I went up to Davis and found this sitting on the used rack! It originally was a 45-70, but it was reamed out to 45-90! The rifle appears to be new, so I figured what the heck, I should be able to shoot light to moderate loads at least in this baby and get my recoil tolerance up. I definitely learned yesterday that I NEED to increase my recoil tolerance ALOT!

Anyway here she is a Pedersoli Sharps:



and YES those are my bony legs.





I realize this isn't a true African style big bore, but considering the recommendations that many gave me to get a single shot in 45-70, and my experience yesterday with the M70 416 Rem mag, I figure this would be a good starting rig.

By the way, just how much pressure can these Pedersoli Sharps rifles take? The salesman told me the rifle could handle ANY commercially loaded ammo made (when it was a 45-70), including the HOT stuff from Buffalo and Garrett. He told me the action as "at least as strong as a Ruger No1" is that true? He told me if I wanted to I should be able to get 458 Win mag ballistics out of the 45-90, or "real close".

I figure I now have a real big bore, or at least a lot more real than my 50 Beowulf.

Thanks,
ASS_CLOWN

I think "Brent" has a 45-100, and if you goto his member profile you can get to his site... also "Bad Ass Wallace" I think has one in 45-90. Why not sell the 50 Bwlf?

Glad to see that! Throw you a globe front and soule vernier on the rear and you'll be good to go. Those Pedersoli's are stouter than the factory will warrant. Guess they are covering their ass. In my manual it says to use factory ammo only (45-70) and not to exceed 25,000cup! Buffalo Bore ammo is a hellava lot more than that and Pedersoli Sharps is on their list. Anyway, now you can get some dies and a mold or two and start cranking out your own. Have fun!

Congrats on the new rifle! That small steel crescent buttplate ought to be just the thing to "desensitize" you to recoil!

Scott,
congrats...

have a good smith saw off that PLATE of a pad and stick a pac f990 on it..

that particular rifle IS going to crack your cheek, so try to stay a little off of it, ..due to drop

reminton 405's from midway.. get a kajillion... i think if you order enough it's eventually FREE...like 11cents each

jeffe

That's a beautiful rifle! You go having a smith modernize it and you'll defeat the purpose and nostalgia of that fine weapon. You can always go some reduced loads if the recoil bothers you. I shoot blackpowder and smokeless both through mine, some real hot smokeless loads with a 535gr. bullet and that steel butt plate hasn't killed me. Shooting off sticks I don't notice the hot ones as much as off a bench. Like I said AC, ya got one beautiful rifle there, congrats!

Nice rifle, great chambering. You should have lots of fun with it. BTW, are you ever going to change your handle or do you like being ASS CLOWN?

Scott - What does a rifle like that cost? Interesting piece. I'd love to play with it and find a good cast bullet load that the rifle and I both enjoyed firing.

PLEASE don't go cutting on that rifle. Using near a full case of straight blackpowder (Fg, FFg or Cartridge) compressed with a compression die a .060 wad and a 540gr cast bullet, you will have one serious long range rifle.
Use a blow tube for about 5-7 breaths between each shot and you will not have to clean that thing for 50+ rounds and you'll still be putting your shots in accurately.

Straight black is one of the easiest things to clean and is not as corrosive as a lot of people think. Two to three wet patches each followed by a dry jag is all mine need. Then a light oiling and you are good to go.

I don't know about the Pedersoli strength, but Shiloh states that their 45-70 is as strong as a Ruger #1.

Very nice looking gun. Quickload suggests that you could get real close to 2100 with a 500gn. I would suggest getting a couple of bullet molds. That way you can shoot lots for cheap.
Congrats on a nice gun.

Congratulations on your Big bore rifle it looks very nice and must be fun to shoot.


Cheers,

Andr�

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

I just ordered up some Lyman dies, Starline brass, 100 405 gr Rem SP, 100 350 grain, and 100 440 HC. I think I will start out with Rel 7, IMR3031, or IMR4895. Any other suggestions?

The whole BP direction intrigues me, but I just haven't used it before, and frankly I am a little apprehensive about using BP (safety that is, the stuff is just not as "safe" as smokeless).

ASS_CLOWN

MacD37,

Thanks for the input! IMR4064, you say, that would be too convenient as that is the powder I use most often in my 30-06. Any load suggestions?

ASS_CLOWN

Please don't be afraid or apprehensive about Black Powder. Just be careful. Do not use a powder dispenser unless it is specific to BP. I use dipper and weigh all my loads as I find that to be the most consistent for me. At the range I carry a small milk jug with a little ivory handsoap in it. Shake to dissolve and create some suds. When you shoot just drop your cartridges in there. It will make for easier cleaning when you get home and will also extend the life of your media- Pat dry and shake brass first.
Your rifle will really be a fun rifle to shoot and share at the range.
Frank

Part of the fun is chronoing the loads.If you dont have one you should get one.Also try ball powder as you experiment.Ed.

Ed,

Any specific recommendations for ball powders I should try out?

Thanks,
ASS_CLOWN

Those damned crescent shaped butt plates are what ruined my shoulder!!

I bought a .45 cal ML and after the 6th shot my shoulder was completely numb!!! Sold the gun right after.

Ever since I've had a "crunch" in my shoulder. Two cortizone shots haven't helped. Just gotta live with it, now.

I'll never own another gun with a crescent shaped butt pad.

But it doesn't stop me from shooting big bores!!!!

AC - If you're going smokeless try Accurate 5744. In the obsolete cartridge section they show 3 bullets and loads for the 45-90. A 300gr.PBFN, (start) 35.1grs. at 1596fps.(max) 39.0grs. at 1779fps.(27,000psi.). A 405gr.PBFN, (start) 31.5grs. at 1350fps. (max) 35.0grs. at 1534fps. (28,000psi.). And a 500gr. SCHMITZER, (start) 29.3grs. at 1243fps. (max) 32.5grs. at 1413fps.(27,200psi). 5744 works real well in those big old cartridges. In my 45-70 with the 535gr. Postell it's one of my most accurate loads using that powder. Still, one day ya gotta at least try the ole blackpowder. You'll love that deep boom and smell, a whole different sound will come out of it in comparison to smokeless. Good luck.

Ahhhhhhhh! I just now saw you ordered some jacketed bullets! In my opinion, no, no, no! Keep that ole rifle shooting cast, odds are it will shoot better for ya. My ole rifle, she'd just roll over and die on me if I ran a jacketed round through her!

Frank,
Myth busting is one of my favorite hobbies. The website is not mine, but someone else who has a similar hobby. My website is all about paper patched bullets and things connected to them.

There are so meany myths shooting them down is sorta like shooting penned lions, but heck, someone has to do it. Another good one is that bp is extremely hydroscopic - another myth and this time, one of my own websites for an experiment conducted by a few friends ( Test #1) ). There is another test of this ongoing on another website ( Test #2).

The myth that there can be no gap between powder and bullet is a myth as well, but some care needs to be exercised here. The breech seating bench shooters always have a small gap of abotu 1/16" or so and they never ring their barrels.

An early myth during the reinvention of the BPCR is that magnum primers were required. Now, most people shoot the mildest primer than can get aways with. Some even going to pistol primers, although there can be hazzards associated with this (primers are not as tall and can set back violently - this may be a myth too, but I'm not sure). Some folks go so far as to have custom cases made for using pistol or small rifle primers.

Happy myth hunting! Hope you bag a few yourself.

Brent