Hello Gentlemen,


I've finally pulled the trigger and purchased an 1874 Sharps 45-70 Sharps made by Pedersoli. For years I wanted to get into black powder cartridge shooting and reloading but kept putting it off until now. The problem is that I feel like I don't even know where to start. I have decided to delay any casting of my own bullets and lubing them until I know how to assemble the cartridge in order to simplify the process. I will be purchasing bullets pre lubed to accomplish this. Here is a list of products that I have put together that I'm planning to buy. I would be very grateful if somebody could look it over and give me any advice as to what is missing or should not be included or if anything incorrect. Please take into consideration that where I live nobody shoots Sharps rifles or does black powder reloading so my resources are limited. I have Mike Venturino's book on Buffalo Rifles of the old west but he doesn't give much specific advice as to what to buy and how to use it. Is there another book that is more detailed when it comes to the actual reloading process?

1.) .459 520grn RN Cast Bullets 20-1 SPG lubed.
2.) .060 Vegetable Fiber Wads
3.) 45/70 Government Nickel Brass
4.) Federal Primers
5.) Swiss FF Powder
6.) Lyman Digital Caliper
7.) Blow Tube
8.) Cleaning Rod
9.) Three inch cleaning patches
10.) Gun oil

From here on out when it comes to dies' and case sizing I have to clue as to what to choose as there are so many different models and sizes. Please help me complete my list so I can be on my way to successful shooting. Thank you for your time and patience.

Lyman's Black Powder Handbook & Loading Manual by Sam Fadala and Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Ed. C. Kenneth Ramage, Editor.

You should be able to find them almost anywhere. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Boder's Books, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabellas... you get the idea.

I like your choice of rifle. Have fun with it and good luck.

__________________
Be popular? Heck, I have enough friends.
and...
"That way lies madness".

I will definitely get this book, thank you for the help!

NY, where are you located , I am outside of Syracuse.I have an EMF sharps.The more I read about reloading the 45/70 the more
overwhelmed I got.I found out if you put x amount of powder in a primered case. put a cardboard wad and a bullet over it, it would go boom and break clay pidgeons100 yards away.
what i am tring to say is relax, enjoy the gun and try different wads,cookies, lubes ect. later.Start with the basics and work up from there. You are more than welcome to stop by if your in the area and try some of the stuff I have.

38 I'm about 45 minutes from NYC so it's not exactly BPCR country over here unfortunately hahaha. Yes, I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. I started getting really confused when I read about modifying and cutting the casing, and what kind of die, expander etc to buy. Thank you for the invite, if I'm ever up there I'll keep it in mind.



Regards,

Here are links to some articles that might help you;
http://shilohrifle.com/forums/index....93598b3c1e3d12

http://www.chuckhawks.com/falling_block_action.htm

http://www.ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/bca...?sn=LqhlZCfqRS

http://www.gunblast.com/BillyDixon_Sharps.htm

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...c,24559.0.html

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...ic,8251.0.html

Hope these help you out.

Your list looks good, but I would ditch the nickel brass in favor of plain brass cases. I think you will find it may last a bit longer. You will find a powder measure and drop tube helpful also. You can often find good buys on reloading items on any of the on-line auctions.

Use Post-its. I guarantee you will forget what you did one night, but the post-its will save you. Best advice you will ever get. Because--- the rest is a lifetime of this and that but you must know this and that!

The load I use: Winchester Western .45-70 brass, Federal 'large rifle' primers, 60 grs. Swiss FF Black Powder, .030 veg. wad, Paul Jones mold - .495 gr. SPG lubed .458 dia. bullet (20:1).
Fired from a 32" barrel Shiloh Sharps rifle, hitting targets at 600 yrds. on a bench rest. If you enjoy BPCR shooting, go to 'SPG Lube' on the web; check out their mag. on BPCR.
Beartooth may have a bullet you can use.

And get a copy of Mike Venturino's "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West". www.bpcr.net has a lot of info too as well as the other sites. Home in on one and ask questions. We all had to start at the beginning!