Cartridge Opinions, Shiloh Sharps

[UltraMax]

Well I’ve decided to bite the bullet and place an order with Kirk and Lucinda at Shiloh Sharps for an 1874 Montana Roughrider.

Here’s my conundrum, I have decided on all other custom features I want but I’m trying to decide on caliber.

I’m trying to decide between the 45-70 and the 45-100. The 70 gives me the smokeless option on reloading but I already have a 45-70 and other cartridges I reload for.

I am no stranger to reloading and have reloaded all my own hunting and competition ammunition since I was a kid so loading black powder cartridges won’t be a problem, but...

If I get the 100, I will have to load strictly black powder, real black powder, not pyrodex (my choice), and there will not be the option for smokeless. This is the biggest issue I’m struggling with. I want the 100 more but am somewhat curious if I will be upset because I won’t be able to use smokeless powder.

I’m not worried about cleaning, fowling or blowtubing, I’ve read that cleaning a breech loading powder rifle is a breeze and in a hunting situation I wouldn’t be taking more than a couple of shots anyway. I also do not care about the availability of factory ammunition because I will reload 100% of this rifle’s ammunition.

I’m also gonna cast my own bullets from lead alloy.

Just wanting some thoughts from those who have owned or currently own a black powder cartridge rifle.

What would you go with? I’ve already got several rifles that can kill whatever I wanted to on the planet so I’m not in the “good all around gun” category.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

50-90 Sharps...

Javi

[bwssr]

But.....if the range is full...2 sounds from the wind end and most will go home

[RJH1]

The 50-90 does sound sweet....

But of the 2 listed i would go with the 45-70. The smokeless option would seal the deal for me. I don't know if you would ever sell it, but i would suspect selling the 45-70 would be a little easier too. Sounds like a great rifle either way

[Mike Javi Cooper]

I had a genuine '86 in 50/110 WCF, many years ago and it was a blast to shoot.

Javi

[twosixteens]

I would go with 45-70 just for the smokeless option. I have been looking at them for many years just haven’t placed my order yet.

[UltraMax]

Oh believe me I’ve looked into the 50-90 because I will mostly hunt with it, but I know that I will be shooting this thing in BPCR Silhouette matches and the 50-90 May be a little stout.

With the 45-70, smokeless loads and gas checked bullets I can outperform any black powder cartridge (this includes the 45-120) and the Shiloh’s can withstand Ruger no 1 pressures, which can push a 500 grn bullet up to 1800fps, which is within 150fps of a light load .458 Winchester of the same grain bullet, but....

I most likely would not push the rifle, or my shoulder, to that extreme.

A BP loaded 45-100 will push a 530 grain bullet around 1300-1400fps, the 45-70 is about 1100-1200fps.

My brain is telling me to get the 45-70 but I keep debating with myself.

[McClain]

My thinking would be that if I had an authentic replica (which I do, but in a muzzleloader) I would use authentic components (which I do - BP). So my suggestion would be go with 45-100 and use BP to get the true authentic experience. Besides, there is nothing like the smell of BP smoke in the early mornings.

[Buff]

I went with a 45/70
I loaded some BP but the cleaning made me go back to smokeless
You can load a Barnes pointed bullet up to plum silly velocity
It is my favorite rifle

[Johnny44]

444 Marlin

[SoTXAg06]

I went with a 45/70

I loaded some BP but the cleaning made me go back to smokeless

You can load a Barnes pointed bullet up to plum silly velocity

It is my favorite rifle

[ATTACH]924769[/ATTACH]

That’s a beautiful rifle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[texag93]

I would go 45/70 because I’m not a fan of cleaning black powder rifles.

[UltraMax]

I went with a 45/70
I loaded some BP but the cleaning made me go back to smokeless
You can load a Barnes pointed bullet up to plum silly velocity
It is my favorite rifle
[ATTACH]924769[/ATTACH]

Buff, can you please tell me a little about your rifle. Did you have the barrel polished? What kind of accuracy are you getting? What grade of wood? What grain of Barnes bullet? Please and thank you.

[UltraMax]

444 Marlin

They don’t offer it in that cartridge. Only old school cartridges originally loaded with black powder.

[Johnny44]

If you step up to Dakota Arms

I know sharps has 444 Marlin too but it might depend on configuration.

http://csharpsarms.com/catalog-detail/31/Model-1874-Carbine-Hunter-s-Rifle.html