45-90 sharps

[rex6666]

first i would like to say i know very little about these guns(other than i like the looks)
in a gun shop the other day i saw a Pedersoli 1874 sharps 45/90 it was marked black powder
only, i was told it could shoot smokless, can it, if so can you use the 45/90 ammo sold at like cabelas in it then use the brass for bp
this gun looked like new all over, not a mark on it, they were asking $800.00 for it, don't
know if that is a good but have seen the new ones like it for $1,750.00.
it almost followed me home, so i have not driven down that street since.

[arnie19]

First thing to do is make sure it is really a Pedersoli and not one of the other cheaper made copies ,since the price is so low .Why would you want to shoot already loaded rounds just to get the brass when you can order the proper brass for it either direct from Starline or Buffalo Arms . Arnie

[rex6666]

it does say Pedisoli(spelling?) on the bottom of the barrel along with for black powder
it only has the buck horn type sights
can you shoot smokless over the counter loads in these gun as i was told.

[ShortStake]

Gents,

The reason any modern day rifle chambered and marked .45-90 is identified as "Use Black Powder Only" is because there are no SAAMI  specifications printed for the .45-90.  To my knowledge there are no SAMMI specifications for cartridges loaded with black powder.

Examples are the Browning BPCR rifles chambered in .40-65 and .45-90.  Both are marked "Use Black Powder Only".

If you are unsure if a firearm marked as "Use Black Powder Only" can be used with any cartridges loaded with smokeless powder contact the firearm manufacturer or ammunition manufacturer and ask them for an answer in writing to your question.

 

[longcaribiner]

A 45-90 leaves an AWFUL amount of space for smokeless and a screw up.  Or for the agravating possibility of misfires and hang fires due to the powder not being back against the primer.   .   Although I recently read of a "white" powder that is made specifically to take up more space in the cartridge than most smokeless.    Folks do alot of things, but when it is your face next to that explosion, you are the one that matters.   For smokeless, I'd personally stick with 45-70.  Smokeless and a 45-70 chamber in a modern gun can do 98% of what is possible with the same in a 45-90.       I like both the 45-70 and the 45-90.  I can't think of any reason why I would want to load a 45-90 with smokeless.   The black substitutes are nearly as clean as smokeless if you have a mind to abandoned traditional black powder.  If all you can find are smokeless loads, there isn't much to removing the bullets and dumping the powder.

[rex6666]

the reason i ask is cabelas sells 45-90 ammo but i am sure it is smokless it is in a brand i am not familar with. the gun is just too new looking i bet it has not been fired much if any

[sharps4590]

There are several ways to approach this question.  The obvious is if the rifle says black powder only then that's all you should use in it.  Anyone who would say otherwise violates the manufacturers warning.  Our suit happy society and liability lawyers have caused this.......and, the majority of folks don't know spit about BP cartridges, (or that they even existed), the firearms that used it or anything about internal ballistics.

I own several rifles manufactured before smokeless powder was around and I shoot all of them with a smokeless load sometimes.  Not often, but sometimes.  Trick is to know what you're doin'.  I would suggest two books to you.  The first is Frank Barnes "Cartridges of the World" and the second is "Big Bore Rifles and Cartridges" published by Wolfe Publishing of Prescott, Arizona.  Both books give loads and loading methods that are safe to shoot in many of the old and old style firearms, providing the firearms are safe to shoot.  Another good book would be the SPG Black Powder Cartridge Loading Primer.  It will certainly get you headed in the right direction.

I have been shooting a Shiloh Sharps, Montana Roughrider in 45-90 for 12-13 years and have never fired a cartridge loaded with smokeless thru it.  All the individual componets are available for reloading and you won't beat black powder ballistics by much unless you severely overstress the action, which is undesireable in the first place.  My first and best suggestion would to acquire the necessary componets and "roll yer own".

I can't answer your question about the ammo Cabela's sells for the 45-90 but one would think that it is loaded to pressures suitable for old rifles.  Again, given our suit happy society, I cannot imagine a firm such as Cabela's would open themselves up to an obvious legal problem by selling ammo that is likely to blow up an antique firearm.  Have you asked the folks at Cabela's about that ammo?  I'm confident they could answer your question.

If you want that rifle, I'd say get it.  Once you familiarize yourself with the Sharps and the 45-90 cartridge I don't believe you'll be disappointed.  I will say that the -90 is a bit heavy for target work, altho that's what it was originally designed for, due to the accumulative effects of recoil.  However, it is a GRAND hunting cartridge!!!

Vic

[MLR]

Rex

  If that is indeed a Pedersoli rifle its sounds like a great buy.

   Michael

[quickdtoo]

Rex, you can check the specs out for that rifle on Pedersoli's web site, and load info is on page 39 and 40 of the manual below, the 45-70 can use trapdoor smokeless loads, but loads for the 45-90 are blackpowder or pyrodex only.

Tim

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/ArmiCategoria.aspx?CategoriaId=260&lang=en

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/pdf/manualsEn.pdf

[rex6666]

what really got my attention about this rifle was the fact that i don't think it has ever been fired, it is in the used gun rack for $899. it look just as good as the ones in the new gun rack
priced at $1399.
on the bottom of the barrel it says CABELAS, PEDERSOLI BLACK POWDER ONLY
i have not looked at the new ones to see if they say the same.
i am very tempted to buy it,(JUST BECAUSE IT'S THERE)
between handi's and 50cal muzzle loaders, i kinda have my plate full