Home Forums Hunting & Shooting BPCR Now that we have it; What are we going to do with it?

All,

I have thought for some time that we should have a Single Shot forum. Well, this is not quite exactly what I had envisioned, but OTOH, I procrastinated in asking and now this is what we have! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So now, how many of you shoot BPCR? Do any of you compete in BPCR Silhouette?

What kind of BPCR rifles do you shoot?

I have a C. Sharps Hi-wall BPCR rifle in .40-70 Sharps Straight. Have a replica Suhl tang sight. It shoots way better than I do. Looking forward to ringing some steel in the next month or so... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> ...the9.3Guy

9.3 I have a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 on order. Does that count? Friend has a Browning BPCR in 45-70 that we shot last weekend. All has been with smokeless powder so far but will definitely be getting some black powder loads. (He reloads, I do not) Look forward to lurking and gaining some wisdom on these neat rifles, while I wait for mine to arrive. Best Regards, TM

9 3 Guy,



This was my idea. I suggested a BPCR section rather than Single Shot because BPCR has almost nothing in common with the usual Contender, etc. stuff that you typically find in single shot forums. There was a real lively BPCR group on Shooters before it went belly up. Also, there are BPCR groups in Yahoo and MSN, but you have to register to post, and I don't find them very user friendly. There seems to be a lot of interest in BPCR, judging from the number of rifles that people are buying. In certain parts of the country BPCR silhouette is very popular.



I'm pretty much a beginner. I have a Browning high wall .40-65 and a Pedersoli Sharps .45-70. One thing I have learned is that a new BPCR shooter has to have a large dose of humility. No matter how much you've learned over the years shooting modern rifles, it doesn't translate very well to shooting black powder cartridge guns. It's a whole new learning experience. We'll see how much interest this section draws. I appreciate Rick's setting it up.



Paul

I just noticed the new forum. I shoot BPCR at Ft. Chadbourne in Texas. I am currently shooting a Shiloh Sharps Hartford in 45-100. I own another Shiloh in 40-70ss that is set up as a hunting rifle. I've got a K&P barreled high wall in 40-65 and a couple of original military rolling blocks. I've also got a Borchardt that is up at Lee Shaver's getting a minor make-over.

BPCR's are by far my favorite rifles. I hunt a great deal with them and someday I am going to shoot my way into master class with my Shiloh. Matter of fact, judging by the looks of the newest bullet mould I go from Paul Jones, this could be my year.

Take care,

S

SharpsShooter,

Welcome. As an experienced BPCR shooter, maybe you can address Travelingman's question about factory BPCR ammo that he posted over on Big Bores. I'm afraid I couldn't be of much help.

BTW, where is Ft. Chadbourne?

Paul

I have a Shilo Sharps Long Range Express with MVA front and rear adjustables. I loaded for years 532 Postells with 65 grains of FFG in WW brass and F215 caps. Worked for me.
Shot it regularly out to 700 meters, and at 800 yard buffalo cut out.
The only thing I did not like about the black powder was the major job of case clean up.
I bought some XMP5744 which I am going to try out.

Wonderfull, and thanks for this site.
I think it is going to take a bit time too until the BPCR shooters and single shot afficianados will find this thread.
The old shooters.com site had a very active big thread in BPCR and single shot. Perhaps for now we could double this site by calling it BPCR/Single shot. It would not be out of place. It could cover modern and classic single shots like the Winchester/Browning and Ruger as well as the BPCR rifles.
If interest would pick up we always could split it later.
Regarding single shots; One of my dreams would be a Browning/Winchester Low wall in say a 260 Rem or a 6.5x55.
It would be an ellegant and classy antelope or deer rifle for the open country. I probably be prouder of an antelope taken with such a rig then with my .270 Rem.KS or my .300 Wby.
Strictly personal.
By the way I can not find a trace of the Browning 1885 rifles in their new catalogue.
It appears they quietly dropped the line. Pitty.
Hope Winchester will continue and expand the present series to include center fires.

Shrike et al,

My original suggestion to Rick was to make this forum dedicated to BPCR. No disrespect intended, but my sense is that there isn't much overlap between BPCR and modern single shot, at least not among serious BPCR shooters. BPCR shooters tend not to be interested in "How much velocity can I get from a .300 Ultra Mag. in my 16" Contender barrel", and devotees of modern single shots aren't much interested in the esoteric details of making the old time guns shoot. Also, there is a different group of gunsmiths and supply sources serving BPCR. Shooters had BOTH a Single Shot forum and a BPCR silhouette forum and there didn't seem to be much overlap among the posters. This is JMHO; I'm not trying to dominate the discussion.

