Pedersoli 1874 Sharps 45/70

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bearboy1066

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I am searching for bullet recommendations for smokeless powder. i currently use 5744 and have been using 538 Postells and 405 gr jacketed. i am not happy with the results. i have reloaded for 50 yrs and the rifle has a Kelly Soule vernier and a hooded aperture front sight with a level. I shoot from a bench rest.Sub 1/2 moa groups are not unusual for me but so far this rifle ,ammo combination has me whipped. Using weights of 24.5 to 25.5 gr result in 3 in groups.What is a good accuracy bullet ,all ranges for the Pedersoli?
 
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I answered this same thread earlier. You didn't need to change it due to getting 1873 instead of 1874....everyone knew what you meant. I have never found a more accurate bullet than the Rem 405 JSP for shooting smokeless out to several hundred yards. The powders that produced the best accuracy are Rel7, 4198, 2400, and 5744 (but it's dirty. still works but lots of stuff left in the barrel and it gets in the action).
 
try shooting from a sitting position with cross sticks. pull the sticks up to the for end but resting on the barrel. sounds crazy and contrary to everything we know about shooting a bolt gun.
......bullet hardness affects accuracy in these guns also. good shooting. bob
 
The bullets I have been using are all sized .458 and are 20:1. I have ordered 5 different bullets from 405 gr to the 535 gr. Believe the larger bullet may solve the problem. Peder soli bore is .475
 
Went to .458 bullets 5 weights 2 powder charges 5744. chronographed . Results much better smallest 5 shot group 1.777 100 yds. 500 gr bullet
26 gr charge. Largest group all weights 3.248 27 gr charge. velocities from 1249 to 1373. will reduce charges to 25 gr and 25.5 hope for smaller groups.
 
Please keep us posted, as I just recently purchased the 1874 sharps by Pedersoli. I really haven't been able to do anything as I have been fight the flu for two weeks now.
 
Better sucess

I have continued with the.459 bullets in 5 weights. Sorted by weight all charges measured and 5744 powder. All at 100 yds ,sand bag and bunny ears. 26 and 27 gr charges produced only one group below 2 in. velocities 1255 to 1314 fps across all weights.23.5 gr charge 2 bullets below 2 in. velocities 1177 to 1277 fps. 24.5 gr bullets below 2 in. velocities between 1230 and 1277.
I think I am skipping all around the sweet spot that i hope is 24.5 to 25.5 gr. The last group of 545 gr was .58 in.for 4 rounds and the 5th stretched it to 1.42 [maybe it was me and not the gun].Beautiful day great light and no wind.
Report to follow .
 
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group size

.459 bullets weighed for consistency. 5744 powder 25.2 gr
405 gr 1.7 in
425 gr 1.89 in
500 gr 1.65 in
525 gr 1.39 in
545 gr 3 in flyer to 4.7, flyer was me.
My question is, with a a Kelley vernier Soule rear and a bubble level aperture front,assuming I do what I should what level of accuracy is achievable in 45/70.
 
Depends on your eyes at that particular moment, the light (target definition), and your adrenalin levels at that particular time. On a very good day I could get 1moa on occasion, but for the most part it would be a bit over. I'm talking five shots, not three. Going from three shots to five makes it a LOT harder to get tight groups. That's when reality shows up. Most of the BS about 1moa groups goes out the window when you start talking five shots. When you start to average those five shots over time, the groups get even bigger. You aren't doing too bad right now.
 
All the groups were 5 shot groups.I try and shoot in good light until i find the most accurate loads. The worst group listed was obscured by a shadow from a tree on the last target. i see what you mean.
I shoot only 2 other rifles with peep sights a 1903a3 Springfield with surplus ammo. It shoots about 3 in. and a 94 Winchester with a Lyman sight using the Hornady Lever evolution bullets in reloads I shoot about 3 in with it.
Thanks for the input.
 
That is really very good for white powder and storebought bullets.

Meticulously hand cast bullets of just the right size (Pedersoli advertises a tapered bore, so a good fit in the throat and rifling entry will likely be larger than you think. The Pedersoli mould casts and is shot at .460".

A well developed black powder load will often beat smokeless, at least in the long run.

But 1.5 MOA is a good performance at my level of knowhow.
 
I have considered casting. I did years ago for pistol. if you read the earlier posts i weighed and segregated the bullets in 1 gr separation and load 5 of each group. Some were amazingly consistent the 545 gr were all either 544 or 545 gr. + or- .9 gr. I was thinking of trying .460 bullets and may do so. What would be your recommendation on bullet wt.?
In the event I do cast i would prefer to stick with one bullet design and weight.
 
As a long time shooter of the old black powder cartridges, the bullet sometimes makes a difference.
I still cast/shoot lead, some like soft lead, some like harder alloy, even chilled lead better.
I have to *Assume* (and you know the old saying about 'Assume'), sometimes the hardness of the lead helps the bullet grip the rifling better.
I have a Sharps that simply won't shoot any kind of jacketed bullet worth crap, but it will still shoot dead soft lead sub MOA.

I also find a slightly faster powder reduced charge often shoots better than a lot of slower powders.
Don't ask me why, but an old gunsmith turned me on to it.

Just out of curiosity, have you run into the old Sharps .45-70 loads yet? (Opposed to .45-70 Govt) Sharps had some odd ideas about loading charge weights! I know it's a moot point now since none of the powders recommended are made now, it's just kind of cool history.
 
I have tried 3 or 4 powders and have gotten the most consistent groups from 5744. That was all before going to the.459 bullets. i will probably try several powders with .459 as well as some with .460. Am waiting for a powder delivery now.
 
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