Rafiki
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2023
- Messages
- 340
- Reaction score
- 678
- Location
- Florida and Minnesota
- Media
- 4
- Hunted
- Tanzania
For the past several months I’ve been investigating rechambering my Ruger No 1, 50-90 Sharps to increase the chamber length by a bit. As far as I know the 50-90 was the largest cartridge that the Sharps Rifle Company ever commercially produced; the 50-140 Sharps was actually created by Winchester right when Sharps closed its doors.
As some AH members are aware I developed some smokeless loads for the 50-90, called it a 500 Sharps 2.5”, and took it to Tanzania in 2022 where they took two Dagga Boys. These pushed conventionally constructed premium 570gr bullets at 500 NE velocities generating 2 ½ tons of muzzle energy.
I am planning a return and for that have decided on something a little different; I would like to uses monolith bullets; however, that desire has caused an issue with case capacity. Since copper and brass are lighter than lead bullets of equal weight they are necessarily longer, plus the throat of my No 1 limits seating bullets out further. Combined, those two things and the case capacity becomes limited to the extent of affecting the components that I can use and therefore the performance that I would like to achieve.
Of course, I could use a lighter and therefore shorter bullet, in fact I have ordered some 555gr Peregrine Bushmasters to try but that only gets me so far. I really need more capacity to gain the flexibility that I desire. I also could have a throating reamer made but if I was going to do that I might as well have the chamber reamer made.
I thought this exercise may be interesting and maybe helpful to some so I’m starting this thread. In terms of goal there are few:
Two AH members have already contributed much to the effort via PM, I very much appreciate their help.
As always I invite any and all comments.
As some AH members are aware I developed some smokeless loads for the 50-90, called it a 500 Sharps 2.5”, and took it to Tanzania in 2022 where they took two Dagga Boys. These pushed conventionally constructed premium 570gr bullets at 500 NE velocities generating 2 ½ tons of muzzle energy.
I am planning a return and for that have decided on something a little different; I would like to uses monolith bullets; however, that desire has caused an issue with case capacity. Since copper and brass are lighter than lead bullets of equal weight they are necessarily longer, plus the throat of my No 1 limits seating bullets out further. Combined, those two things and the case capacity becomes limited to the extent of affecting the components that I can use and therefore the performance that I would like to achieve.
Of course, I could use a lighter and therefore shorter bullet, in fact I have ordered some 555gr Peregrine Bushmasters to try but that only gets me so far. I really need more capacity to gain the flexibility that I desire. I also could have a throating reamer made but if I was going to do that I might as well have the chamber reamer made.
I thought this exercise may be interesting and maybe helpful to some so I’m starting this thread. In terms of goal there are few:
- Gain enough case capacity to push heavy monoliths at least to 2150fps.
- Allow for a wider range of propellants to be used while keeping chamber pressures moderate.
- Allow for the continued use of the 50-90 (2.5”) cartridge.
Two AH members have already contributed much to the effort via PM, I very much appreciate their help.
As always I invite any and all comments.
