Shiloh Rifle Forums

Hi All,
I need some advise. I have an 1863 Sharps, 45 caliber 3 band rifle with a 30" barrel. It is a Farmingdale with serial number 24xx.
I have a 34" scope on it. This is how I bought it. It has no sights on it but a bunch of screw holes where different things were installed. ( reminds me of the really nice mutt I got from the kill shelter )
The scope has Unertl type rings.
My question is how do you all get powder into the chamber with the scope over it in the way?
Thanks all.

I make a self contained paper cartridge glued to the bullet. Still deciding if I like an easier to make cartridge with a tail that gets cut off or one with a flat thin paper base that doesn’t get cut.

Other people make a paper cartridge that’s separate from the bullet containing the powder that they put in the chamber behind the bullet.

I’ve also heard others using a pyrodex pellet and having decent luck. Mine is a 54 and it looks like they discontinued making all pellets above 50 so I won’t be trying that method. Honestly though once you give it a try. Making a cartridge is pretty easy. Lots of videos on YouTube that show you how to do it.

I have watched many you tube videos and tried making paper cartridges. I just need more practice I guess. I will probably go with a suggestion from another forum. Make a paper funnel. Am going to try that 1st.

Probably the easiest answer. You could also solder a funnel into a brass tube cut to whatever length you want like a shorter drop tube if you had that ability.

At this time, I am waiting for a package of Lee powder measures to arrive. I am thinking I should be able to figure out something from there.

Get rid of the scope and mount proper iron sights.

Maybe I don’t understand the question. Can’t you just push the outside-adjustment scope forward in the mounts until the eyepiece is even with the breech, or further forward? It should be out of the way enough to get your bullet and charge of powder into the breech end. Then you close the breech, pull the scope back, cap and fire.

It would be more authentic, and easier to load, to make the paper cartridges beforehand. That’s what I do, anyway.

OLReliable wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 7:15 am Get rid of the scope and mount proper iron sights.

I kind of am enjoying using the scope. I can see the target. lol.
These new glasses suck for shooting. I have to find a pro gun type eye doctor next appointment!
Also I kind of like the set up with the scope.

ignore this one

DaveC wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 11:17 am Maybe I don’t understand the question. Can’t you just push the outside-adjustment scope forward in the mounts until the eyepiece is even with the breech, or further forward? It should be out of the way enough to get your bullet and charge of powder into the breech end. Then you close the breech, pull the scope back, cap and fire.

It would be more authentic, and easier to load, to make the paper cartridges beforehand. That’s what I do, anyway.

Can’t you just push the outside-adjustment scope forward in the mounts until the eyepiece is even with the breech, or further forward?
I don't know, is that how this type of scope mounts work? Makes sense. I will have to look into that!

It would be more authentic, and easier to load, to make the paper cartridges beforehand. That’s what I do, anyway.
I actually like that idea. Should be fairly easy to make I would think.

Boston Bill wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2020 7:47 pm

OLReliable wrote: ↑Thu May 14, 2020 7:15 am Get rid of the scope and mount proper iron sights.

I kind of am enjoying using the scope. I can see the target. lol.
These new glasses suck for shooting. I have to find a pro gun type eye doctor next appointment!
Also I kind of like the set up with the scope.

Seeing the target is overrated. It's really just about shooting.

A sharps with a scope sucks if your right handed, especially a 63 or a 74 for that matter. I had a 63 and I made paper cartridges a little undersizes so They would feed easy and then thumbed them in tight and let the block cut the excess. Or I would drop a bullet in and use a ball starter to seat it tight and use a powder flask with a long tube and fill the chamber and let the block clear the rest of the powder but if you do this blow off the rest on top of the block if there is some left on it.My powder flasks have a 4-6" tube on them. A powder horn will work also.

Seeing the target is overrated. It's really just about shooting.

A lot of truth to that!