40-50 Sharps BN

[BFD]

The target should be rotated to the right 90 degrees. The bottom shot was first on clean bbl. 9 was second shot and 10 was 3rd. Rest were in x-ring.

Not bad. Now see if it repeats and shoot a longer string. That much variation in the first few shots is a little concerning, but if it truly settles down to well under 1 MOA, you're good.

[semtav]

40-50 wickliffe.jpg

Finally got my Rifle back from John Taylor before he closed up shop.

Still have to get the forearm mounted and a sight base made for it.

Dean Becker sent me some cases and bullets to try, unfortunately this chamber has a longer and larger neck and the Badger barrel has a bigger bore than his Shiloh.
So I managed to make some brass out of cut down 40-82 brass and shot them to fireform the cases.

[AzTBH]

I wasn’t familiar with the 40-50 Sharps Bottleneck, so I searched the cartridge. I found this fairly recent (less that a year) Midway video (Reloading - How to Load Ammunition for the 40-50 Sharps Bottleneck using Paper Patched Bullets) helpful in showing how cases are formed for this caliber. I also found Larry Potterfield’s annealing procedure, choice components, and use of a lube cookie interesting.

https://vimeo.com/352735870

[semtav]

Thanks for that link.
Havent got my final dimensions yet, but from what he said about his chamber, it appears i have the Remington chamber, vs Shiloh's slightly smaller chamber.

[Stephen Borud]

I’ve had a Shiloh 40/50BN for several years. It’s a great little round. I had Shiloh out a 1/18 twist in it and use the RCBS original Sharps dies. I shoot 50 grains of Fg powder and a 265 grain paper patch bullet.

SB

[semtav]

If i hadnt put my savings toward a bull barrel shiloh this fall i think the round barrel 77 in this caliber would have been in my near future. !!

Hmmm i wonder how far out they are on the 77's

[bobw]

Larry Potterfield is a smart and successful guy but one of us out of kindness ought to show him how to ladle dip bp slugs that look worth a damn. Every year sooner or later I have atleast 1 charitable thought , guess I've now had mine for this year. Bobw

[Kurt]

Larry Potterfield is a smart and successful guy but one of us out of kindness ought to show him how to ladle dip bp slugs that look worth a damn. Every year sooner or later I have atleast 1 charitable thought , guess I've now had mine for this year. Bobw

I was going to mention that but I kept it zipped

[semtav]

Several things he did I found "interesting"

[semtav]

40-50 resize.jpg

Being a T.A, I just couldn't see spending $200 on a sizing die for the cartridge so i spend the last few weeks playing with different dies to see what I could come up with to resize the various cases I'm going to test.

Really would up with something very simple. just in case someone else runs into the same dilemma

1. Cut the case to approx 1.8"
2. Run thru a 40-65 FL sizing die.
3. Run neck up in a 6.5 Carcano FL die as far as needed
4. Run thru an expander die of the proper dimension for you rifle (mine is .411)
5. Fireform
6. Trim to final length (1.75 for mine)

Of course the key is having a 6.5 Carcano to start with. I don't know what other cartridge has the same base dimensions. This was the only one I had.

Now if I can get a Tang sight figured out, I'll be ready for the Postal match

[martinibelgian]

Now that's a chambering that looks very attractive to me. Unfortunately, no SSAMI /CIP specs, so no way of getting it through the proof house here. Otherwise my Greener 45-70 would already have a spare barrel for this little beaut... I like BN cartridges, and this number seems to be the ideal midrange round.

[semtav]

Now that's a chambering that looks very attractive to me.

I think cartridges are a lot like women. Sometimes its just the shape that peaks your interest.
Ive had my eye on this one ever since i saw an original sharps in this caliber at a gun show a few years ago.

[Nuclearcricket]

I think this cartridge is yet another one that would be easy to form with a bushing die. From the looks of the pics you posted if you run it into the 40-65 die and then use a bushing die to form the rest of the neck and shoulder angle you would be all set. Then from there just neck size as needed. Sorry but I guess its the tool maker coming out in me. I have made up a bushing die to load 44-77 cases with and it works quite well. I also made up one to form the neck on a 44-60 bottle neck case. I don't have a chambered rifle in that caliber yet but from the outward looks it should work just fine. Shorten the case, size the neck and fireform. From there just neck size as needed for the bullet diameter you plan to use. Also I am very frugal, I have the tools and skills to make the dies so I am only out material cost and that isn't that much.
I may be wrong but am thinking if your just neck sizing your cases and they start getting a bit tight, a trip through a 40-65 die will shrink back down the body taper and shoulder area to make them fit a bit better once again.
YMMV
Sam

[CptCurl]

I like the looks of that little bottle neck cartridge.

Question: What factors would govern the choice between the 40-50 SBN and the 40-70 SBN?

Curly

[art ruggiero]

the 40/70 holds a lot of powder about 75 gr. of swiss art