My new Hartford Big 50 (with pics)

[Youngblood]

Stats are, ordered from Bill Goodman May 2018,
Done May 2019.

Hartford
50-90 (50 2.5, 50-100, 50-110)
32 inch heavy oct
1-36 inch twist
Lawrence long rear, blade front
Distant Thunder early sporting tang
Hartford collar and pewter tip.
Standard plain wood, metal etc
Military butt

Made to be as close to an early Big 50 Hartford buffalo gun as i could get. Its awesome! I love it already.
Big thank you to Shiloh and Bill.

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[Youngblood]

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[Youngblood]

Supposedly plain/standard wood but still has nice figure to it.

The ammo is Buffalo Arms black powder 50-90 540 grains.

I have not fired it yet. Need to get to know her better before i go all the way.

[art ruggiero]

very true to the era good luck art

[Lumpy Grits]

You did good and the hook is set.
What will you do for fouling control?
Gary

[Youngblood]

Fouling control?

Not sure what you mean. Just cleaning in general?
Or you mean trying to keep it running while shooting a couple hundred rounds?

[longshot10x]

Pure Buffalo Rifle of the finest. Thanks for keeping the Tradition alive. Mike G.

[Lumpy Grits]

Fouling control?

Not sure what you mean. Just cleaning in general?
Or you mean trying to keep it running while shooting a couple hundred rounds?

With BP you must either use a blow-tube or 'wipe' the bore after each shot.
Please do some research!
G.

[SFogler]

You need to clean the cases too after you are done shooting. Suggest you read Mike Venturino's 'Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West'. Available at Shiloh's web site or Amazon. For starting out blow tubes are ok for controlling the fouling in the barrel. If you don't blow tube (keep the fouling moist) or wipe (eliminate the fouling) after each shot, the fouling kinda bakes on as you shoot and the barrel heats up and you get a smooth bore; i.e. accuracy suffers big time. I wipe with a flexible rod (Tipton) with a plastic brush on the end. I put an arsenal patch moistened with a 7/1 solution of Napa cutting oil and water for the wiping solution on the brush and push it through the barrel. Use DAMP patches not wet ones. A chamber swab helps make sure the chamber is dry before you insert the next cartridge. Read Mike's book - it lays out the care and feeding of you expensive new rifle and tells you what you need to do to get started shooting accurately with BP. Enjoy! I have a buffalo Shiloh Sharps 50-90 and shot my buffalo with it. Very satisfying.

[Youngblood]

Good advice, thanks.

Im a sticker not a tuber, but we’ll see how it goes. This gun is a hunter and i gotta see how many i can do without fouling out, although hunting is best with one shot only, as we all prefer. Just one of the things to play with as we get to know each other.

[Lumpy Grits]

That tang sight will be a PITA for a hunt'n gun.
G.

[Youngblood]

Actually that tang sight not only folds back where you might stab your eye while shooting, but it also folds forward and you can see the barrel sight through the staff.
Its a great old sight.

[Lumpy Grits]

Actually that tang sight not only folds back where you might stab your eye while shooting, but it also folds forward and you can see the barrel sight through the staff.
Its a great old sight.

That fold'n forward deal can cause an unloading and reloading issue PDQ in the field.
G.

[Youngblood]

Not worried about it. I prefer peeps anyway and once i get it all dialed in, i will probably use that all the time.

First on my local deer, later a big shaggy. And im definitely taking the tongue. (See what all the fuss is about)

[pacecars]

Nice gun! Start paper patching to be truly authentic, plus it is rewarding to roll your own and you would be amazed at the accuracy. Nothing wrong with greasers but PPB is a whole new world