Paper cartridge loads?

[Teleoceras]

I have been looking at some of the paper cartridge guns and was wondering about the Sharps. Just how much powder is loaded into the 1859/1863 models? I heard something of about 110grs!

Is this true? If so, then that would explain why it was such a long ranged gun.

[shunka]

Howdy Tele...
I see from your later post that Doug appears to have acquired a Sharps 1863...
I managed to obtain a used Italian 1863 percussion sharps replica and I have been working up loads over time.
Initially, I used the Lee .53x bullets that the fellow supplied with it and was quite dissapointed with the poor accuracy delivered. After close examination of the bizzare "floating" chamber device (which doesn't seem to be moving much at all), the chamber length, diameter, and the rifling, I tried the store-boughten T/C .54 maxi-balls. These fit the barrel much more tightly and deliver accuracy at 150 yards equal to any cartridge rifle. I have played with both "loose loads" and paper cartridges. The paper cartridge loads have varied between the recommended 65 gr of 2F and 95 gr of 2F.
due to the paper cartrdige holding the charge tightly, one can do this without much concern of "detonation".
If one is worried, one can fill out the space at the base of the bullet with corn meal.
The loose loads, of necessity, had to fill the chamber, and were as large as 100 gr.

I also played with 5 taper baseless brass cartridges as supplied by Dixie. They provided good accuracy of 1.5 to 2.5 inch groups (vertical stringing, about .75 in horiztonal) at 50 yards (this mainly due to the abominable trigger of > 10 pounds, upon which i am working), but the case had to be driven from the gun by a cleaning rod from the muzzle! More experimentation is ongoing with home manufactured shells built from plumbing fixtures, and 28 gauge shotgun empties.

once one has the load down pat, experienced users have had excellent results with accuracy; one individual in these parts who goes by the moniker of Iron Hand relates that he was able to keep his 1863 on the 3 foot going at distances greater than 500 yads.

As always, I believe that the accuracy is most dependant upon complete consistancy!

best
shunka