50-70 loads

O

OctaRon1

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I thought I would ask for some help as there are so many powders out there to try. I'm going to start reloading for a 50-70 and I know a lot of people say stick to black powder.
I would like to use smokeless, I've found two or three loads but that's it. I have lots of Varget and H 4895 but can't find out if they can be used.
Would anyone who loads this caliber care to share some load information and what powders they use?

Thanks Ron
 
Personally, and others opinions may very considerably from mine but I wouldn't load anything faster than a B/P (under 1400 fps) round for any of the old sharps designs (especially the 74' model if that's what you have).
my choice of powders would be SR 4759 ( get some before its all sold out, it has been discontinued by Hogdon) or 5744.

Loading those big volume B/P cases with smokeless is something that can require a lot of reading from others that have already spent the time and money to iron out some of the dangers for the rest of us. A good reference for loading the big cartridges is Mike Venturino's book "Shooting Buffalo rifles of the old west", deals mostly with B/P shooting but some very worthwhile info for a smokeless shooter as well.
 
fingers284 said:
Personally, and others opinions may very considerably from mine but I wouldn't load anything faster than a B/P (under 1400 fps) round for any of the old sharps designs (especially the 74' model if that's what you have).
my choice of powders would be SR 4759 ( get some before its all sold out, it has been discontinued by Hogdon) or 5744.

Loading those big volume B/P cases with smokeless is something that can require a lot of reading from others that have already spent the time and money to iron out some of the dangers for the rest of us. A good reference for loading the big cartridges is Mike Venturino's book "Shooting Buffalo rifles of the old west", deals mostly with B/P shooting but some very worthwhile info for a smokeless shooter as well.
Click to expand...

Yes what 284 says...
I would add less than 1300 fps
Use black, be aware there is more to reloading. Must have zero air gap, some compression, the right lube, a wad, soft cast, not commercial bullets...
Not hard, after all 1870's technology...

If you must do it "wrong" :rolleyes: and use smokeless, consider trail boss.
 
A very good friend and super experienced shooter uses AA 5744 in all his old blackpowder big cartridges. Actually had a long conversation with him last night about it, he also uses Trail Boss. He swears that with AA 5744 he can keep sub moa to 200 mtrs with his old big stuff with cast bullets. Just relaying some advice from someone who's opinion I hold in very high regard, have never used it myself so it's heresay.............he says no wad, no kapok, just chuck in the powder, seat the bullet and fire. It's supposed to be amazing. In my old Winchesters I've been using mostly 3031 and 4198 right out of CotW and I have had no issues but I'm using all jacketed bullets..............I hate casting...........
I'm assuming your C. Sharps is a modern version not an original Sharps, if it is original, my advice is don't shoot it, or use nothing but blackpowder and soft lead bullets.
 
You can develop a load for the 50-70 using 4895 and Varget. I've done that in my Swedish 12.7X44 using the pulled Swedish 8X63 powder whose burn rate is a bit slower than 4895 and Varget. In my case, with a 450 gr bullet, a full case yielded about 1300 fps. As the pressure is only about 25K psi, there were unburnt particles (i.e. "crinklers"). I used a published smokeless load as reference (in this case H4198) established its MV in my gun, and worked up loads with my slower powder until its MV just slightly exceeded that H4198 "baseline" MV. This new load using more of the slower powder was known to be at a lower pressure than the published H4198 load.
 
Just looked in my books for you. Most popular powders are: IMR 4198, IMR 4227, SR 4759, IMR 3031 and as usual Goex BP.

The Ken Waters manual is a good book as well as the Lyman's reload and cast books.

Good luck. Give us a range report after.
 
here is some of the info I have gathered from sources other than my reloading manuals.
I can add more given the time to go through my reference material.
You will note there is data specific to your rifle.
idmu.jpg


The first load here is the recipe that came with my rifle.
I have gone to .512 cast bullets even though the .510 are accurate enough @ 100yds
Interestingly, several sources state a .515 bullet
I have not slugged the bore for want of soft lead to do so.

450 gr lead RN, (.510 diameter)

65.0 grs Goex FFg
12" drop tube

Large Mag Rifle Primer

Starline Brass
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A .50-70 rifle used a 450 grain bullet with 70 grains of BP. A carbine used a 430 grain bullet with 55 grains of BP. Uses .512" cast bullets.
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50-70 govt, all bullet weights
Bullet Powder Weight Powder Velocity OAL Primer Source
450gr LRN 29.0 gr IMR 4198 1,275 fps CCI SP guest
use with dacron wad over powder, duplicates black powder load/pressure. shoots extremely well in my reproduction sharps carbine. velocity from a 22 inch bbl. sub 3 inch open sight groups at 100 yards.

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450 gr bullet:
26 grs 4198 for 1410 fps

36 grs of 3031 for 1270 fps

350 gr bullet:
38 grs 3031 for 1310 fps

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450 gr cast (Lee mold 515-450)

24 gr SR4759--- 1080 fps
26 gr SR 4759 --> 1300 fps

26 gr H4198

I will add more as I hunt it down in my shop/notes.

Anyone have some 50-70 brass they can spare? :rolleyes:
 
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