SHARPS REPLICA CHAMBER PRESSURE

[JCP]

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED AN ARMI SPORT 1874 SHARPS REPLICA.  I PLAN ON SHOOTING SMOKELESS POWDER. DOES ANY KNOW WHAT THE CHAMBER PRESSURE RATING ON THE FIRE ARM IS. MINE IS 45/70.
ANY INFO IN THIS AREA WOULD BE APPRECIATED. FROM THE LOOKS OF THE GUN I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE AT LEAST AS STRONG AS MY 1895 MARLIN IF THE ACTION ON THE ARMI SPORT IS MADE OF CHROME VANADIUM STEEL LIKE THE PREDISOLI IS.
THANKS FOR ANY INFO.

[Kenny Wasserburger]

Pedersoli are rated for 29,000 so I have read. I guess my question is why buy a BPCR black powder Cartridge rifle then shoot smokless? Most factory loaded ammo will be ok in your rifle I am guessing as most is loaded for trapdoor specs unless it is +p stuff.
   Never fails to amaze me that folks buy a Sharps rifle then want to shoot smokless loads in them. If your looking to make a 45-70 into a 458 win mag, buy a Ruger #1.  BTW Shiloh Sharps rifles can use Ruger #1 loads right out of the book in them in 45-70.  Good luck and keep your loads in the 24,000 area ie use the Trapdoor loadings in the manuals. Dont want to see some one get hurt.

Kenny Wasserburger

[JCP]

thanks for the advise kenny, the reason i use smokeless is just because of the clean up. i will use black powder also but only when i have enough time to properly clean up the gun. the sharps replicas are usualy very accurate and fun to shoot  and thats the main thing whether you ar shooting black or smokeless.
i will use your advise and keep presure lower
thanks again

[Lead pot]

JCP.

Stay with the black powder.Like if you want .458 loadings go with a rifle chambered for it.As far as clean up,the blackpowder cleans up faster than the smokless powder.
I mix up Murphys soap with water and put it in a bottle.Why pay $7 or $8 dollars for solvents, when you can make your own for 2 bits that works as good or better.
Besides JCB,it's fun  :-D Lp.

[Sharps-Nut]

I would recommend you shoot it with both then clean both.  I shot a badgersoli for nearly two years using black and it will shock you which cleans up faster.  If you shoot copper clad bullets its very important to get 100% of that copper fouling out prior to returning to lead.  I realize I am probably preaching you a lecture you already realize.  I made my got my first sigle shot in a rolling block with new badger barrel and swore I would never fire a round of that nasty black stuff in it.  Well a friend cohersed me into this blackpowder thing and you know I never shoot anything but black out of my single shots now.  A good tip is use your blow tube and blow alot 10-15 breaths down it before you ever run a wet patch down the bore.  80% of that nasty stuff will come out on the first patch.  Always keep your barrel lower than the action this keep the crud from running back into the action.  This is not so important on a sharps as the action as it comes apart so easily but other are a little more time consuming to take down.  Just food for thought,  glad you joined this crazey brothern of the shooters of the holy black.  Next is bpcr, don't attend even one shoot if you don't wish to get hooked.

[Sharps-Nut]

I almot missed the point.  When I first started loading for antique and reproductions I ask a very well know single shot gunsmith what loading data to use and he told me flat out load according to the manuals for trapdoors and rollingblocks and the likes and you can't go wrong.  The only box of commercials I have are remingtons and say right on the box safe for trapdoors and other antiques, or some thing to that effect.  Best of luck.

[Charles Vail]

JCP......... :roll:  I think cleaning a BPCR is way easier and faster than any smokless firearm especially if you are using a jacketed bullet. After years shooting 1000 yard benchrest I also thought using black powder would be harder to clean but after using it the first time in my rolling block 45-70 I only used three patches and a oily patch follow up afterwards. I couldn't  beleive how easy it was compaired to jacketed bullets and modern smokless loads. I don't think even using smokless and lead is all that different than black powder. The lube and blowtube keep it soft and it just pushes right out. I'll never shoot smokeless in my single shots again simply because it doesn't perform the same or as accurately in my opinion. "Once you use black you'll never go back (to smokeless)!"  :-D

[Roy Cobb]

I think cleaning BP is easier than cleaning a highpower match rifle, or the break-in shots for the barrel on it......

I think I recall hearing that the Italian Government requires proof testing all firearms manufactured in the country at 40% Overcharge before they can be sold or exported.

[Brazos Jack]

I agree with those that say that cleaning up after BP with cast bullets is faster than Smokeless with jacketed bullets IF we're talking about SINGLE SHOT RIFLES ONLY. If you're talking repeaters, all bets are off. For my C. Sharps Highwall, after I finish shooting I blowtube 5 times and then push through a dry patch. Then 2 solvent patches (both sides of each) - I use Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine. I take the 2nd patch, after it's been through the barrel, and wipe down the ouside of the barrel, sights and breech area. I next push through 2 dry patches (both sides of each) and finally an oily patch (both sides). I use Kroil for this, if I were not going to shoot the rifle for a few month's I'd follow up with Birchwood Casey's  Synthetic Gun Oil. I take this oily patch, after it's been through the bore, and wipe down the all exterior metal.

One thing that helps is that I use Swiss powder and Lee Shaver Moly Lube in my ammo.

[jeff]

Roy Cobb mankes an interesting point on the proofing.  Copied here is a response that I received on my questions to Palmetto in Italy about a used Sharps Gemmer that I bought back in the late 80's.  

jeff


Sorry for delay in answering to your questions.I was between people around Washington and later New York under snow storms.
So, your questions are, if I'm correct, related to our old production of 45/70 made for Leonhard Allen of Santa Fe-New Mexico.
This small lot of approximately 50 pieces was produced around 1984 for Allen Firearms in 45/70 and commercialized under the name "Gemmer Sharps" as copy of an original made by Gemmer, formerly last owner of the Hawken Shop of the Hawkin Bros. if I well remember of Saint Louis and well known customizer of cartridge rifles like Sharps and Remington Rolling Block with an old tast of the Hawken plains rifle.
The rifles in question, as all the guns produced in Italy, are mandamentary proofed from our official proof testing house in Gardone Val Trompia who is stamping main parts of the guns with their marks. All guns are tested, for protection of the consumer, with a smokless powder charge at least 30% higher than the stronger load at the moment commercially available on the market.
I don't remember the load used at that time.
I cannot remember and I have no records of the price at which that rifle was sold to Allen, but I think it was on retail at roughtly around 600 dollars.
If I can be of any further assistance don't hesitate to contact me again.
Best regards
Daniel Nauti
President