for midrange or steel. They started allowing BPCR on our 1000 yard range last year and would like to take a good crack at it. My other two rifles are CSA and am real happy with them so I will order it from them. I've been leaning toward 45 2&7/8 but have also thought of 44/90. Can't make up my mind so I'll let you help me out. I know Kenny is the Wizard of the 110 and Robert (opencountry) speaks very highly of them. Kurt has done three lifetimes of testing among those the 44/90SBN so I know I wouldn't go wrong given those fellas experience. Well fire away.

[Mike]

Mustang, If you are a practical man, get the .45/110 on a heavy barreled Bridgeport style with a good shotgun butt. But if you lean more to the romantic side of the legendary Sharps, go for a Hartford in .44/90. I went with the .44/90 and I have no complaints at all about the rifle. I wish I could shoot it better but my answer to that is simply learning to shoot better. I am my own biggest problem. My .44/90 was ordered from C. Sharps Arms as a Hartford with a 32" # 1 1/2 Heavy barrel so it weighs almost 13 1/2 pounds, and I like every ounce of it! Shoot sharp, Mike

[Kurt]

First of all welcome to the most polite BPCR forum.

I make it no secret that I favor the .44's even if I have the .40's, 45's and the .50. What you have right now will work for the 1K with out a problem.
The 2&7/8 is a good caliber but really not needed for the 1K matches and if your a little sensitive with recoil it might not work as well as maybe say the 2.4 or 2.6 on the top end.
The .44-90bn can knock the filling out of your teeth also with 100 plus grains of powder and a 480 to 510 gr bullet. The hard part is getting a good supply of brass for that caliber because of the large diameter base that case has. The popular .45 basic brass wont work for this round.
C Sharp I heard is up for sale, I don't know if that is a fact, but if it is, it might be hard to get replacement parts for it if it closes down completely. Something to think about.

Kurt

[mustanggt]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I can stand about 15 rounds of the big fifty with 105gr 1F and a 625 creedmoor bullet. 45/70 I can shoot all day no problem. I have many different moulds in 45 so have that covered. The heavier charges of powder and heavy bullet like the big fifty of course are punishing but what about lighter bullets and heavy powder charges? I would guess somewhere in between recoil of my other two rifles? I'm not recoil shy but do have my limit. 3 1/2" 12 gauge in a 7lbs shotgun is my limit and only 3!!!

[Don McDowell]

Mustang, take a look at the on the wall offerings C Sharps has. There's a couple of 45 cal sharps and 44's just waiting for someone to say what chamber. There's also a couple of different 40's.
(by the by I have handled most of those rifles on their available list and the truly hard part would be to pick just which one)
Anyhow unless you went with the 15 lb behemoth in 45, I'ld just stay with the 45-90, easy to shoot and actually has a lot more history behind it than the longer case.
44, the 44-90st, is a humdinger of a cartridge, and is very easy to get cases, just run a 45-90 into the size die and go.
But I'm thinking the hidden gems are in those 40 cal rifles. 40-70 st is an easy going cartridge that can really be a tac driver, and doesn't break the bank on powder or lead.. And you want to talk about a sweet fun rifle, that Hunters Carbine, have it chambered in 40-70 and shipped with a bag of the Jamison brass,,, and oh my with the 400 gr brooks turkey killer bullet , 45 grs of OE 2 f, will just keep a gong at 175 yds ringing and faces smiling all day long..[/i]

[Kurt]

Mustang.

Out all of the rifles I have the .50-2.5 has been my go to rifle. It is the best shooting most reliable rifle I have.
But at age 75 I'm starting to look for something more gentle on my busted up frame. Shooting that 720 gr bullet behind 110 grains of 2F is starting to get my attention when I shoot over 400 rounds in 4-5 days at some of the gong matches. My rifle weighs 13-2# but I still reach for it.
The .44-75 ballard I just finished I load with 81.5 grains of 3F OE powder with a 500 gr bullet and it is a very what I think mild round to shoot. I'm really getting attached to that round because it has great potential for accuracy even shooting it in my previous screwed up barrel is showed it wanted to shoot despite the bad vertical during a string of fire that is why I had a second build in this caliber. My .44-100 Rem st. is a 25# Sharps with a 35" round straight barrel and it is capable of putting 5 shots at 200 just a little larger then a quarter, It has done it several times and the recoil feels like a .40-65. They all can be made to shoot well if you can control them and if it has a good barrel put on right.
A fellow I shot with at Lodi Wis. used a .40-65 and shot a 99 on the 800 using it. The rdnck that posts here once in a while mainly shoots a .45-70 with great results and his wife has a lot of gold metals under glass shooting the Nationals with her .40-65.
Picking a rifle or caliber is a personal choice. They can all do the job.

Kurt

[mustanggt]

I appreciate all the help men. If a 40 can be made to shoot the 8,9 and 1K I would be up for that one as well. Are there guys shooting a 40 in long range game and being successful? If so is the 40/70 the cartridge to do it or the 90 maybe?

[Don McDowell]

Barb Walters set about 1/2 dozen womens records the last couple of years at the BPTR Nationals with her 40-70 st.

[Mike]

Don, Does Barb give lessons? Shoot sharp, Mike

[Don McDowell]

I don't know, but if she did there'ld sure be a long line.. That gal is one fine rifleman.