I am planning a Sharps rifle project that I want to chamber in .45-110. I have read that these big bore black powder cartridges tend to have a very heavily arcing trajectory. With this in mind, what is the shortest practical range I can use a .45-110 at and how do I take the trajectory into account when I sight in?
Cartridge trajectories.
- Thread starter MattMaier
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js8588
Member
Consider 50-90 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Dixon
bangswitch
Member
It's like any other rifle. Zero it for your intended range and shoot away. The "heavily arcing trajectory" is usually due to a heavy bullet with a poor BC and a relatively low velocity. It's a relative thing; you could consider that a 30-30 will have an arcing trajectory if you compare it to a 22-250. Up close and personal, I think you'll find it (45-110) will shoot fairly flat. The shortest practical range would be anything you can't hit by swinging the gun at it like a club. 
I'd say 50-100 yards would be on the short end.
Long ranges is where the azimuth sight comes in handy. Sort of like Quigley Down Under, or Lt. Dunbar on the buffalo hunt in Dances With Wolves
I'd say 50-100 yards would be on the short end.Long ranges is where the azimuth sight comes in handy. Sort of like Quigley Down Under, or Lt. Dunbar on the buffalo hunt in Dances With Wolves
redneck2
Member
If you're gonna shoot smokeless, there's most likely nothing a .45-120 will do that a .45-70 won't. Even with black powder loads hard core BP guys tend to shy away from the .45-120. This comes from a guy that has a BPCR in .45-90 in the safe.
Since your understanding of cartridge performance seems nominal, I'd strongly suggest spending some time at the BPCR forum before shelling out that much money.
Since your understanding of cartridge performance seems nominal, I'd strongly suggest spending some time at the BPCR forum before shelling out that much money.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
1. The closest practical range you can use it at is muzzle contact range.
2. You take trajectory into account by using adjustable sights, and knowing the trajectory of the bullet and load you are using.
3. The post above saying the 45-70 will do anything the 45-120 will do is spot on!
Without paying $10 each for empty brass you can never find.
I do believe you have some more studying to do before picking a caliber & building a rifle.
Rc
Shoot it at 25 yards and adjust the sight so that you are striking below your aiming point about the same distance the sights are above the center of the barrel. If you have open sights mounted on the barrel get it hitting around 1 inch low at 25 yards. Then get a big target and put it out at 100 yards and shoot and adjust the sights so you are hitting the dead center of the target. Now you can shoot again at 25 yards, then 50, then 75 to see how low and high you hit at these ranges. Then shoot at 150 yards and beyond for the advanced class. The more rainbow curved your trajectory is the more important it is to learn this curve by shooting not reading.
Matt, check out some of the BPCR sites. Those guys have a lot of years experience shooting the big cartridges. I believe they have found the 45-110 as one of the last cartridges they would recommend to a shooter. The 45-70 is a good one but I have found the 50-70 to be the easiest to get shooting accurately. And it will have lots of arc for you to appreciate. The 45-70 is a flat shooting cartridge compared to the 50!
Kevin
Kevin
TRX
Member
Put a laser rangefinder on your "I want" list, figure your drop tables, and you don't even care what the trajectory looks like.
The drop rate is the same for all bullets; because the old big bores are traveling more slowly, the effect is more noticeable, like with a pistol caliber carbine. To be accurate with a .45-70 or similar cartridge loaded at 1300fps or so, range is the dominant variable. You either have to get really good at estimating it by eye (and most people aren't... sadly me too) or use a little high-tech assistance.
The drop rate is the same for all bullets; because the old big bores are traveling more slowly, the effect is more noticeable, like with a pistol caliber carbine. To be accurate with a .45-70 or similar cartridge loaded at 1300fps or so, range is the dominant variable. You either have to get really good at estimating it by eye (and most people aren't... sadly me too) or use a little high-tech assistance.
Jim Watson
Member
The OP says .45-110, the Board Experts say .45-120. There is a LOT of difference.
A .45 x 2 7/8" is a lot more manageable than a .45 x 3 1/4".
That out of the way, there is no "shortest" or "longest" suitable range.
That is what that tall vernier tang sight is for. Sight in at each range of interest and WRITE THE SIGHT SETTING DOWN.
I am a bit recoil sensitive so I shoot a .40-65. The sight change from 200 to 500 yards is about half an inch. A big .45 is not enough flatter that anybody but a Creedmoor 1000 yard shooter would care.
The .45 x 2 7/8 is a fine cartridge for long range black powder shooting, especially if you study the paper patched bullets of the era. If you plan to shoot smokeless, the .45-70 (.45 x 2 1/10" makes a lot more sense. You can buy an extra hundred fps with smokeless in a strong action with the .45 x 2 4/10" (.45-90) but that is paying a lot for a little improvement.
The Shiloh board has a lot of good discussions, even if you are not shooting their make of BPCR.
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/index.php
A .45 x 2 7/8" is a lot more manageable than a .45 x 3 1/4".
That out of the way, there is no "shortest" or "longest" suitable range.
That is what that tall vernier tang sight is for. Sight in at each range of interest and WRITE THE SIGHT SETTING DOWN.
I am a bit recoil sensitive so I shoot a .40-65. The sight change from 200 to 500 yards is about half an inch. A big .45 is not enough flatter that anybody but a Creedmoor 1000 yard shooter would care.
The .45 x 2 7/8 is a fine cartridge for long range black powder shooting, especially if you study the paper patched bullets of the era. If you plan to shoot smokeless, the .45-70 (.45 x 2 1/10" makes a lot more sense. You can buy an extra hundred fps with smokeless in a strong action with the .45 x 2 4/10" (.45-90) but that is paying a lot for a little improvement.
The Shiloh board has a lot of good discussions, even if you are not shooting their make of BPCR.
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/index.php
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