50-70 Shiloh Sharps Military Rifle

[Eric Johanen]

Just returned from the range using this rifle and It shot pretty well. Using Bertram and old stock Dixie brass. Brass sized with old stock RCBS die and it puts a definite neck on the case mouth. It will hold a .501 paper patched bullet snuggly finger seated. Used Winchester LR standard primer in the Dixie brass and CCI LR Benchrest primer in the Bertram brass. 70.0 grains of Swiss 1.5fg, .005 thin card wad compressed, 1/8th inch SPG lube wad with a .030 vegi fiber wad. Compressed to .225 inch and a BACO .492/500 grain paper patched bullet at 20/1 Mold # JIM 492500 Patched to .501 and a BACO .492/500 grain pure lead swaged paper patched bullet #PPB492500, also patched to .501. Composite group at 4 inches with the cast bullets dropping just a bit lower than the swaged bullets. Group is at the front sight at 100 yards so good for deer hunting. I was able to chamber 5 rounds without blow tube or wiping Cleaned the bore every 5 rounds. Bertram brass was fine with just a hint of a lube ring at the case mouth. Dixie brass left a paper ring on some of the brass so I am going to anneal the brass before I load again. The rifle shot low at 100 yards with all loads tested so far. I removed some stock from the sides of the front sight block and squared up the blade. I can see it well and I do not want to lower the blade anymore and leave a nub. I switched to the semi buckhorn sight replacing the Lawrence sight it came with and I opened the semi buckhorn notch a bit with a thin file and have put a 1/6" shim between the base of the sight saddle and the rear sight leaf. This has worked very well. Will test these loads again and load the BACO .511/500 grain FN bullet #JIM511500 cast at 20/1 and Accurate Molds #51-465s also at 20/1 as these have shot well in the past. Great rifle and cartridge for hunting! Enjoying a great cigar and cleaning the rifle now. Will get after the brass later. I do like this hunting rifle!!