Hey Marsh, Finally got me a Sharps !

[DON IN VA]

How do Marsh and all y'all,
Well it finally happened.  Ran cross't a good deal, (well ta me it was anyway) on a "Billy Dixon" model Sharps made by Mr. Pedersoli.
It shore is purty.  Now I'm readin' everythang I can get my paws on considering getting into the "Holy Black" phase of reloadin'.
I'm also strongly considering shipping it to Mr. Shaver and having it rechambered to 45-110.  Oh I forgot to tell you, it's a 45-70 now.  I know many of you will consider that foolish but to each his own I suppose.
Well if any of you care to post some experienced advice to this BP cartridge greenie I'll be more'n glad to try to read it subjectively and absorb all my noggin will allow.
Haven't got to shoot it yet but will be sure to post my experience here soon as the rain lets up and I can get out to my shootin' place.

[Charles Vail]

I'd shoot it as a 45-70 for a season first . If you are a greenhorn to this type of shooting I'd stick to a standard cartridge that is easy and inexpensive to load , shoot and buy components for. The 45-110 is fine for longer ranges but isn't really neccessary. There is a reason the 45-70 has remained a popular cartridge for over 100 years.  :eek:

[rdnck]

Don--Charles Vail gave it to you straight.  Once you find out how good a 45-70 really is, you will find that there are a lot more reasons to have a rifle in that caliber than any other.  In fact, if you are new at this game, and this is your first BPCR, I would venture to say that if you rechamber to 45-110, you will give the game up and quit before you learn how to make the rifle shoot.

There IS  a learning curve to this game, even when you have someone who can provide COMPETENT help.  A 45-110 is a great cartridge, and definitely has its place in the scheme of things, but it's not where you want to start out.  Shoot straight, rdnck.

[crashresidue]

Cheers guys,

All your sayin' is true!  My first bpcr was/is a 45-110, and she's a bitch to laod for!  Sometimes as little as one grain will change the way she shoots.  Plus, it takes more powder per round.

If you're like me, I want all the shooting I can get for my $.

The only thing you'll get out of the bigger cartridge is some "wows" at the range.  If I had to do it again, I'd have opted for the 45-70.

cr

[DON IN VA]

:-D  
I can't 'zactly tell if y'all are tryin' to skeer me or save me some money, but judging from the replies so far I'm awfully glad I posted the question 'afore sending off my pride and joy to Missouri for surgery.
I already own two 45-70's after wonderin' for years why in the world anybody would want one o' them big old clutzy lookin' thangs.  One's a Marlin 1895, the other'n a Browning 1885.  So ye see I thought maybe as the saying goes, bigger IS better ?  Wal mebbe not, I should know har har.
Thanks for all the advice, that's after all what I was seeking and you've sure 'nuff got me to thinkin' again if not changed my mind altogether.
So now I need s'more advice.  I've reloaded for years and used black powder for years in my muzzleloaders.  Just never put the two together.  Do I need one of them drop tubes and all that stuff to start putting together some bp cartridges or can I just begin to experiment with what I've got on hand.  I've got some 2 and 3f Goex and some cast bullets I'd bought to reload w/smokeless for my Marlin.  Do I use regular primers just like for smokeless loads etc.  Just tell me what NOT to do and I think I can pick up the rest.  I'll order me a couple of those books Marsh suggested and with y'all's help  I should be creatin' lots o' smoke and stink right away.

[bigbore]

Do yourself a favor, try putting a 45-90 cartridge, at least, in the ramp of your 45-70  to see if it fits, I have a 45-90 Pedersoli that will not accept a 535 grain cartridge in my 45-90 Pedersoli without it hitting hard in the ramp! I was told that my problem was impossible,but it definitely does happen to me. The factory said that a 45-120 would fit without any interferance, but they are totally wrong! And refused to do anything about it!
And that the problem is mine not Pedersoli's, because I didn't tell the Pedersoli factory right away when I first found the problem, that the rifle was out of warranty. The president of Pedersoli was told, and shown, the problem, but refused to do anything about it.
Dick Trenk was my go between on this problem and worked  with me to get my problem across to the Pedersoli people, but to no avail.

[Cottonwood]

Don in VA - Here is some real good helpful information that I pass out to others, it was written my none other than Coydog and best of all it is free.

You must have Adobe Reader to see it.

Introduction to Black Powder Cartridge Loading

Good luck and have fun.  I have held one of those Billy Dixon models and they are sweet there is no getting around that.  :roll:

[Brasskisser]

Don, Ya, I would get a drop tube.  You can make one from aluminum arrows, solid brake lines, or brass tubing at a plumber supply house. Leave the caliber as is, and learn to shot it first. You can always bore it out later, but you can't put it back.  Get yourself some 500-535 grain bullets cast 30/1 or thereabouts.  The bullets you have for your lever gun will work but they will not do you squat for your learning curve.  If you have an opportunity to join a local club that shots these thing or attend some shoots in the area, do so.  When you do this see if you can find a local mentor or coach that casts their own bullets and ask them to teach or coach you. Some guys really enjoy this.I have done it several times. Good Luck to ya. and listen to these guys.

[KING]

DON IN VA.     As a person who is moderatly aquainted with BPCR I would have to tell you to listen to all that the guys told you.  Gus like RDNCK and MARSH really know what they are talking about.  I have two (2) .45-70s at present both are Pedersoli,and they are great rifles.  One is tricked out with the long range sights,and the other is a simple blad and ramp type for hunting.  I also own a .45-120,and it is kinda the bigest of the .45's and it is fun to shoot.  A little recoil,but it is fun.  One of the guys a shoot with put 4(four) 5205 grn Lyman .....125s in an inch at 100 yards with it.  So the big ones will shoot.  I also have a little .50-140.  It is a boomer but is far more accurate that I am.  I to gets lotsa "what the HELL was that "when it is touched off.  It is a good gun,and extremily accurate,and made by sharps in Montana.  As of yesterday,through my best .45-70,the .45-120,and the .50-140 I have shot over 4,000 rounds through em.  I think they are the best thing to have,and the most fun I ever had with a long gun.  Tp break it down the .45-70 has a little over 28 oo rounds,and the other two are kind of evenly split.  This...is not a lot of shooting by any means,and I am into the experimental stage with my shooting of these rifles.  I have been shooting Elephant and Goex and Swiss powders(ok...i like blonds,redheads and brunetts also,go figure),and so far have had the best luck I think with the Elephant and the Swiss so fa.  Listen to what the other guys tell ya...they are the ones that the experts listen to and I am far from it.  I cannot speak highly enough of these guys.  The saved my butt on money and shooting witchcraft more that anything else..Stay safe.....King

[nohorse]

I've owned two 45/70 Billy Dixon's and both of 'em were fine shooters and good lookers.  However, in my opinion [please note I said opinion], I think it may be a little to light for the 45/110. Seems it would be a real bruiser with that caliber.  I think a Quigley may be a better choice for chamber reaming.