Paul

Oh darn... here's another kind of rifle I'm going to have to go buy so I can fit in around here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Honey hide the check book I feel a itch for a new rifle.

I shoot a Pedersoli Quigley Sharps in 45-70, put a Soule vernier and globe front on it. Have ran a few thousand through it since I've owned it. Just ran better than a hundred through it Wednesday. Tons of fun to shoot, looks like a good investment also, the price has went up $400.00 since I bought mine! It's had one box of factory lead bullets ran through it, the rest have been my reloads with my cast bullets. This ole rifle has never seen a jacketed bullet and never will. Shoots smokeless as well as blackpowder. Travelingman1, Cabela's sells factory cartridges that are loaded with blackpowder. But they are $40.00 a box! You can load your own for pennies a round with your own cast bullets. I enjoy casting as much as shooting it. Cast the 535gr. Postell mainly, that bullet will shoot as far as an individual is capable of. These modern calibers don't even compare to the old ones. This is the rifle I grab up anymore. The deer don't like it though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Well, I probably have at least 6 months before I get my rifle. Then I will want to find a good, hard hitting modern load for it and get in lots of practice for my hunt in 05. THEN, I will definitely be interested in trying my hand at blackpowder. Something appealing about it and I know I will enjoy it. Now does any body know where I can get a set of 20 year old eyes? Iron sights definitely add a whole new dimension to it. :-) TM

Travelingman,

Great! But I have to rib you a bit about keeping one foot on the edge of the pool by sticking to "modern loads" for hunting. Read Mike Venturino's book. He has hunted Africa and taken, I believe, just about everything except elephant with black powder and lead. Many a buffalo were and still are being killed with the old loads. You still get only one shot regardless of what you have stuffed up the barrel. BTW, having a buddy who reloads is like having a buddy with a boat. Better than doing it yourself! Cheers.

Paul

Paul, Have to agree but since I am not a reloader myself, I think I will be more comfortable with something put together with a company with a reputation. AFter my hunt in 05, then I can play. Of course, the rifle will probably have the wrong twist for blackpowder and I will definitely need a longer barrel, etc... Darn the bad luck. Might have to get another rifle for that. (grin) TM

Traveling, all the Shilohs in .45 have 18 twist barrels now if I am not mistaken. The propellant has zero to do with twist rate.

You are going to get about 20% of the possible accuracy out of a current production Shiloh with factory ammunition. You can set your self up to reload the 45 2.1 for about 150 bucks and with some time spent learning you can realize the real potential of that Shiloh.

I suggest that you seek out the nearest BPCR shoot to you. Go visit with some of the guys and I'll bet you will learn all you need to know about loading the 2.1 in one day.

S

SS, I fully agree I should do that but time is always my issue. I spend about 13 full weekends per year out of the country and another 13 Saturdays or Sundays either heading out or coming home. That does not leave a lot of time to do all the things I must do, let alone the things I would like to. I have no doubt I will get into it eventually but for now, will have to content myself with factory loads. Besides, I need to give you guys time to get this forum up and running. :-) Just think how much information will be here in a year or so.

Now, can anybody help me on the waiting time for my rifle? Ordered it in October and hoping to pick it up in September but that may be pushing it. Shooting my buddies last weekend, really does have me wanting to get started.

Best Regards, TM

Paul39,
Good point. I agree with you.

I just started with black last fall. Don,t have many single shot rifles. I stoped counting when i had to take my shoes off. Black hass me addicted. I have used most of the replicka powders but love the black. Right now am working with a 38/55 heartburn (hepburn). I call it that because that what shilo people get when they see one. 40/65 is next, c-sharps and a roller (ped). Then for fun c-sharps 50/90. The rest are rb in the originol cal. from 22rf.32/20,22H, 22jet,357mag,30/30. 44mag 38/55, 30/40krg, 7mm mau, 43 spanishR, 43 spanish,remington, 45 danish. 45/70,303 british, 50 carbine and 50/90. There micht be moere but i got CRS at times.Now what was this about single shots???

I got into BPCR a bit over two years ago with a Pedersoli Silhouette Sharps 45-70. Thought I was pretty good at reloading, but blackpowder humbled me very quickly. Took me quite a few range sessions to "get it right" after experimenting with compression, etc. But, all that hard work makes the final results more rewarding, right?

Looking to get a Soule sight, etc., as the issue sights are quite challenging for my eyes.

Glad Rick set this up; always looking for a good place.