The precision rifle, ca. 1874

[PanaDP]

Allow me to introduce my newest acquisition. It was the precision rifle of it's day, helped win the first match at Creedmoor, and, while it was not an honorable ecological feat it was a great feat of shooting skill, it was a large part of nearly exterminating the bison.

It's a model 1874 sharps rifle. This one is in the style as made at the Hartford factory until 1876 and is in 45-2 4/10" caliber.

With the action open:

The barrel ladder sight, which would have been pretty standard for a buffalo hunter. A target shooter would have a significantly more precise but also much more expensive vernier sight.

And it fires a 550 grain paper patched bullet. These are on top of 87 grains of black powder:

As a point of interest, that bullet leave the muzzle at something like 1300 feet per second. To reach 1000 yards, you need something in the realm of 160 MOA of elevation and it will take just over three seconds to get there.

 

[Olivers_AR]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

Nice looking rifle, that's a ton of black powder!

 

[PanaDP]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Olivers_AR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice looking rifle, that's a ton of black powder!</div></div>

In these rifles, the case length also denotes the powder charge. You simply fill to 100% load density or even compress some. You really can't fit enough black powder in the case to blow up the barrel. Mine takes cases 2.4" long. There were also chamberings for 2.6" (~100gr), 2.875" (~110gr) and 3.25" (~120gr, never offered by sharps but available from remington).

 

[jrswanson1]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

I've been meaning to get one of those for about the past five years. Between the divorce and the 3-gun equipment purchases, then the two long range rigs I bought in the past 6 months, I may just have to get one this year. That right there is a nice rifle, how hard is it to load those paper patched bullets?

Jim

 

[PanaDP]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lord Jim</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how hard is it to load those paper patched bullets?

Jim</div></div>

Not sure I can really answer yet. I don't feel like I have it totally down yet. I think it's one of those things that's pretty common in shooting: it's fairly easy to get 85% of the way but the last 15% are tricky.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how hard is it to load those paper patched bullets?

Jim</div></div>

I attended a couple BP Creedmoor matches and learned a lot. I haven't tried paper patch bullet yet, but as I watched I noticed those who knew what they are doing, were, but for the most part they didn't load the bullets until the got ready to chamber them.

The cases were all prepared except for the bullets, then the bullets were hand loaded (fingers) into the case, then chambered.

The closing of the action was used for final seating of the bullets.

As mentioned above, velocity wasn't great. 1200-1300 fps. This was for 800, 900, and 1000 yards.

Not knowing what I was doing, I strived for velocity using hard cast bullets hoping for a flatter trajectory.

NOPE: Don't work that way. I had way too many tumbling bullets. You need to keep your velocity to about 1300 fps and use pure lead.

I got on at 800 and 1000 but for some reason, I couldn't hit at 900 yards.

Anyway, as mentioned I haven't got into paper patches yet, but found using pure lead, and keeping the velocity down, my two BPCR rifles (Browning 1895 High Wall in 45-70 and my 1886 Remington Rolling Block in 44-90 Sharps Bottleneck) are more accurage.

Something else I learned. I use to think you needed to open the flash hole to help getting the compressed BP to work. Nope that was wrong too. Many of the bettter BPCR shooters use normal primers & flash holes, even putting asingle layer newspaper wad between the primer and powder charge.

Cheek weld sucks on BPCR Shooting as you can see from the below picture. I found I so better setting using cross sticks.

Its a whole different ball game then smokeless powder shooting but a lot of fun.

I'm still working on what works best in my rifles. The problem I have is getting sight settings for 800+ yards. My range only goes to 400. Not like normal shooting. If I try to figure where to hit at 25 yards to get to 1000, I'll be shooting over the ridge I use for my range back stop.

You deffentlay need a level on your front sight. Cant is critical using these vernier sights.

 

[jrswanson1]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how hard is it to load those paper patched bullets?

Jim</div></div>

Not knowing what I was doing, I strived for velocity using hard cast bullets hoping for a flatter trajectory.

NOPE: Don't work that way. I had way too many tumbling bullets. You need to keep your velocity to about 1300 fps and use pure lead. </div></div>

Have you tried using gas checks? The fastest I've driven a 230gr hard cast lead bullet was 1200 fps out of my 10mm 1911. That was using a gash check. I can probably go higher with a 200gr bullet, but I ran out of time at the range.

And canting is a big problem with any long range shooting, but you knew that

Jim

 

[RMPSTRAT]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

paper patching isn't too difficult. I do them for my 50-90. Dampen the paper wrap the bullet then set aside to dry. Hardly any crimp though otherwise you'll cut the paper. Generally though the grease groove bullets tend be a bit more accurate, not to mention the paper patch is abrasive

 

[BruceWayne]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

Awesome shares reminds me of a movie hmm

 

[kraigWY]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have you tried using gas checks?</div></div>

Never seen anyone using gas checks on BPCR loads. Instead people often use a veg fiber wad over the powder. Many, including me use a little pea size wad of wad lube between the wad and bullet.

The most critcal item with BP is keeping moister in hte barrel, using a blow tube to blow your moist breath into the barrel after each shot. If not the crud of the black powder gums up the works.

Some of the best shooters I've seen will run a heavy patched coated with water/dish soap, followed by dry patches after each round.

BPCR is fun, but it takes a lot of work to do it right.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

Beautiful rifle!

We do a 'pumpkin slinger pumpkin shoot' here at the farm every year on the first saturday after Halloween. Gather some leftover pumpkins, cut a hole and fill them with water from the hose... and have at it with Sharps, Trapdoors, etc. Rifle must be minimum .45 cal. (though one of the guys uses his .444 Marlin.

Water-filled pumpkins go 'splat' very nicely!

I haven't tried paper patching, but have always been intrigued by it.

Very nice rifle you have there! Congrats!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[PanaDP]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sirhrmechanic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful rifle!

We do a 'pumpkin slinger pumpkin shoot' here at the farm every year on the first saturday after Halloween. Gather some leftover pumpkins, cut a hole and fill them with water from the hose... and have at it with Sharps, Trapdoors, etc. Rifle must be minimum .45 cal. (though one of the guys uses his .444 Marlin.

Water-filled pumpkins go 'splat' very nicely!

I haven't tried paper patching, but have always been intrigued by it.

Very nice rifle you have there! Congrats!

Cheers,

Sirhr </div></div>

Man does that shoot sound fun! I got out today and shot it for the first time. Not bad for a first go, 4"-5" open sight groups at 100 yards. I shot a bit of steel at 200 yards and the lead splatters are so big you can see them with the naked eye if the steel is freshly painted to start!

 

[PanaDP]

Re: The precision rifle, ca. 1874

Here's a little addendum, a 45-2.4" paper patched round with a .308 round: