.50-90 Sharps for Africa

[Ronnie Pace]

I would love to take my .50-90 Sharps to Africa. What are the opinions on using it on a tuskless hunt? I can load a 700 gr hardcast lead bullet at 1300 FPS or could go with a 600 gr at 1400 FPS. Would this be too light?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Review minimum energy requirements fir the various countries. They are posted here on AH

 

[bruce moulds]

depends what you want to use it on.
the ballistics you quote are basically black powder ballistics.
so what would the 50x31/4" black powder express (similar to your 50/90 or better) be suited to.
larger plains game at best.
lions etc.
use it for that and be happy.
it was designed for bison extermination.
bruce.

 

[bruce moulds]

what twist does said 50x21/2" have?
bruce.

 

[Professor Mawla]

I would love to take my .50-90 Sharps to Africa. What are the opinions on using it on a tuskless hunt? I can load a 700 gr hardcast lead bullet at 1300 FPS or could go with a 600 gr at 1400 FPS. Would this be too light?

@Ronnie Pace
This is an extremely poor choice for hunting anything more dangerous than a wild boar , let alone an elephant . The reasons for my assessment , are as follows :
1 ) Velocity is far below the acceptable minimum for safe penetration on elephants . Velocity should be at least 2040 feet per second , for a cow elephant .
2 ) Unjacketed lead bullets are extremely unsuited for penetration on elephants ( except perhaps double lung shots ) . What you need , is either a steel jacketed flat nosed bullet or one of the modern monolithic brass or naval bronze flat nosed bullets .

Your weapon would make for an exceptional warthog rifle , though .

 

[Ronnie Pace]

I will use it on plains game for sure. Hopefully Kudu, Eland and Zebra.

 

[Ronnie Pace]

Oh yeah it is a 1:22 twist

 

[AZDAVE]

On my first trip my buddy took his 45/110 and harvested Kudu, impala, and warthog with it. I have a 50/90 and wouldn't consider it a DG round. You will be fine on PG but you will also have to shot within the capabilities of the rifle and shooter. make sure you talk to your PH so he knows the range limitations for ethical shots. You will also have to have the discipline to pass on animals you just can't get close enough to.

 

[IvW]

Tusk less will 99% of the time mean Zim. It would not be legal and it would also not be a very good idea. Hunting tusk less is much more dangerous(and exiting) than hunting bulls, you need to get right in among the herd, find and select a tusk less, ensure she is not pregnant or have dependent calf...etc. The chances of getting charge during the hunt and after taking the first shot is way more real in fact I would go so far as to say that if you do not experience a few mock charges at the least you would be very lucky...

Use a rifle cartridge combination that is up to the task and by all means take and use your 50-90 on the safari but not on elephant.....good luck.

 

[crs]

Ronnie,
Since my Winchester 1886 45-90 did so well in Africa, your 50-90 should also!

Just ignore the Nay Sayers that have no experience with these rifles and cartridges and forge ahead.
Modern bullets and powders provide ballistics that are more than adequate for any game in Africa or anywhere else. For instance, my ele loads of 450 grain North Fork and Punch bullets at 2000 fps + shot through ele heads and into the body - DRT. For Cape Buffalo, our 450 grain Kodiak FMJ at 2150 fps shot through most and killed all. Kodiak also VERY effective on American Bison.

Good hunting.

PS There are hunters on this forum that hunt Africa with hand guns and others that use big bore heavy solid bullets that shoot through one or two buff at a time. Some of them may chime in later.

 

[IvW]

Keep it legal, if it makes the legal requirement for the intended animal in the intended country, by all means if not do not use it, many here hunt DG for a living......

 

[bruce moulds]

22 twist will handle mentioned bullet wts.
bruce.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Well I'd listen to @crs on this one. There are a lot of folks here who are heavily invested in pet calibers. I believe that he is a creative sort that is able to optimize things that others cannot see through their allegiance to their pets. I'd listen if he said no to a particular cartridge because he's given it thought both inside and outside of the box. He has also shot game with lever action rifles in classic calibers so he's not guessing about the terminal performance.

I'm sure that CEB has or can figure out a bullet for the .50-90 that will take on anything Africa has to offer.