Accurate BPCR Paper Patch Bullets

Thought some of you guys not familiar with loading Sharps cartridges might like to be 'exposed'! The following photos show how I get great accuracy from my 45 2 7/8 Shiloh rifle. I cast these 525 gr. 1-20 alloy bullets from a Buffalo Arms Co. PP Money Bullet mould. That name was 'coined' by Dr. Keith Lay who resides a few miles east of Jackson, Miss. by the way. Doc has won, twice now....the BPCR Creedmoor Match held annually at Raton, New Mexico and the good Doc knows his stuff! The bullets...as cast come out of the mould at a diameter of .446" and I then run them through a Fred Cornell .4445" swage die. I then patch with a paper of .0022" thickness, dry them on a warming plate and when dry I run them back through the same swage die which brings them down to a finished OD of .4470". These are then inserted atop a .060" veggie wad which sits below the mouth of the case .140". The BP is previously compressed to a depth that will give me the .140" dimension at the top of the case; included above the powder and sitting atop it is a .030" veggie wad and betwixt the two veggie wads is a lube cookie of .240" thickness! The below photo shows a patched bullet sitting atop the swage rod before I run it up into the swage die!


SwageOp by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Next photo shows the bullet emerging from the die body:


SwageOp2 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Next photo shows cartridge cases ready for bullet insertion. You can observe the veggie wad just below the mouth of the case.


RFS by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Last photo shows loaded cartridges which have been seated into the cases. Prior to seating the bullets into the case they (the cases) are run through a 'partial' taper crimp die such that the bullet will just fit into the case mouth with hand pressure. Case mouths are chamfered with a 22 degree tool to assist insertion into the case. All cartridges are then slightly....VERY LIGHTLY taper crimped. NO INWARD CURL CRIMP will work as that will tear the paper patch!! A loaded .308 Winchester round for comparison!


Loaded278 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Please excuse the blurred photos as my good camera needed batteries so I took this with my Iphone!

Very interesting....... thanks for sharing. So the lead bullet is barely in the case when complete?

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SubGunFan wrote:Very interesting....... thanks for sharing. So the lead bullet is barely in the case when complete?

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.. that was my question also -- seems a lot "out of the case" .... nice looking boolits!! ... and BIG, too!!

SubGunFan wrote:Very interesting....... thanks for sharing. So the lead bullet is barely in the case when complete?

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SubGunFan

Yes....the bullet is only into the mouth of the case betwixt .125" to .140". When blackpowder ignites the bullet 'upsets'...the paper rides against and into the lands with no lead touching the interior of the bore! NO LEADING ISSUES!! An example of accuracy is below:


10shots by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

That inner plate on my Creedmoor target is 20" diameter. I was testing a new load, checking for vertical dispersion and this is a good load...VERY GOOD! Fired 10 shots here from 1000 yds. and all 10 could have been inside the 10 ring plate had I taken a little more left windage but I was just checking for group vertical so I didn't bother taking more wind. I don't shoot a scope; aperture sights only.

About an 8" group at 1000 YARDS with IRON SIGHTS..... That is amazing. You sure you aren't the BPCR Champion....

Do you clean the bore after each shot using BP? I have heard BP fowling can really effect the bullet's velocity from shot to shot.

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SubGunFan wrote:About an 8" group at 1000 YARDS with IRON SIGHTS..... That is amazing. You sure you aren't the BPCR Champion....

Do you clean the bore after each shot using BP? I have heard BP fowling can really effect the bullet's velocity from shot to shot.

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SGF

Yes....I use a combination of NAPA water soluble oil with water. 1-5 water/oil. Predampen the patches and run 2 damp/1 dry. Sometimes I'll just use 1 damp/1 dry...depending on the RHumidity. Works well! BP is much easier to clean than most believe; helluva lot easier than removing copper fouling from a SP rifle!

I saw your other post showing your portable shooting bench. Yes, there was a BUNCH of patches laying on the ground.....

BP might be easier to clean, but SP can go BANG more often and still be accurate.....

Bottom line..... if YOU can see it..... YOU can hit it with your setup. Excellent shooting ! ! !

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SubGunFan wrote:I saw your other post showing your portable shooting bench. Yes, there was a BUNCH of patches laying on the ground.....

BP might be easier to clean, but SP can go BANG more often and still be accurate.....

Bottom line..... if YOU can see it..... YOU can hit it with your setup. Excellent shooting ! ! !

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SGF

"but SP can go BANG more often and still be accurate"

Yeah....but no historical value whatsoever!! Sharps made the West safe for Winchester!!