50-70 Ammo
- Thread starter dn201
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Arik
Member
Used in Sharps type rifles. Along with 45/70, 50/90, 50/110 50/120 ans more.
Most likely black powder .
Most likely black powder .
Nframecollector
Member
The 50/70 was the U.S. military cartridge prior to the 45/70.
Nframecollector
Member
Not used in many Sharps that I know of. Sharps did chamber a 50/90 though and Shiloh still does. Also the 50/140!
NFRAMECOLLECTOR, quite the contrary. The Sharps model 1863-1868 was solely chamber in the 50-70 Government. This Civil War carbine was one of the top 10 firearms that civilized the west. The were the first carbines issued to the US calvery after the Civil War to be used out west in the Indian Wars. Custer was armed with these at the Hayfield fight as well of at least 2 that was with him at the Little Big Horn fight. The indians as well used these at the Big Horn as well as the Big Hole battle. These were first issue for the Texas Rangers as well. When resupplied with Trapdoor 1873's, the surplus rifles were sold or given to pioneers, wagon freighters, scouts, trappers and the like. The story goes, that free ammunition was available at forts if the ammo was used on buffalo. A side note here. Buffalo Bill Cody used this caliber in an 1868 Springfield to collect his large quantity of buffalo for the railroad and troops.
If you want to sell these PM me as well. I owe a friend some of these as he let me use his original Sharps 1863 and original cartridge to harvest a buffalo a few years ago.
Nframecollector
Member
They were converted civil war era Sharps and not the famed model 1874.
That is true but Sharps none the less. These are interesting carbines and from what I can ascertain the conversion was done at the Sharps factory. Since our discussion, I have been trying to find the production records for the Sharps company. I had the figures at one time but have lost the information. If anyone reading this can help I would appreciate the help. It was said once heard but no way of verifying, that it was a toss up as to which cartridge killed the most buffalo, the 45-70 or the 50-70.
No it wasn't: Sharps didn't offer the 45 2.1" until late in the Buffalo Hunt and even then at that point most wanted more powerful ctgs. such as the 45 2 7/8". Until 1876 the most popular Sharps chambering was what we now call the 44-77 BN (bottleneck).
P.S. The Cavalry mostly issued the Spencer out west until circa 1871, mostly in 56-50.
Because of my poor memory I cant remember when Sharps chamber what calibers. However so much of the buffalo were disappearing by the mid 1870's. There were countless meat hunters like Buffalo Bill, who shot countless buffalo for the railroad, army, and road builders that used whatever caliber they had at hand. I have read many account of hostile Indians, upset with the lack of game starting in the early 1860's. Professionals hunters preferred the bigger calibers, however the west was filled with hunters who would take the buffalo whenever and with what ever. There were actually 2 Buffalo Bills, both famous buffalo hunters. B B Cody used a 50-70 the other B B used a 44 Henry. I agree that the 44-77 was a much preferred caliber for buffalo. As for the Spencer being used in preference for calvary use, I have heard it both ways. However documented battles from early engagement had a great number of Sharps. I have heard, but cant verify, that most of the Spencers were in the southwest and the Sharps in the northwest. Whether true or not I cant determine. I try to read every scrap of history of the west. If you have some reading material that sheds some light on the subject, please forward.
you have some union metalic cartridges black powder cartridges. i would buy it if you want to sell. let me know how much or i'll make an offer. email best
