1863 sharps bullets?

wap41 · May 11, 2013, 12:15 PM

Just got a 1863 45 cal pedersoli sharps.I plan on just shooting loose powder [sounds like making paper cartridges is a lot of work] would like to cast my own bullets but would like info on which is most accurate.Are the new style rounded ones better than the old style pointed ones?how many grain bullet shoots best.Any info for a newbe at this will help.

Hawg · May 11, 2013, 12:41 PM

You need to slug the bore to find the correct size mold for your rifle. I have read Pedersoli bores are on the small side but I have no personal experience, just what I read on the net while doing research on my IAB Sharps.

freedom475 · May 11, 2013, 06:48 PM

I only tried loose powder once in mine,,,,and REALLY regreted it!!!

The loose powder got trapped between the plate and the barrel. When I fired it, the loose plate was not able to move foreward and seal the breech and the flame was very painful.

Paper cartridges are very easy...mine are even made with the bullet so my paper cutter loads just about as fast as my cartridge Sharps.

Hawg · May 11, 2013, 06:58 PM

I don't have my mold yet but got impatient to hear it talk so I loaded a PRB from the muzzle. It took 120 grains of loose 2F to fill the chamber. I didn't notice any fire from the breech and very little smoke.

wap41 · May 11, 2013, 07:00 PM

freedom what bullets do you use,and where do you get them?My sharps doesn't have the movable gas seal,they must have had many complaints because they changed them.

freedom475 · May 11, 2013, 08:46 PM

I thought they all either had a sliding bore sleeve or a floating cutter plate???

I have used a lot of different bullets in mine, But mine is a 54cal

...I got some old rightails from C Sharps once and they shot well enough but I only had 10 or 20 or them so couldn't really work with them much.

I had some Buffalo bullet Co. bullets that were probly my favorite.

But I mostly shoot my own cast using the Lee REAL bullet and also the Lee Minnie..on the Lee Minnie I ground off most of the hollow base peg and now it doesn't really have a skirt, just a small 1/16".

With the Buffalo's mine would hit a little 4" plate at 100yards with the Vernier sight fairly regular, and I was able to hit a 2'x3' plate at 500yds with my ladder sight and the minnies.

Hawg · May 11, 2013, 10:33 PM

Pedersoli is supposed to have a sliding bore sleeve. Mine has a floating breech plate.

Buzzcook · May 12, 2013, 12:03 AM

What you need is a stick. Well a dowel. Wrap the paper around the dowel and the bullet. Tie the paper to the bullet and slide it off the dowel. Add powder to the paper tube and fold up the end.

It's been a while but iirc 140gr should be your max. 90gr of BP was enough to send a minie or maxi ball down range.

wap41 · May 12, 2013, 02:19 AM

Hawg I was told by the possibleshop [who sells them]The newer ones do not have the gas check sleeve and mine doesn't.Which makes me very happy after hearing all the problems with them getting stuck.

wap41 · May 12, 2013, 02:27 AM

Freedom I'm glad to hear that R.E.A.L. bullets work I have a mold.I was told just a regular mold for 45-70 type bullets will be fine after they are sized?I have some different types of molds comming to try.I bought some ringtail bullets but they are kinda spendy if you do a lot of shooting.I can't wait to start shooting it.

Hawg · May 12, 2013, 07:22 AM

If it doesn't have the sliding bore sleeve does it have a floating breech plate? I can't imagine it not having either one.

freedom475 · May 13, 2013, 10:35 AM

I can't imagine the rifle would shoot without some sort of breech seal device

But anyway...I think about any cast 45-70 bullet would work great in your Sharps.,,,,, This is probly the best source of info you will find on the 1863. Lots of reading on the subject.

http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8

.

wap41 · May 13, 2013, 11:09 PM

it has a plate on the face of the breech block

Hawg · May 14, 2013, 04:12 AM

I've got a REAL mold coming but I want a ringtail mold. Those things are pricey. The only concern I have with using paper cartridges is the chamber is so much bigger than the bore. A .58 minie drops right in the chamber and the bore measures .542 in the grooves.

wap41 · May 14, 2013, 05:53 AM

The possibleshop carries the mold pedersoli makes for them but they are not exactly cheap.I have a Lee R.E.A.L. 250 gr and I just bought three more so I can try bullets from 250 gr up to 500 gr.Hope to find one is super accurate.

Hawg · May 14, 2013, 05:03 PM

From my understanding the Pedersoli is too small for mine. Moose Molds has a .544 double cavity for 125.00

wap41 · May 14, 2013, 06:21 PM

I think you're right ,I seem to remember the two do have different bore diameters.Too bad Lee is not taking any custom orders as of A few weeks ago otherwise you could get by more reasonable.I found some used ones on ebay,checked there?

wap41 · May 14, 2013, 06:30 PM

Hawg,cheaper than dirt has a Lee 54 cal double cavity mold 380 gr for $17.34 might be worth taking a look

Hawg · May 14, 2013, 06:32 PM

I checked ebay a couple of weeks ago but not lately. I've got a R.E.A.L. mold coming but I really want a ringtail.

DD4lifeusmc · May 16, 2013, 11:03 PM

I bought the 1863 model last fall.
Pedersoli in 54 cal.
I do the paper tube (roll my own) and the brass cartriges
Mine has the sliding sleeve and the floating rear plate.
So far only done 75 yd. But getting groups of about 4"
Summer comes will stretch the distance a bit and see
what happens when I get serious.

May 11, 2013, 12:15 PM	#1
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	1863 sharps bullets? Just got a 1863 45 cal pedersoli sharps.I plan on just shooting loose powder [sounds like making paper cartridges is a lot of work] would like to cast my own bullets but would like info on which is most accurate.Are the new style rounded ones better than the old style pointed ones?how many grain bullet shoots best.Any info for a newbe at this will help.

