44-77 versus the 50-70

[6pt-sika]

Okies , as many of you well know by now I already have a Shiloh in 50-90 on order :-D

And you might be aware of the fact that I am thinking of ordering a second for scoping with a MVA "Period" scope .

Anyway I decided I needed something that was not as likely to get into my face as the 50-90 .

I looked at the 40-65WCF but that wasn't an original Sharps chambering . Looked at the 45-70 , but I already have 5 lever actions and I kinda like something different . Thought about the 44-90 Sharps but that one might be more then I want for a scoped Sharps .

So I am down to the 44-77 Sharps and the 50-70 .

Give me some insights on these two calibers in about a 12 pound rifle . I plan on getting this thing (if I do it) in a Shiloh 3# Sporter with semi fancy wood , pewter forend tip and heavy barrel . After putting the MVA 6x scope on top it should easily weigh 12 pounds .

[kodiak1]

6pt don't know anything about the 44-77 but it does make me think about getting one everytime a read about it.
It is definetly an original Cartridge and it kind of middle of the pack for size, but seems to me anyway to have a bit of mystic about it.
You have two good choices with the 50-70, but you have already ordered the 50-90 so to me that makes it passe.
I would get the 44-77 for nostalga and because to me it is cool.
My 2 cents Ken.

[6pt-sika]

6pt don't know anything about the 44-77 but it does make me think about getting one everytime a read about it.
It is definetly an original Cartridge and it kind of middle of the pack for size, but seems to me anyway to have a bit of mystic about it.
You have two good choices with the 50-70, but you have already ordered the 50-90 so to me that makes it passe.
I would get the 44-77 for nostalga and because to me it is cool.
My 2 cents Ken.

I kinda agree with you !

However the 44-77 is a good bit more "limited" in available moulds !!!

Thats not to say I couldn't get a couple moulds from Steve Brooks or Mountain Moulds . However I would prefer to stay with older Lyman/Ideal moulds [smilie=1:

Actually i wll most likely go with the 44-77 , but just not 100% yet :???:

[MT Chambers]

None of my business really...but why did you discount the 40-70 Sharps Straight? Seems like it would be ideal for scoping and long range/sillywet shooting.

[Marlin Junky]

There's the 44-90 and 44-100 which were popular Creedmoore cartridges. I can't remember which was the Remington and which was the Sharps but I'm pretty sure both can be made from .45 Basic cases. I know there were Ideal molds available for them too.

MJ

[6pt-sika]

None of my business really...but why did you discount the 40-70 Sharps Straight? Seems like it would be ideal for scoping and long range/sillywet shooting.

Well to be totally honest , the 40 cals just do not have the appeal to me as some of the others .

At the moment I own two original Marlin 1895's in 40-65 and 40-82 . And I gotta say I prefer my 38-56 (another original 1895) over either of them . Of course part of that might be the fact that the 38-56 is a lot nicer shape then the other two !!!!!!


Also I have no intentions (as we speak) of shooting BPCR silhouette . These things are more for fun then anything else !!!! I shoot lever action silhouette and that is enough competition for me . Plus there is no club close that shoots BPCR silhouette (by close I mean within 75 miles).

[6pt-sika]

There's the 44-90 and 44-100 which were popular Creedmoore cartridges. I can't remember which was the Remington and which was the Sharps but I'm pretty sure both can be made from .45 Basic cases. I know there were Ideal molds available for them too.

MJ


There was a 44-90 Sharps that was a necked cartridge and there was a 44-90 Remington that was a straight wall cartridge.

According to Cartridges of the World , the 44-90 REM and 44-100 REM where both on the same cartridge case . The only difference was bullet and or powder charge . They both used a case that was 2.6" long .

I am thinking of the 44-77 Sharps bottleneck because of less recoil and the fact that its a .446" makes it a little different as well [smilie=1:

[Jon K]

I think you'll have an easier time getting the straight wall to shoot, than the BN.
As for a mould, my choice would be PJ 44001 510 gr Creedmore.

Just my $.02,
Jon

[6pt-sika]

I think you'll have an easier time getting the straight wall to shoot, than the BN.
As for a mould, my choice would be PJ 44001 510 gr Creedmore.

