Express rifles

[bruce moulds]

here is a link to an internet book well worth reading by those interested in black powder rifles.
included in it is a section on express rifles by authorities in the day.

https://archive.org/details/modernsportsmans00wals/page/n5

hoss Delgado might like this.
bruce.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[bruce moulds]

in the days of black powder express rifles, we need to remember that 45 cal was generally considered to be a smallbore.
the power of smokeless must have been like arriving on mars when the transition happened.
bruce,

 

[HWL]

in the days of black powder express rifles, we need to remember that 45 cal was generally considered to be a smallbore.
the power of smokeless must have been like arriving on mars when the transition happened.
bruce,

What size of game was a .450 3 1/4" Black Powder Express good for?

HWL

 

[bruce moulds]

red deer.
interesting today people might buy a blackpowder express, or nitro for black, in ignorance, thinking that they will go and slay a dinosaur.
bruce.

 

[HWL]

red deer.
interesting today people might buy a blackpowder express, or nitro for black, in ignorance, thinking that they will go and slay a dinosaur.
bruce.

But it's still good enough for african plains game like kudu, wildebeest or a zebra.... ?

HWL

 

[bruce moulds]

chapter V of this book, written 20ish years later is interesting to read in conjunction with above.
gert would love the whole book.

https://archive.org/stream/bookrifle00fremgoog#page/n19mode/2up

bruce.

 

[bruce moulds]

hwl,
I cannot answer that, due to lack of experience.
however, forced to make a choice in express rifles I would go for a 500 bpe, certainly for zebra.
after the bison carnage of america, the americans developed many express cartridges.
they had some quite big 45s with light bullets, but they were also aimed more at shooting medium game at longer ranges than bigger game.
a bullet of this type is the lyman gould bullet which can still be found in their mould lineup, as well as in brooks moulds site.
these allow bullets with hollow points open up very savagely, limiting penetration.
the military used heavier slower bullets, one of their intents being to damage horses severely.
400 to 500 gn 45 cal bullets were the choice at about 1300 fps.
trouble is if you put these bullets in slow twist express rifles they will not stabilize, and doubles will not regulate.
bruce.

 

[rigbymauser]

here is a link to an internet book well worth reading by those interested in black powder rifles.
included in it is a section on express rifles by authorities in the day.

https://archive.org/details/modernsportsmans00wals/page/n5

hoss Delgado might like this.
bruce.

Of all the books I have this 2 Vol set is my favorite.

Both 1st Ed.

 

[93marlin]

Of all the books I have this 2 Vol set is my favorite.

Both 1st Ed.

View attachment 475509

Beautiful set of books!