I have a Pedersoli 1859 Sharps Carbine. Misfires are common with this gun because of the long and convoluted fire channel. Larry Flees will re-work the fire cone and the cleanout screw so that they fit together more closely, thus eliminating some of the nooks and crannies in the fire channel that can absorb some of the blast until they fill up with fouling. Before the work, my Sharps would misfire perhaps 2 in 10 shots, especially when clean. After the work, it misfires perhaps 1 in 20. In addition, Larry re-shapes the fire cone so that instead of requiring a special wrench to remove it, a socket will fit. However, as Larry recommends, I never disassemble the lock fire channel components when cleaning. I blast soapy water through it, and then compressed air, and that's it.
Off a bench, the gun does pretty good. I am using the Pedersoli Christmas Tree bullet 317-541. I don't seem to be able to shoot it off hand well. I have a hard time seeing the front sight blade in the notch of the rear site. I may need to widen the notch.
https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sch...e-bullets.html
I shoot them as-cast, using 1:20 tin:lead.
When slugging, I get good engraving:
When shot, I also get good engraving:
I made a dipper out of a .45 ACP shell so that when I dip them in lube only the lube areas of the bullet are coated:
Here is an album of my load workup targets from 28 to 56 grains:
https://imgur.com/a/DmdrU2U
30 grains gave a good group. So did 40, 46, 50, and 54 grains.
I currently use 40 grains of 3F Goex. I make my own cartridges from 17 lb. vellum. I use a cardboard wad punched from cereal boxes to keep the powder at the end of the cartridge.
I intend to experiment soon with the new Eras Gone Richmond Sharps replica bullet. It is nice in that it is a double-cavity mold. It also produced a bullet similar in size and weight to the Frances bullet, which is supposed to be a very good bullet for the Sharps.
Steve
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