.45/120 Sharps

08 October 2002, 13:06

Trapshooter

.45/120 Sharps

Im thinking about buying a rifle in this caliber I was wondering if anyone on the board has any experience with this caliber and its performance. It shoots a 500 grain bullet and the book says its good for 1000 yds. If anyone has saw the movie "Quigley Down Under" this is the caliber that was used. [Eek!]

[ 10-08-2002, 04:58: Message edited by: RemingtonMan7 ]

08 October 2002, 13:26

<KBGuns>

I would say the 45/120 is about 30 better then the 45/90. [Wink]

08 October 2002, 14:07

Robgunbuilder

I have a Shiloh Sharps 45-110. It will shoot 2 inch groups at 200 yrds with 500 gr paper patched bullets and duplex black powder loads if I do my part. At 500 yrds mine will group about 10-14 inches and thats as far as I've ever shot it. Buy the long range sights for the gun, both front and rear. They make a huge difference! BP Silohette shooting with these things is great fun but there is some serious competition. Good Luck-Rob

08 October 2002, 14:36

Dave James

Remington,I have one built on the Number-1 rolling block action,1 1/4 octagon 34" long,using the flat based 715 grain slug and 112 grains of FFG select with an over powder wad I can maintain groups of 2 to 2 1/2" at 300 yards with the tang,can pull them down alittle with the long tube RHO scope in 6x,they are great guns and a lot of fun [Wink]

08 October 2002, 15:26

Bob G

I've got a Shiloh Sharps in 45-120 also. I use Accurate Arms XMP 5744 powder with a 550gr.hard cast gas check bullet. I usually get 2.5 in. groups at 200 yds. using vernier tang and peep front sight, when i do my part. Great fun to shoot. Got it to about 1450fps. on a Oehler chrono. You can go to the Accurate Arms web site for loading info on any of these older calibers. Good Luck and have fun shooting those vintage calibers. No need for any fillers with this powder nor is it recommended.

09 October 2002, 00:36

Bad Ass Wallace

2in groups at 200 and 300 yards ??? Perhaps you fellows ought to accept the Pedersoli challange. Log onto www.davide-pedersoli.com and view the first page, "wanted rifle shooters"

I am also curious where you got a 715gn mould in 45 cal.

[ 10-08-2002, 15:37: Message edited by: Bad Ass Wallace ]

09 October 2002, 01:46

Brent

quote:
Originally posted by RemingtonMan7:
Im thinking about buying a rifle in this caliber I was wondering if anyone on the board has any experience with this caliber and its performance. It shoots a 500 grain bullet and the book says its good for 1000 yds. If anyone has saw the movie "Quigley Down Under" this is the caliber that was used.

RM7-
the .45-120 and it's 3.25" case, is generally not considered to be a very accurate chambering. The 2.4" and 2.6" cases are usually preferred. No nationally competitive long range (800-1000 yds) or silhouette shooter (200-500 meters) uses a .45 - 3.25". Optimal accuracy seems to run around 85-95 grs of most rifle powders in the .45 bore with 30-34" barrels (most opting for 30-32"). This translates into a the 2.4" case if shooting bore diameter bullets and the 2.6" case if shooting groove diameter bullets. I'm shooting the 2.6" case and 97-100+ grs using bore diameter bullets. I would prefer to be shooting about 10 grs less.

Brent

09 October 2002, 03:36

Dave James

Badass,the mould came from NEI,and was for the 460 Weatherby,its a gas checked bullet and marked 650 grains,i don't know if its marked wrong or not but useing my mix of wheel weights and plummers lead they drop out of the mould at 715 grains,Got the idea from an article written in the Black Powder Hunting Mag. Its a hefty load if you try it work up SLOWLY,

Brent,don't know about not being accurate,but its my understanding for the bpcr shoots most have gonr to the 40-65 and its brothers not so much because its more accurate but because of the recoil,easier to fire more offten than the bigger bores

[ 10-08-2002, 18:39: Message edited by: Dave James ]

09 October 2002, 05:08

Brent

quote:
Originally posted by Dave James:
Brent,don't know about not being accurate,but its my understanding for the bpcr shoots most have gonr to the 40-65 and its brothers not so much because its more accurate but because of the recoil,easier to fire more offten than the bigger bores

the 120 was NEVER common or popular. Most of the best shooters use .40-65 or .45-70, and even a few national champs have used .45-90 or .45-100, but NO 120 has ever cracked the top three spots and probably not even the top 20. Recoil is, of course, a big part of it, and that's also a big part of why it is inaccurate. But that is not the only reason. You just can't use that much space in black powder in a 32-34 in barrel and barrels longer than 30" tend to have severe fouling problems so longer barrels are not the answer either.

In the long range shooting, the longer .45s prevail - the extra velocity is welcomed and even required. But the 120 still is not common and has never won anything of which I'm aware.

BTW, Walt Melander, owner of NEI, died last weekend. What will happen with NEI is up in the air at the moment.

Brent

09 October 2002, 09:20

Dave James

Brent you might be right on the fouling,I do notice more in the 120 than my 40's,the best shooting one i have is a little 40-70 straight on the rolling block it has a 28" octagon to round tube