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Posted By: 303mike 50-90 - 12/12/12
I know it has been talked about before but how many like the .50-90? What bullets do you use?
Posted By: FlyboyFlem Re: 50-90 - 12/12/12
Pretty sure EthanEdwards has one may wanta pull on his chain for info.
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
The 50-90 is not what it is cracked up to be. It doesn't have the reach of the various 45 calibers and for sure and certain doesn't kill as well as the 45-110 or 45-70, for that matter.

And yes, I have one and have owned several in the past.
Posted By: gunner500 Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Originally Posted by sharpsguy
The 50-90 is not what it is cracked up to be. It doesn't have the reach of the various 45 calibers and for sure and certain doesn't kill as well as the 45-110 or 45-70, for that matter.

And yes, I have one and have owned several in the past.


I was gonna see if I could hire you to build me a 50-490. LOL

Gunner
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Sharpsguy, If you still have one then the .50-90 couldn't be all bad. Please tell me a little more.
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
I haven't shot it in 4 or 5 years. I keep it as a reminder and to let people shoot it and see how it is lacking when compared to one of the 45s.

Mine has a 1-26 twist barrel and won't hit due east with a bullet lighter than 650 grains. Those heavy bullets really have a rainbow trajectory, and the rifle kicks. A lot. Contrary to what you might think, the 650 grain FN bullet does not knock animals down or kill as quickly as a good 45, nor does it penetrate as well . I went to Africa in 2009 with a friend, and carried my Shiloh 45-110 Business Rifle. He carried his scoped Shiloh No. 1 Sporter in 50-90 and was shooting 600 grain bullets. His experience was like mine with the 50-90 in that the rifle didn't exactly impress everyone with the way it worked. My 45-110, on the other hand,did a good job, and I wound up taking a springbok at a lasered 537 yards with it shooting a traditional 511 grain paper patched bullet.

Get one if you want, but don't say that you weren't warned when you wind up disappointed.
Posted By: EvilTwin Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
grinNow there is always the 44-90 BN whistle
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Sharpsguy, Thanks for those extra details. My .50-90, however, is already on its way, so I might have to try some things with it.
Posted By: tex_n_cal Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Originally Posted by sharpsguy

Mine has a 1-26 twist barrel and won't hit due east with a bullet lighter than 650 grains.


grin glad I ordered a .45-90 smile
Posted By: EvilTwin Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Originally Posted by tex_n_cal
Originally Posted by sharpsguy

Mine has a 1-26 twist barrel and won't hit due east with a bullet lighter than 650 grains.


grin glad I ordered a .45-90 smile



grinYers will do real gud wid the same slug Sharpsguy uses. 500-540 grains kick ass in 45 caliber rifles. YOU saw whut a 450 grain PP slug will do, grin
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
303mike--Since you are already in for a rough ride, I'll try to help you out. For openers, what kind of rifle is it and what is the twist and leade angle in your rifle?
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Sharps, I'll have to dig that up. It's a C. Sharps rifle with a Badger barrel. More later.
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
No need to look. If it is a C. Sharps, that Badger barrel will need a 650 grain bullet or better. The throat on the C. Sharps has a longer leade than the Shiloh.

Your best bet is to get a Saeco 583 50 caliber bullet, Starline cases, and some KIK 2f powder. Load 90 grains and light it off with a CCI BR2 primer, and use a thin wad cut from wax paper between the bullet and powder. Don't even fool with the lighter 450 to 540 grain grease groove bullets as you are just wasting your time. If this 650 grain Saeco bullet doesn't shoot--and it is the only bullet I have found that will shoot in my rifle--your only other option is to get Steve Brooks to make you an adjustable paper patch mold. Then the grand experiment will start, and you are going to be frustrated and wadded up chasing your tail for at least a year and probably two before you decide to rebarrel the rifle to a 45. BTDT. Good luck.
Posted By: gunner500 Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
I used to want a Big .50 too. wink

Gunner
Posted By: Paul39 Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Some BPCR rifles and chamberings are cool.

