Pedersoli 1874 Sharps 45/70

Your bullets are probably your accuracy problem.

I have never shot store bought bullets that were better than 2 inch groups. Most were worse and the average was about 3 inch groups.

I have a 40-65 and several 45-70 competition quality rifles by both Pedersoli and Browning.
With these rifles I can shoot close to 1" groups but only with bullets I cast myself.
The 45-70 mold casts a 512 grain bullet using 20 to 1 alloy. The mold was made by Steve Brooks.
It casts the first driving band at .454 and the last 2 bands at .460 to .461. I size them at .460 or shoot them unsized. My bores are .458. Powder is 23 to 25 grains of SR 4759. I shot groups and got many unburned kernels in the bore with starting loads. I increased the load until the unburned kernels disappeared. Accuracy improved as the loads went up and the zombies disappeared.

The 40-65 behaved the same way with a 320 grn bullet cast in a gas check mold intended for the .405 Win. This mold should have cast .412 bullets. Instead it cast .410. This mold was made by NEI Handtools. The groove dia is .408.
These were shot with gas checks and were lubed at .410 dia. Alloy was clip on wheel weights. This rifle used 22 to 24 grains of SR4759 and accuracy hovered near 1 inch.
I also used 5744 in these rifles but groups were never as good. Because I tested both powders at the same time I quit testing the 5744 when I was successful with the SR4759.
These loads are only about 1250 fps but do not shoot them in some old Ballard or Trap Door.
 
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Because I tested both powders at the same time I quit testing the 5744 when I was successful with the SR4759.
These loads are only about 1250 fps but do not shoot them in some old Ballard or Trap Door.
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This powder was dropped two years ago and is no longer available. Once in a while someone will privately sell some, but your chances of finding any right now are about ZERO. I have some and it does work well, but direct your efforts into finding a good load with a powder that you can get when you need it. I own and shoot several 45-70s, have owned several Pedersoli rifles, and all of them have been the least fussy shooting rifles I've owned over the last 45+ years. If you're looking for "light" loads that shoot very well (I mean really well) try some 2400. I have yet to see a gun that won't shoot this powder well at Trapdoor loadings as long as the bullet fits the gun. Oregon Trail .459" bullets will work in your Pedersoli. Note: Oregon Trail makes bullets in both .458 and .459 for this caliber. Get the 405g bullets and start with those. If you get into casting you can open a lot of doors for finding something even better. Good luck.
 
I ask why the commercial bullets won't shoot well for you. The ones I have used in the .459 so far were remarkably consistent in weight, except the 405 gas check. As stated before I have resisted casting because of time constraints and i have not discovered the"go to" bullet and don't want to buy half a dozen molds and sizing dies to try and find the one best bullet.Not arguing just asking.
 
What front sight are you using, I find that I am more accurate with the open globe sight instead of the crosshair or the blade. Maybe you should try out different sights.
 
The commercial bullets are probably acceptable to many shooters. My cast bullets just fit better and shoot better.
 
I use aperture front and rear sights with an 8 inch diameter black bull on a white back ground.
I can hold about one inch groups with these sights with good ammo and calm conditions.
I do have a 12X Leupold on one rifle but it is too light to shoot the most accurate 500 grain loads.
 
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