Elmer Keith and the Sharps 50

[StrawHat]

Found this article where Elmer is writing about a couple of his Sharps rifles and loads.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/sharps-50-caliber-rifle/

Thought some of you might enjoy rereading it and others reading it for the first time.

[StrawHat]

Elmer does things a bit different than we do now but apparently it worked for him. Even though I am not a Sharps groupee, it sure would be nice to get them as he did!

[zardoz]

Many thanks for this!

I finally got my Pedersoli "Big 50" just a few months ago, and have been going through the learning curve with it on a sporadic basis. Some things I just have to enjoy slowly to get the full flavor, especially when it has been 30 years passed since first wanting one.

Going to the range today with it, with some new loads of various powder charges of 1.5Fg Swiss.

Always associated Elmer Keith with the pistol calibers, and seeing his words on the Sharps 50 are like gold.

[TXGunNut]

Thanks, StrawHat. An unexpected pleasure to read about Elmer and his Sharps. Had no idea he was a Sharps fan, but I haven't finished "Hell...." yet.

[StrawHat]

I recall reading about him and some Sharps he had that were converted to smaller calibers but this is the earliest article I found about his Sharps. An amazing amount of powder he crammed into the case!

[NickSS]

Not to contradict Elmer but I had a Browning that was rechambered to 45 3.25" (45-120) and personally I do not see how he got 170 gr of BP into that case. I tried to get 120 gr into it using a drop tube and the case would not contain all the powder. He must have heavily compressed the load several times to get that much powder into it.

[6.5 mike]

Enjoyed it so much I stuck it in my favorites. :bigsmyl2:

[Sixgun Symphony]

Not to contradict Elmer but I had a Browning that was rechambered to 45 3.25" (45-120) and personally I do not see how he got 170 gr of BP into that case. I tried to get 120 gr into it using a drop tube and the case would not contain all the powder. He must have heavily compressed the load several times to get that much powder into it.

I wonder if he was loading light handgun bullets to get more gunpowder in the case. His goal might have been to make "Express" loads.

[shovel80]

Not to contradict Elmer but I had a Browning that was rechambered to 45 3.25" (45-120) and personally I do not see how he got 170 gr of BP into that case. I tried to get 120 gr into it using a drop tube and the case would not contain all the powder. He must have heavily compressed the load several times to get that much powder into it.

The Cartridge Elmer was shooting was a .50....In a 3 1/4 in shell that's a .50-140...It does seem like 170 grains would be tight...but I think when he wrote the article...he knew what he was talking about!....
That is a Great Book by Elmer...'Hell, I was there!"....

Terry:bigsmyl2:

[Chill Wills]

NICKSS, I think that if we are reading the same thing, Elmer was talking about the 50-170-700 (50-3.25") when he put 170 grs of powder inthe case.

He did talk about the 45-3.25" at the front end of the article but I did not see the amont of powder in the 45 as being that large.

Hope that helps.

EDIT: NICKSS, Shovel and I- We posted about the same time, said about the same thing. Did not intend to repete
But, many good paperpatch loads have only a very small bit of the base of the bore diameter bullet in the case, which frees up most of the case for masive powder charges. We are talking 0.100 to 0.200" of the bullet base in the case.

[bigted]

very interesting and definitely in line with the style of Elmer i remember. this was a very descriptive article and informative about the patch's and rifle it was shot in.

thank-you very much for this. love reading old recounts of these cartridges and shooters.

[MtGun44]

Penetrating 36" of hard pine blocks and not stopping! Impressive penetration. No doubt
that would punch all the way through any bison from any angle.

Bill

[Chakta]

I am going to do that penetration test for myself, just as soon as my gunsmith builds my model 1886 lever gun into a 50 caliber something?. I don't really want to do the 50-140 and I already know it hits hard on both ends (12 lb rifle) while at the shooting bench you betcha. :shock:

I haven't as yet run any tests on my black powder rifles but plan to do so after the hectic holidays etc. I'll work up some loads too for my Sharps 45-120 and John Bodine Rolling Block in the 45-90 caliber.

[ss40_70]

as to how much powder elmer used .. keep in mind that he in most likely was using the origonal balloonhead cases

[shovel80]

as to how much powder elmer used .. keep in mind that he in most likely was using the origonal balloonhead cases

Good Idea! I hadn't thought of that!! :-|

[PatMarlin]

"Many old buffalo hunters in Montana told me of using or seeing them used on buffalo and other game during the seventies."

That is a remarkable statement from Keith. In our time, of course we always refer to the "Seventies" as the 20th century. His day it was the 1870's. Wow. That just floors me.