40/70 Sharps

O

Oliver Sudden

New member
Used my home made Sharps to take this whitetail deer. My friend invited me to hunt on his land in Wyoming for a doe so that was my first chance to use this rifle. Load is 305 grain cast bullet lubed with SPG, one card on 65 grains of black powder. The rifle is built as a Hartford model and includes the beveled hammer and collared barrel. The butt plate is cast from an original mid range Sharps.
IMG_0357 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
IMG_0508 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
 
4

4V50 Gary

Staff
Looking at the photo, I can see how it isn't that hard to make a Sharps. Did you use 4140 steel for the receiver and locking bolt? I ask because the way the receiver appears (and only appears) in the photo it could be aluminium; but that can't be color case hardened. Who did the color case hardening for you (or did you do it yourself)?

That pewter nose is nicely poured. Well done on that too.

Kudos!
 
4

4V50 Gary

Staff
Did you use the info in John Seim's book, learn it at TSJC or read it elsewhere (Steele & Harrison book on gunsmithing)? My intro was at the Oregon Gun Makers' Fair.
 
O

Oliver Sudden

New member
I learned how by the note that Brownells has when you order charcoal and trial and error. Started around 30 years ago with scrap steel then home made tools before guns. Still do test pieces on different types of metal and finish. Sometimes it is guess because like this lever which is an original Sharps you don’t know what alloy you have.
 
H

HiBC

New member
Seems like you know your way around the barn!

For the benefit of whoever asked about brass, the Hornady 405 Win is about ideal. IMO,set the gun up for .405 brass and be done with it.
There could be minor case length and rim thickness variants to deal with.

Useable,but short,brass can be made by the COW method,blowing virgin 30-40 Krag or .303 Brit out to straight brass.

When I was doing it,before the .405 was available, I used an old junk chunk of barrel,and turned about an 8 inch piece to simulate the outside dimensions of a 12 gauge shell. The plan being to use it as an insert in a 12 gauge single shot break action shotgun.

Then I used the same 40-70 reamer I made to chamber this insert. I drilled it through with maybe a .397 drill?

This setup was more practical for blowing brass straight using COW.

When Hornady offered .405 brass,it made all that ridiculous.

Especially since 30-40 is no easier to come by than .405 these days.

And I bought a Krag.

Nice Sharps!!
 
J

Jim Watson

New member
Before the BPCR culture was so well served, one guy blew .30-40 out straight, trimmed to square, and voila, .40-60 Maynard. Chambered a barrel to match and shot .40 with a minimum of fuss. Of course now we have .40-65 WCF transmogrified from a light bullet lever action express into a heavy bullet single shot midrange rifle round. Easily formed from .45-70 if Starline is out.
 
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