45-70 Bore Diameter

[Danth]

Hi All: I've got a Sharps Borchardt Old Reliable barrel which has been shortened so I thought I'd put it to good use on a pet project. In checking my molds, I found I have 2 , 45-70 Sharps molds, both of which drop boolits at .452", not the normal .457"-.459". They're marked 451114 and 451117. If I were to use 45-70 Winchester molds, they'd produce boolits .457-.459" which I suspect would not work out very well. I've never read anywhere there was a difference in Sharps bore diameter vs other manufacturers. Anyone know the why they settled on .452"? Anyone shoot .457" in a sharps? thanks, Dan

[waksupi]

I believe my Sharps likes .459. Never heard of one in the .452 range. That sounds like pistol boolits.

[TCLouis]

With 451s I will have to say Paper Patch.
I'm with waksupi, sounds like 45 caliber pistol boolits to me.

[Danth]

Yes, I agree. I'm puzzled as most all 45-70 boolits run .457" - .459". The lyman manual I'm using lists 45111 , 451113 and 451114 all as being for the Sharps. They all drop boolits in the .452" range and have lube rings. Dan

[AkMike]

The simple answer is for you to sug the bore and find out what you have!

[supertodd]

maybe they were for the 44-77- I maybe mistaken but I think that took a 451

[missionary5155]

Greetings
My 44-77 takes a .446...
*1 on slugging the THROAT area. Most old chambers are somewhat on the fat side so followup Black Powder rounds would chamber with the fouling present. The HEAVY near pure lead boolits BUMPED up easily enough to get a good grip on the rifling in the throat area.