Some are practical

A few are both.

Paul
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Sharps, Thanks for the info. I'm going to start with the standard .50-70 bullet just because that's what I already have. When some fireformed cases are then made available, I'll give some paper patched bullets a try. Paper patch is what I really want to shoot. Rebarreling? No. Another rifle? Could be...
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
I knew it.
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/13/12
Ah, have you been there before?
Posted By: mtnfisher Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
There is a guy who shoots a 50-90 at long range - 800, 900 and 1000 yards. This year he won both shoots. He has also shot it a couple of times at silhouette and done well.
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Thanks for the note, Fisher, I'd like to try doing some shooting at those longer ranges. Something I simply haven't done. Of course, if he has any hints to share...
Posted By: mtnfisher Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
The next time I talk to him (it may be a while), I'll see what I can find out.

Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Thanks again, Fisher, and there's no hurry. I'm in this one for the long term and what I'm mainly interested in at this time is some good leads on which bullets to use. I certainly appreciate the help from all on this site.
Posted By: crossfireoops Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Originally Posted by sharpsguy
I knew it.


Ya' can lead em' to water,.....
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Originally Posted by crossfireoops
Originally Posted by sharpsguy
I knew it.


Ya' can lead em' to water,.....


Yup, but ya' can't make'em think! I've heard that before. True too!!
Posted By: pacecars Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
I believe Mr. Bagwell gave you some good advice and is just trying to save you the trouble of trying stuff that won't work. I would suggest doing what he says. I know the urge to use what you have is a strong one but do what I did and sell it 'cause if he says it won't work in what you have it won't. The man knows what he is talking about. Ask anyone on here who he has given advice to and they will tell you the same thing. Go ahead and feel free to disregard it but please come back on here after you try your stuff so you can say "He told me so".
Posted By: gunner500 Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
+1000000. smile

Gunner
Posted By: Ranch13 Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Always have to keep in mind that there are big 50 shooters and then there are 50-90 shooters.
At Ekalaka this past sept the rifle that won the 1000$ jackpot on the 1/2 mile buffalo was a 50-90,and that was done with a goodly amount more hits than a couple of rather fabled 45-110 shooters in attendance. At a particularly windplaqued long range match at Alliance there were only 2 rifles that ran the 1000 yd target, and one was a 50-90 and the other was a 44-90, both beat out some really fabled 45-110 shooters . Seem to recall Kurt shooting his way into the top dogs at the Quigley a couple years back with his 50-90....
I'm pretty sure 303 will get this rifle to shooting plenty well enough for his intended purpose. grin
Posted By: BrentD Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Folks seem to forget that back in the late 90's and early 2000's, Paul Matthews and his son championed the .50-90s and did very very well with them. I sure would not go that route, but it is a route that has been proven to work by others.
Posted By: sharpsguy Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Ranch and Brent--True, BUT. They sure as hell didn't do it with 1-26 twist barrels and 435 grain bullets.
Posted By: BrentD Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Frankly, I don't know what twist or bullet they used. I could go back and look at the articles but someone else can do that. Things have died after being shot with the .50-90 too. Quite a few things. I like my .45s but I won't sneer at a .50 shooter. More power to 'em.
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Sharpsguy, I'm not a complete pilgrim with the .50-90 and please remember, my original question was simply "what bullets do you like?" Now let me ask another question. Why does a .50-70 seem to do so well with a 1 in 26" twist and the .50-90 do so poorly?
Posted By: Ranch13 Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Found a twist calculator by some guy named Howell....
Anyway a .495-500 diameter bullet 1.2-1.25 inches long at 1300 fps and the twist rate comes back at 1-26.
The original sharps bullet was listed as 1 1/16 inches long.
Posted By: Kurt71 Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
smile I'm going to jump in here and defend the under dog smile

I shoot the .50-2.5 Shiloh, I don't know anything about the C-Sharps but I know some that shoot it and they shoot it quite well.

