klw
posted this
04 November 2008
2frogs wrote: I have been loading both of these rifles with black powder and I am
kind of getting away from the black powder except for my muzzleloaders..
I am going to be experimenting with XMP5744 powder....My question for you
is when using this powder or any other for that matter,is a good crimp
required for accuracy or not....Rolled or taper crimp?
At my age I am getting tired of washing cases and drying them,etc,if you know
what I mean..I no longer compete except for myself...Thanks for any advice you may
have to offer......John:coffee
Started shooting my Pedersoli 45-120 sharps just a couple of months ago. It started out life as a 45-70 was was rechambered locally. The minimum recommended charge for a 500 grain cast bullet was 40 grains of 5744. I know the people at Accurate Powder so I asked how far BELOW this minimum it would be safely to go. They suggested dropping down in 2% increments.
The 40 grain charge literally rattled your teeth. I use to think that that old saying was just that BUT you can, literally, rattle your teeth in addition to giving yourself one BIG headache and causing shoulder problems. When I got down to 30 grains the recoil was ok. Noticeable but ok. Accuracy was excellent.
I'm using three RCBS single cavity 45-500-BPS moulds. I would have expected a lot of weight variation in a bullet this heavy from one mould but it didn't happen. These three give amazingly consistent weights. The bullets are linotype and weight 476 grains.
Pedersoli, incidentally, has a parts kit for the 1874 Sharps. Springs, etc. I just ordered one as Sharps rifles are notorious for breaking firing pins.
This gun has sat at the back of the safe for probably a decade because I expected the 45-120 to be a pain, literally, to shoot. But it isn't. It's really been fun.