specweldtom
Well-Known Member
Didn't know a better place to ask the question. I thought about the reloading or the muzzleloading board, but this forum seemed like the best place.
Does anyone know what steel Pedersoli uses in their reproduction Sharps 1874 Buffalo rifles? Or of Rockwell or Brinnel testing on them? The question came up because in spite of the massive size of the frame and breechblock, Pedersoli says use black powder only. I'm wondering if it's a liability issue or a metallurgical limitation. Repros and even original Trapdoors can shoot factory smokeless loads, and Rolling Block repros are rated for more pressure than the Trapdoors. Physically, both appear to be fragile compared to the Sharps. I don't have the engineering skill to anaylyze them, but comparing geometry and size, it appears to me that the modern Sharps could potentially be stronger than even the modern Highwall or the #1 Ruger. If they aren't, their metallurgy and/or heat treat condition must be the limiting factor.
I am not a purist, so if I had a $1500 Pedersoli Sharps, I wouldn't want to shoot black powder in it either. The owner looked for Pyrodex and Triple 7 cartridge loading data and didn't find it. I made that suggestion before looking at smokeless loads.
Thanks for any help. Tom
Does anyone know what steel Pedersoli uses in their reproduction Sharps 1874 Buffalo rifles? Or of Rockwell or Brinnel testing on them? The question came up because in spite of the massive size of the frame and breechblock, Pedersoli says use black powder only. I'm wondering if it's a liability issue or a metallurgical limitation. Repros and even original Trapdoors can shoot factory smokeless loads, and Rolling Block repros are rated for more pressure than the Trapdoors. Physically, both appear to be fragile compared to the Sharps. I don't have the engineering skill to anaylyze them, but comparing geometry and size, it appears to me that the modern Sharps could potentially be stronger than even the modern Highwall or the #1 Ruger. If they aren't, their metallurgy and/or heat treat condition must be the limiting factor.
I am not a purist, so if I had a $1500 Pedersoli Sharps, I wouldn't want to shoot black powder in it either. The owner looked for Pyrodex and Triple 7 cartridge loading data and didn't find it. I made that suggestion before looking at smokeless loads.
Thanks for any help. Tom