May 11, 2013, 06:48 PM	#3
freedom475 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains of Montana Posts: 292	I only tried loose powder once in mine,,,,and REALLY regreted it!!! The loose powder got trapped between the plate and the barrel. When I fired it, the loose plate was not able to move foreward and seal the breech and the flame was very painful. Paper cartridges are very easy...mine are even made with the bullet so my paper cutter loads just about as fast as my cartridge Sharps. __________________ Maker of Horse Tack and Cowboy Gear. www.7xleather.com Mister, why do you carry a 45? "Cause Sam Colt don't make a 46."

May 11, 2013, 08:46 PM	#6
freedom475 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains of Montana Posts: 292	I thought they all either had a sliding bore sleeve or a floating cutter plate??? I have used a lot of different bullets in mine, But mine is a 54cal ...I got some old rightails from C Sharps once and they shot well enough but I only had 10 or 20 or them so couldn't really work with them much. I had some Buffalo bullet Co. bullets that were probly my favorite. But I mostly shoot my own cast using the Lee REAL bullet and also the Lee Minnie..on the Lee Minnie I ground off most of the hollow base peg and now it doesn't really have a skirt, just a small 1/16". With the Buffalo's mine would hit a little 4" plate at 100yards with the Vernier sight fairly regular, and I was able to hit a 2'x3' plate at 500yds with my ladder sight and the minnies. __________________ Maker of Horse Tack and Cowboy Gear. www.7xleather.com Mister, why do you carry a 45? "Cause Sam Colt don't make a 46."

May 13, 2013, 10:35 AM	#12
freedom475 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains of Montana Posts: 292	I can't imagine the rifle would shoot without some sort of breech seal device But anyway...I think about any cast 45-70 bullet would work great in your Sharps.,,,,, This is probly the best source of info you will find on the 1863. Lots of reading on the subject. http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8 . __________________ Maker of Horse Tack and Cowboy Gear. www.7xleather.com Mister, why do you carry a 45? "Cause Sam Colt don't make a 46."

May 14, 2013, 06:21 PM	#17
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	hawg I think you're right ,I seem to remember the two do have different bore diameters.Too bad Lee is not taking any custom orders as of A few weeks ago otherwise you could get by more reasonable.I found some used ones on ebay,checked there?

May 11, 2013, 12:41 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	You need to slug the bore to find the correct size mold for your rifle. I have read Pedersoli bores are on the small side but I have no personal experience, just what I read on the net while doing research on my IAB Sharps.

May 11, 2013, 06:58 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	I don't have my mold yet but got impatient to hear it talk so I loaded a PRB from the muzzle. It took 120 grains of loose 2F to fill the chamber. I didn't notice any fire from the breech and very little smoke.

May 11, 2013, 07:00 PM	#5
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	freedom what bullets do you use,and where do you get them?My sharps doesn't have the movable gas seal,they must have had many complaints because they changed them.

May 11, 2013, 10:33 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	Pedersoli is supposed to have a sliding bore sleeve. Mine has a floating breech plate.

May 12, 2013, 12:03 AM	#8
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,096	What you need is a stick. Well a dowel. Wrap the paper around the dowel and the bullet. Tie the paper to the bullet and slide it off the dowel. Add powder to the paper tube and fold up the end. It's been a while but iirc 140gr should be your max. 90gr of BP was enough to send a minie or maxi ball down range.

May 12, 2013, 02:19 AM	#9
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	Hawg I was told by the possibleshop [who sells them]The newer ones do not have the gas check sleeve and mine doesn't.Which makes me very happy after hearing all the problems with them getting stuck.

May 12, 2013, 02:27 AM	#10
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	Freedom I'm glad to hear that R.E.A.L. bullets work I have a mold.I was told just a regular mold for 45-70 type bullets will be fine after they are sized?I have some different types of molds comming to try.I bought some ringtail bullets but they are kinda spendy if you do a lot of shooting.I can't wait to start shooting it.

May 12, 2013, 07:22 AM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	If it doesn't have the sliding bore sleeve does it have a floating breech plate? I can't imagine it not having either one.

May 13, 2013, 11:09 PM	#13
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	it has a plate on the face of the breech block

May 14, 2013, 04:12 AM	#14
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	I've got a REAL mold coming but I want a ringtail mold. Those things are pricey. The only concern I have with using paper cartridges is the chamber is so much bigger than the bore. A .58 minie drops right in the chamber and the bore measures .542 in the grooves.

May 14, 2013, 05:53 AM	#15
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	The possibleshop carries the mold pedersoli makes for them but they are not exactly cheap.I have a Lee R.E.A.L. 250 gr and I just bought three more so I can try bullets from 250 gr up to 500 gr.Hope to find one is super accurate.

May 14, 2013, 05:03 PM	#16
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	From my understanding the Pedersoli is too small for mine. Moose Molds has a .544 double cavity for 125.00

May 14, 2013, 06:30 PM	#18
wap41 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 99	Hawg,cheaper than dirt has a Lee 54 cal double cavity mold 380 gr for $17.34 might be worth taking a look

May 14, 2013, 06:32 PM	#19
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 15,104	I checked ebay a couple of weeks ago but not lately. I've got a R.E.A.L. mold coming but I really want a ringtail.

May 16, 2013, 11:03 PM	#20
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	pedersoli sharps I bought the 1863 model last fall. Pedersoli in 54 cal. I do the paper tube (roll my own) and the brass cartriges Mine has the sliding sleeve and the floating rear plate. So far only done 75 yd. But getting groups of about 4" Summer comes will stretch the distance a bit and see what happens when I get serious.

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