Need your help and opinions.

I am looking at buying a double rifle converted from a sxs FN Belgium Liege exposed hammer shotgun with barrels permanently installed. It has 22 inch barrels. The regulated Load on bottom of barrels states 32gr of aa5744 with a 450gr bullet. The owner says the velocity is 1800fps. I have been researching load data and am skeptical of this velocity with this load.

What are your thoughts and opinions?

Thank You
Mark

The Accurate Powder loading manual number 2 (early 2000s) lists loads for the 50-90 using 5744.

For a 30 inch C. Sharps barrel,

440 gr lead flat nose (Lyman 515141) and 5744,

Cartridge overall length 3.00"

34.2 grs gives 1370 fps no pressure listed
38.0 grs gives 1557 fps at 18,300 P.S.I.


400 gr Barnes jacketed soft point, 5744, same COL

38.3 grs gives 1542 fps
42.5 grs gives 1752 fps at 17,200 P.S.I.

Out of curiosity I ran some loads through QuickLoad using 5744, the 450 grain Lyman 515141 lead bullet, and the 3.0" COL as above; but in a 22 inch barrel. These are calculated loads, not actually tested!

32 grs gives 1265 fps at 10500 psi
38 grs gives 1468 fps at 15000 psi
xx grs to get 1815 fps at 25000 psi

Notes -

Even though the 32 grain load gives a shotshell-like pressure, my own feeling is that 5744 would not burn well at all at that pressure level.

The load generating 1800 fps in a 22" barrel is too hot to be using in a converted shotgun, in my opinion; that's why I didn't list the exact charge. It would also kick like hell.

bpesteve Thank You!! dcpd said pretty much the same. I am not going to waste anymore time or thought on it.

Well I gave in!

The little 50-90 haunted me for several months so I bought it. It is an exposed hammer FN Liege with side plates. I believe it is a 16ga frame. It came with 500 rounds of brass, 60 barnes orginals 450gr, and dies. It weighs just a little over 7lbs. I shot it today with the 32grs of aa5744 under the 450gs bullet.

dcpd is right, it is a fun little gun!

Thanks for your input.
Mark

And what velocity did you get

p dog shooter

Didn't chrono yet. I will soon

Fellas:
Here is my data for the .50-70. To compare a .50-90 the velocity will be a bit more but not much.
Cal

.50-70 REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK NY, 1872
36” BARRELS, RIFLE WEIGHT OF 9.1 POUNDS.
LAB RADAR VELOCITY ON HANDGUN SETTING

NOTES:
MUZZLE AND RECOIL VELOCITIES ARE IN FEET PER SECOND
MUZZLE AND RECOIL ENERGY ARE IN FOOT POUNDS
RECOIL CALCULATIONS FROM: SHOOTERSCALCULATOR.COM
MKO FROM JOHN TAYLOR’S KNOCK OUT VALUE
ALL CALCULATIONS FROM 6-SHOT STRINGS

I. BLACK POWDER

70 grains FFg GOEX, 450 GRAINS CONICAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1275
MUZZLE ENGERGY: 1625
MKO: 42.21
RECOIL VELOCITY: 14.5
RECOIL ENERGY: 29.74

70 GRAINS FFFG GOEX, 450 GRAIN CONICAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1346
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1810
MKO: 44.56
RECOIL VELOCITY: 15
RECOIL ENERGY: 31.33

70 grains, FFFg SWISS, 450 GRAIN CONICAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1386
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1920
MKO: 45.88
RECOIL VELOCITY: 15.29
RECOIL ENERGY: 33.04

70 GRAINS, 1 1/2F OLDE EYNESFORD, 450 GRAINS CONICAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1319
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1739
MKO: 43.67
RECOIL VELOCITY: 14.81
RECOIL ENERGY: 31.03

70 GRAINS, 2F OLDE EYNESFORD, 450 GRAIN CONICAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1374
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1887
MKO: 45.49
RECOIL VELOCITY: 15.2
RECOIL ENERGY: 32.68


70 GRAINS, 3F OLDE EYNSFORD, 450 GRAINS CONCIAL BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1358
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1843
MKO: 44.95
RECOIL VELOCITY: 15.09
RECOIL ENERGY: 32.19

II. SMOKLESS POWDER

28 GRAINS (40%) IMR 4198, 450 GRAINS BULLET
AVERAGE FPS: 1337
MUZZLE ENERGY: 1786
MKO: 43.8
RECOIL VELOCITY: 11.64
RECOIL ENERGY: 19.17

Cal, while far from eye-watering, those recoil energies must be like the kiss of a maiden to an old double rifle shooter like yourself.

Finally got a chance to chronograph the 32gr of aa5744 behind the 450gr bullet. Ans, I missed type in previous post, it's a 20inch barrel. The vel= 1075fps.

Thank You again for the input.
Mark