But My .50 has always been the go to rifle when conditions were rough at long range shoots and it has always served me well and it is the most consistently accurate rifle in my inventory, but I will say this, my new .44-100 Rem st is out shooting it hands down smile

One thing you keep in mind and what Sharpsguy said, your not going to get the results what the .50 is capable of using a light bullet. I dont know what the 1/26 twist shoots best or the length range of the bullet it will handle I have a 1/22 ROT in my Shiloh and it shoots the 1.5" long bullet the best. 720 gr.

Your tolerance for recoil will most likely be the factor for the accuracy potential you will get from your .50 not so much as the caliber. I'm 72 and I'm trying to ween myself away from the big 50, but I know I will still reach for it when things get tough.

I don't know what my .50 would do on big game It never took anything larger then Deer and when I went after a Bison I reached for the .44-90 bn Sharps but I had the .50 with me.

Shoot the big 50 and enjoy it.

Kurt
Posted By: Kurt71 Re: 50-90 - 12/14/12
Forgot.

Mine shoots the Creedmoor nosed bullet the best. Like the Paul Jones 45001 only in a .510 diameter 1.5" long.

Kurt
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/15/12
Thanks Kurt. And thank you too Ranch.
Posted By: Kurt71 Re: 50-90 - 12/18/12
Mike.

Here is a example what the .50/2.5 can do at 200 yards.
That is a old target I took a picture off when I first put the MVA 28" scope on my Shiloh. There are two groups I shot using a 685 grain 1.5" long GG bullet using a full load of 1FG Goex Express powder.

The target on the left was the 685 gr
The one on the right is a 720 gr with the same powder load but the muzzle jump raised the impact. With the 1/22 twist my rifle takes the longer bullets to shoot like it does.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/19/12
Kurt, Thanks for "showing off." That is impressive. And I got my new .50-90 yesterday, should shoot it tomorrow. For now I've got 20 loaded rounds with bullets and powder just to make the gun go bang. Then I'll get more serious and try some 500 grain paper patch loads, maybe my gun's 1 in 26" twist will be kind enough for some closer range shooting. It does sound like I'll need 540 grains or so before getting serious. Thanks again, I hope I can do something similar.
Posted By: Kurt71 Re: 50-90 - 12/19/12
That rifle will just fine as soon as you two stop bumping heads and come to an agreement.
The .50 is kinda like a spooked Horse, they take the bit in their teeth and run till you do what they like and get them calmed down then they will do what you want. smile

Kurt
Posted By: EvilTwin Re: 50-90 - 12/19/12
grin...and ya still grabbed the 44/90 BN to kill sumpthin' grin (a bit of vested interest here grin)
Posted By: Kurt71 Re: 50-90 - 12/19/12
grin Yup ET; must be the age thing wink gettin to be a wimp.
But for a hunting caliber The big .44 BN is a hard hitting flat shooting round.
The 6 different Sharps calibers I have they will all do what the two 10 shot groups that are on that target above. You cant force feed them what they dont want to shoot.

Kurt
Posted By: Ranch13 Re: 50-90 - 12/19/12
Ok 303,,, it's been 48+ hours since that rifle arrived, it's about time we saw some shooting results, or there could be severe fines asssessed....
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/20/12
I did shoot it today using 450 grain bullets. These were just my first shots and my main idea was to fire-form some cases. Next those will get reloaded with heavier paper patch bullets. But my grouping wasn't too bad. In fact, you could just barely cover each bullet hole with a dime... Shooting that gun was cool, a lot of fun, no terrible kick. Maybe I'll get kicked later, with the heavier bullets.
Posted By: Ranch13 Re: 50-90 - 12/20/12
Good doins. Now to see what you can really make it do..
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/20/12
Thanks Ranch. This one is going to be a shooter!
Posted By: 303mike Re: 50-90 - 12/26/12
And for Christmas I got a new bullet mould. This is a one of a kind, a paper patch for a 480 grain bullet. I'll give it a try tomorrow. And Merry Christmas to everyone!!
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