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New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:24 pm
by peter72
Image

Image

And some reloads

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 8:36 pm
by mistit
Make a nice long range crow gun :D

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:03 pm
by kickinback
Now that's a bit different. Fill us in on the details Pete.

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:08 pm
by MISSED
Yep I want some details.

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:20 pm
by Camel
:shock: Wowsers, that's a bloody ripper. New rabbit gun eh ?? :D

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:13 am
by mick_762
45/55?

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:34 am
by peter72
details:
Pedersoli 1863 sharps paper cartridge .54 cal.
Its a Breech Loader that can take either paper cartridges, or the specially made brass cartridges pre loaded, or you can just pour the powder behind a pre seated bullet. Uses a musket sized cap for ignition.
Projectiles are a cast .541 535 grain "xmas tree" style mold.
I've installed a front tunnel sight and a medium range Creedmoor.
From what I've read its the style of rifle that fits in the era between muzzleloaders and cartridge rifles. Not this style but a military version was used at some point by early snipers in one of the US wars, but please correct me if my history is a bit off on that.
I picked it up last week and have only put a handful of shots through it. When pouring powder directly behind the bullet it takes 85gns of 2f, and I can tell you it has some serious boot .
Once I've developed a decent load, it will be used for hunting once I get my R licence sorted. And I do plan on taking rabbits with it.

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:36 am
by peter72
Image

Image

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:40 am
by mick_762
Looks a serious rabbit gun there Peter,
I think it was during the latter half of the American Civil war that the Confederate soldiers had the use of the Sharps as a sniper rifle, read something about it only during the last week or so but cant remember the exact details.

On closer inspection of your brass - I then realized it couldn't have been the 45/55 as it doesn't have a rim :oops:


Mick

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 8:56 am
by kickinback
Ahhhhh, paper cartridges. Authentic "roll your own"

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:51 pm
by peter72
Image
Reloaded all the brass cases I bought.
At $6.00 each I only bought 20.
Will have to give paper cartridges a go.

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:20 pm
by The Raven
Add a Leupold, Bipod, muzzle brake, and Boyds thumbhole and you'll have a great varminter :wink:

Seriously lovely looking piece of kit. :mrgreen:

New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:00 pm
by peter72
A good way to wreck a fine rifle lol

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:12 pm
by Camel
They sure look interesting mate. Can you show a photo of the open breach of the rifle and also one of the base of those cartridges ? Pretty please. :D

Re: New heavy barrel varminting rifle

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:27 pm
by The Raven
peter72 wrote:A good way to wreck a fine rifle lol
Exactly, but then there are varminters around here that just can't leave anything alone. :D