First with a 40

Share your tales (tall or otherwise) of hunting adventures.

Moderators: Kirk, Lucinda

Post Reply
James
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 am
Location: Colorado

First with a 40

Post by James »

I built this rifle as a Hartford sporting rifle in 40/70 using a machined receiver and a mix of original, hand made, Shiloh and Italian parts. The wood is from a piece that was going to be a different project and the barrel came from Douglas as a blank. My friend invited me to hunt with him on some land he just bought in Wyoming. The load is 65 grains of Old Ensford 2f one card and a 305 grain grease groove lubed with SPG. A very pleasant experience with a good friend.
ImageIMG_0357 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
There’s no horse so dead it can’t be beat a bit more.
pete
Posts: 2258
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 10:16 pm
Location: Colorado

Re: First with a 40

Post by pete »

Congratulations James nice deer. Good to see another Sharps out in the field. We killed a deer Monday with a Shiloh. If my untech self can figure out the photo thing I might post.
Bulseyetom
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:55 pm

Re: First with a 40

Post by Bulseyetom »

James, always great to see somebody hunting with a real rifle and doing it right! What alloy did you cast and what kind of nose does the bullet have? The proof that the bullet worked is your deer but were you pleased with the performance? I didn't draw in Wyoming this year so my 40-70 SS rifles are still untested in the field by me. I have bullets from 340 grains to 400 grains and several have huge flat meplats. I normally cast with 20:1 but have been playing with 40:1 with no leading with smokeless. I have duplex blackpowder loads for all of the bullets as well. Congratulations on a nice rifle build and a nice hunt! Tom
Gussy
Posts: 1580
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 2:37 pm
Location: WA, dry side
Contact:

Re: First with a 40

Post by Gussy »

Nice deer and should be great eating too!!
James
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 am
Location: Colorado

Re: First with a 40

Post by James »

The bullet is cast 1-20 in the RCBS 40-300 mold. The medplate in about .175” and with a sample size of one I’m satisfied with its performance.
Steak and jerky has been first rate.
There’s no horse so dead it can’t be beat a bit more.
bobw
Posts: 3841
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:52 pm

Re: First with a 40

Post by bobw »

40-70 2.5"SS OR THE 40-70 2.25" SBN James? How long a shot did you get.? Bobw
bobw
bobw
Posts: 3841
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 12:52 pm

Re: First with a 40

Post by bobw »

pete wrote: Wed Nov 10, 2021 10:10 am Congratulations James nice deer. Good to see another Sharps out in the field. We killed a deer Monday with a Shiloh. If my untech self can figure out the photo thing I might post.
When you figure out how to post the pics Pete do a tutorial for the rest of us untechies.bobw
bobw
James
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 am
Location: Colorado

Re: First with a 40

Post by James »

40 x 2 1/2” straight. The shot was taken from a staggering 47 yards. Now I have shot deer with 40, 45, 50 and 54 calibre Sharps. I don’t see a 44 being added to this list.
There’s no horse so dead it can’t be beat a bit more.
DAG4570
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2017 9:29 pm
Location: Spokane, WA

Re: First with a 40

Post by DAG4570 »

James

What part of Wyoming were you hunting in. I used to hunt in the Douglas area.

Dave
James
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:42 am
Location: Colorado

Re: First with a 40

Post by James »

Just outside of Sundance, the black hills country.
There’s no horse so dead it can’t be beat a bit more.
Post Reply