Load for Shiloh 50 cal.

[Jim Wimbish, 10395]

I have a factory new Shiloh Sharps (Robinson) that I may just go ahead and keep and shoot. I slugged the bore and it looks like a .512" so a .515" soft lead bullet should shoot in it. I have a Lyman bullet that I use in my Maynard that is about 340 grains and I was going to try it with some loose powder and see how it shoots. My initial guess was to try about 35 grains of Goex 2f since that is about how much powder I use in my 56-50 Spencer with a similar bullet. Any other suggestions on load?

[Don Dixon]

The following is for a Shiloh Model 1859 Infantry rifle, but should work for your rifle:

Unsized bullets from the NEI .50 caliber Sharps mould in a 1/20 tin/lead mix (this is the only Sharps mould that NEI makes for .50 caliber, which makes selection simple), 50 grains of Swiss FFFg, Lee Shaver's lube, and hard plastic loading tubes (no cardboard tubes or paper cartridges). This provides a velocity sweet spot of about 850 to 900 feet per second when shot over my chronograph. Lower and higher velocities don't perform as well.

I made Distinguished Breechloader with it, and have the second highest 50 yard score fired at nationals with breechloader. It will shoot one hole groups off the bench at 50 yards.


Regards,
Don Dixon
2881V