Big Fifty home safe and sound!

[Eric Johanen]

Picked up my new rifle from my dealer this morning and she is a beauty! C. Sharps came through with this gun. They installed a buckhorn rear sight and swapped out the globe for a blade front sight. Giving her a good bore cleaning and will put up some test ammo for a session tomorrow. Can't say just how deadly beautiful this rifle is. Lucrezia (with a nod to W. F. Cody) is going to be pure poison for any critter that crosses her muzzle!

[Old Jim]

Looking forward to a pic !

[Eric Johanen]

Jim, I am a true caveman when it comes to computers and internet stuff. I do not own camera or smart phone to post pictures with. The rifle is still posted on the C. Sharps web site if you want to take a quick peek. Finished loading the fire forming ammo for tomorrow. Used 95 grains of GOEX 1 fg with filler wads and the BACO 511-500 grain FN and 105 grains of GOEX 1 fg with a .030 vegi wad and a milk carton poly wad and some 625 grain BACO Creedmoor's a member was kind enough to send me for a try out. Headspace with the Starline brass is spot on. Lucrezia is only the second rifle I've named in 45 years of shooting. The other rifle is Titanic, my 15 pound across the course .308 caliber match rifle bolt gun. Hope that tomorrow is as Rick said to Louie at the end of Casablanca "the beginning of a beautiful friendship"!

[billydixon]

That sounds great man. While I was waiting for Shiloh to send my gun back for a new barrel and breech block. C. Sharps had a heavy barrel 50/90 out of the custom shop. It took about 2 months to get. It came with 30" HB silver nose cap and a check piece. It looked very well made. I laid it down with all my Shiloh's and they all looked the same. It shot right out of the box. We shot it at 200 yards at coke cans it hit them almost every time.

[Eric Johanen]

BillyD, what is the twist rate on your Big Fifty and what loads are you using? I'm really having good results with the bullets and loads I'm working with and would like to try more. Great rifle and cartridge. Next time out it's back to the little 50 and my 74 military rifle.

[billydixon]

BillyD, what is the twist rate on your Big Fifty and what loads are you using? I'm really having good results with the bullets and loads I'm working with and would like to try more. Great rifle and cartridge. Next time out it's back to the little 50 and my 74 military rifle.

Howdy sorry it took so long to reply. I think it's around 22" can't remember but it the faster twist that Shiloh makes now. My favorite load is the RCBS 515 which cast at about 540 using wheel weights. I use Goex 1FG about 110 gr a card wad and a lube wad. I've been wanting to get a mould over 600. I was talking to a guy who was using one. And he sent me about 20 bullets that I think were 650. But I haven't fired them yet. I use Goex because I've been using that powder since 1976. I can remembering buying from a large gun shop back in 1980. They gave it to me in a paper bag. Can u believe that. It's easier for me to buy it and cheaper. Hope that helps u. Oh yea I have a 500 gr pp double cavity NEI mould with 2 different sizes. I shoot pp in my 45/90 but didn't see a change in accuracy in the 50. But I was only able to shoot 200 yards. As soon as I get a knee replacement I'll be able to go to a longer distant range.
Steve

[Eric Johanen]

Hope you get back into action soon! If you measure your twist rate and it is 1X26, the Accurate Molds 51-550S is working well for me. I just received the BACO 512-625 Creedmoor that I fired my first shots with and they are very good. I hope to test the Accurate Molds 50-590 paper patched bullet tomorrow and see how they fly at 200 yards. Between these bullets I believe I will have the bases covered. I have to order some 1 f from GOEX, Swiss and KIK and test them out. I am having much fun with this rifle and glad I made the purchase.