Just my $.02,
Jon

Getting the gun to shoot I do not think is the problem [smilie=1:


Getting it to shoot WELL might be another thing though :roll:

[6pt-sika]

As for a mould, my choice would be PJ 44001 510 gr Creedmore.

Just my $.02,
Jon

I know RCBS makes a mould that can be used in it !

And there are a couple older Lyman/Ideal moulds that might work also !

[martinibelgian]

Take it from someone shooting BN's, it really isn't all that hard to make them shoot - just a bit different. Most people saying that they're hard to get good accuracy from most times never even worked with one, it is a kind of 'urban myth' going round...
FWIW, I shoot a 500/450 #2 Musket, and find it to be a really fine performer, and easy to load for - as in the very 1st load I tried giving match-grade accuracy. No fuss, no bother, just good shooting!

[Baron von Trollwhack]

I don't shoot the 44-77 Sharps BN. I do shoot the 43 Mauser in a pristine71/84. Peas in a pod, I would say. .446/.432@ 1/22, a bit more powder capacity. The ability to patch common GG bullets or size many 45 bullets down has been great. Get the Sharps BN, for the same and perhaps even more options. BvT

[StrawHat]

Seems like everyone is trying to steer you toward the small bore.

I would guide your steps toward the big 50. You can use the molds you already purchased for your 50-90.

Your already set up mentally to load the 50.

Any split necks in the 50-90 can be made usable in the 50-70.

Okay, those may be lame reasons but I still think the 50-70 is the bewtter of the two cartridges.

Good luck with this one.

[6pt-sika]

I "thought" I had pretty much come to a decision for the 44-77 Sharps .

Then I got to thinking about some of the lighter weight 50 cal moulds that are available and I started leaning towards that one !

Then I got Midaways catalog out (I've been lying on the couch sick for a couple days) and was looking at moulds . Then the bright idea hit me , "well what about the 45-70" . Many many neat moulds , more then enough to keep me occupied for a couple years and readily available !!!!

So I think I am about decided then I start reading Venturino's book on Buffalo Rifle's for like the tenth time and get to the chapter on present day buffalo hunting . He says before Sharps chambered for the 45-70 , the number one seller was the 44-77 followed by the 50-70 ! Now imagine that . So based on that statement I would say 45-70 was #1 followed by the 44-77 and then the 50-70 !!!

So I am back to square one with an addition :roll:

Instead of ending up with a 50-90 and then one more , before it's all said and done I may end up with the 50-90 and THREE others [smilie=1:


Will it ever stop :(

[Bluehawk]

6PT I have never shot the 44/77 Wa s thought of mine numerouis times I just like the sound of it BUT everything I have read about BP in bottle neck cartridges suggest better results in straight walled cases Especially the lower you go in bullet diameter.
Like you I LIKE my 38/56 and have had some success in shooting BP from it ( mine is and 86 Win with 26 in Rnd Barrel sorry its not a Marlin Like you much prefer)
Compared to the success i get wtih myu two 38/55 rifles, id rather the 38/55 any day for oaver allease of loading and greater accuracy .
I THOUGHT the 44/77 ORIGINALLY started out as Remington Cartridge for the RB rifles and Sharps picked up on that but I am not in a position to varify that as I type .
I happen to like the 40/65 but It is NOT an original Sharps Cartridge ( as far as I can tell)
All My Shaprs rifles have been in 45/70 so I have no real shooting experieince in the other cartridges, IN THE SHARPS.

[45 2.1]

All the Sharps cartridges are fun to shoot. Of the first two, I would pick the 50-70. Very fun to shoot and the brass is easy to get now.

[NickSS]

I have shot both and owned both cartridges the 44-77 I had was a rolling block and the other is a C Sharps 1874 sharps rifle. Both shoot well and have there place in my collection. I do not think of either as "better". However, neither is flexible. If you want more bang for your buck get a 45-70 or a 45-90 rifle. Both loads, bullets and info is available in vast quantities. Sharps Called the 45-90 case the 45-2.4 inch or the 45-100 which is what they loaded in it. It was perhaps one of the shortest lived rounds as they came out with the 45-2.6 inch cartridge that replaced it.