Shooting the Cimarron .50-70 caliber McNelly Sharps Carbine

duelist1954 · March 3, 2013, 07:08 AM

Cimarron Firearms' McNelly Sharps carbine is a replica of the guns used by Capt Leander McNelly's Texas Ranger Special Force in 1875 to tame the bandits of the Nueces Strip in south Texas. The carbine, built by Armi Sport is a reproduction of the Sharps percussion modeo 1859 carbines that were converted to fire .50-70 Government cartridges in the late 1860s.

The only downside to shooting this little gem is that factory made ammo is wicked expensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JCA9yjQi7k

Beagle333 · March 3, 2013, 07:30 AM

Great video!

That is one awesome rifle. But as you say, a person had better learn to cast and load for it if they want one.

deerslayer303 · March 3, 2013, 11:21 AM

Another Great Video! Thank you! Mike, did you know there ISN'T a Shoulder stocked 1860 video on youtube? hint, hint, nudge..

indy1919 · March 3, 2013, 12:44 PM

Loved the Video, I do not own a 50-70 anything so I love living vicariously with someones elses 8 dollar a bullet gun.. But I have looked at other 50-70 guns. Was always stopped by the ammo costs.. So let me ask to all you that know..

So now after this test the Duelist will have 20 empty brass cases.. How much will it cost to reload that brass for then next 20 shots????

And thanks for showing this duelist, I love the look of those rounds..

Does the box tell the Muzzle Velocity of that round..???

And Just a total dumb Question, are the rounds so expensive new because the brass costs so much??? So Few made per year???

Rigmarol · March 3, 2013, 12:47 PM

Thanks mike, I could almost hear the cash register ring as the target was hit...
Keep up the great work.

Doc Hoy · March 3, 2013, 01:43 PM

Sharps is the next rifle I want to get hold of. And like you (Mike) said, I will probably go for a .45-70.

After viewing the video I went looking at brass for .50-70 and was stunned.

I can get .45-70 brass for about 40 cents a piece.

But the cheapest .50-70 I could find was about a buck and a half per case.

I was thinking it would not be so bad to start reloading .50-70. I suppose I will start in on .44-40 as well.

When I began I thought I'd just stick with .45 LC.

Silly me.

duelist1954 · March 3, 2013, 02:47 PM

Indy, I chronographed that load for the magazine article - 1,128 fps

The expense is due to supply and demand...demand is low, but supply is even lower. Brass can run up to $3 a shell, and there's quite a bit of lead...I guess it all adds up.

indy1919 · March 4, 2013, 09:45 PM

Hey Duelist... also wanted to thank you for showing the rise and drop of that 50-70 bullet.. I knew that bullet had an arc .. But with simple photography and dialog you really visually demonstrated the bullets arch...

radom · March 6, 2013, 11:38 PM

Not too bad after you get the brass and a mold for them. Then its fairly cheep shooting then on as how many cases does a person really need for a single shot. Also takes a pretty tough shoulder to sit down and fire off 100 rounds through a carbine. But all in all a neat round to play with.

Doc Hoy · March 7, 2013, 02:52 AM

I agree.

Without considering the price of the brass, the cost would be no more than loading .45-70 which is actually not terribly expensive to shoot. Especially when the weapon is a single shot model.

March 3, 2013, 07:08 AM	#1
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	Shooting the Cimarron .50-70 caliber McNelly Sharps Carbine Cimarron Firearms' McNelly Sharps carbine is a replica of the guns used by Capt Leander McNelly's Texas Ranger Special Force in 1875 to tame the bandits of the Nueces Strip in south Texas. The carbine, built by Armi Sport is a reproduction of the Sharps percussion modeo 1859 carbines that were converted to fire .50-70 Government cartridges in the late 1860s. The only downside to shooting this little gem is that factory made ammo is wicked expensive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JCA9yjQi7k

March 3, 2013, 07:30 AM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Great video! That is one awesome rifle. But as you say, a person had better learn to cast and load for it if they want one. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

March 3, 2013, 11:21 AM	#3
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Another Great Video! Thank you! Mike, did you know there ISN'T a Shoulder stocked 1860 video on youtube? hint, hint, nudge.. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

March 3, 2013, 12:47 PM	#5
Rigmarol Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 344	Thanks mike, I could almost hear the cash register ring as the target was hit... Keep up the great work. Last edited by Rigmarol; March 3, 2013 at 08:21 PM.

March 3, 2013, 01:43 PM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Yes. Good video Sharps is the next rifle I want to get hold of. And like you (Mike) said, I will probably go for a .45-70. After viewing the video I went looking at brass for .50-70 and was stunned. I can get .45-70 brass for about 40 cents a piece. But the cheapest .50-70 I could find was about a buck and a half per case. I was thinking it would not be so bad to start reloading .50-70. I suppose I will start in on .44-40 as well. When I began I thought I'd just stick with .45 LC. Silly me. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

March 3, 2013, 12:44 PM	#4
indy1919 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2011 Posts: 277	Loved the Video, I do not own a 50-70 anything so I love living vicariously with someones elses 8 dollar a bullet gun.. But I have looked at other 50-70 guns. Was always stopped by the ammo costs.. So let me ask to all you that know.. So now after this test the Duelist will have 20 empty brass cases.. How much will it cost to reload that brass for then next 20 shots???? And thanks for showing this duelist, I love the look of those rounds.. Does the box tell the Muzzle Velocity of that round..??? And Just a total dumb Question, are the rounds so expensive new because the brass costs so much??? So Few made per year???

March 3, 2013, 02:47 PM	#7
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	Indy, I chronographed that load for the magazine article - 1,128 fps The expense is due to supply and demand...demand is low, but supply is even lower. Brass can run up to $3 a shell, and there's quite a bit of lead...I guess it all adds up.

March 4, 2013, 09:45 PM	#8
indy1919 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2011 Posts: 277	Hey Duelist... also wanted to thank you for showing the rise and drop of that 50-70 bullet.. I knew that bullet had an arc .. But with simple photography and dialog you really visually demonstrated the bullets arch...

March 6, 2013, 11:38 PM	#9
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,353	Not too bad after you get the brass and a mold for them. Then its fairly cheep shooting then on as how many cases does a person really need for a single shot. Also takes a pretty tough shoulder to sit down and fire off 100 rounds through a carbine. But all in all a neat round to play with.

March 7, 2013, 02:52 AM	#10
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Radom I agree. Without considering the price of the brass, the cost would be no more than loading .45-70 which is actually not terribly expensive to shoot. Especially when the weapon is a single shot model. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

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