Period correct '74 Sharps Buffalo Rifles?

[Gunner500]

Sounds like fun! How hard would the bullet need to be for Buff?

IMHO a bullet for a cape buff needs to be as hard as you can make it as long as it remains stabilized and NOT brittle.

[Gunner500]

Gunner.
That Cape is a tough thick skinned critter. At what range do you expect to shoot it? I don't think I would use that light 1.285". A 500 gr at 1.370" cast with 1/20 would be a lot better choice in my opinion for that tough Buff. That 1.370 will work just fine inside 200 yards or less then I would think you would shoot.
When you get that rifle I will send you some .500 grainers of the original Sharps profile to do your own testing. I think you will find them working just fine for a hunting bullet. Just make sure that that bullet is small enough wrapped for a quick follow up shot in a dirty throat. That .44-77 will bump ut a 1/20 bullet a long ways to fill the grooves and it will end up about .065" TO .075" shorter when the charge goes off.

Thanks for all that Kurt, but, I wouldn't use the 44-77 on a Cape Buff, my 44 in Africa would be for heavy antelope, gemsbok, wildebeest etc,, a buff indeed needs 500+ grains, were I to shoot another with a Sharps, it'd be with my 45-70 and the 530 gr paper patch bullet, again from my 18 twist #3 Sporter.

Except, this time the alloy would be tested pliable down to 12 to 1 or so, the first one was an abysmal failure with maybe 14 inches of penetration, that was a 30 yard shot to the chest with 530 grains at 30 to 1. I believe the hide alone wrecked the bullet, not to mention the chest mass of muscle and bone akin to that of a Sherman tank.

After 9 feet of penetration on a bedded Eland Bull, my old 50-90 with 750 gr greasers would have to be considered as well, those hunting bullets were a bit harder than 16 to 1.

[Gunner500]

E-mail from Brooks this morning, payment received and mould in line.

Cant wait to get it and cast some bullets too see what they'll look like.

[Gunner500]

Trying to get a belt filled with potential work tools Men, does anyone care to guesstimate what velocities I'll have to work with in a 30" barrel sending 460-470 grain bullets downrange starting with 77 grs OE 2FG?

Many Thanks,

Gunner

[J.B.]

I've got some data locked away in my dying computer somewhere but I cant access at present. Ballpark I think will be hovering around the 1300 fps mark. That's just from memory though...and mine isnt the best.

J.B.

[Gunner500]

Thanks J.B. I can work with that.

[Gunner500]

I'll surely quit pestering you men soon.

Question is, what does jojoba oil do for paper patching?

Does it:

Help with fouling?
Add durability/protection [water resistance] to the patch?

[Don McDowell]

Yup, I find it also add's a bit to increased accuracy.

[Gunner500]

NICE! Thanks Don.

I ask Wifey about it last night, she said, oh yes, it's in the womens health and beauty section.

[Don McDowell]

One of those 1 oz bottles, lasts a very very long time. Just put the tip of your finger on the mouth of the bottle and tip it up, you'll get enough to wipe 2-3 bullets. Once you have a tray of loaded rounds treated just wipe the excess off with a tea towel, and you're good to go.