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1859/1863 SHARPS CARBINE paper cartridges, grainage , excess chamber space

6079 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Southron Sr
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Somebody recently bought up an old posting I did in Feb 2011 about my IAB Sharps and some concerns I had with it about excess chamber space, and the amount of powder to be used when shooting. After doing a posting on my carbine I took some additional pics of the chamber area with a cartridge inserted to better explain the difference, or any difference between the IAB model's and Pedersoli models.

I contacted Dixie Gun works back in 2011 about their brass cartridge which eliminates any excess chamber space as well, and was told that it would only fit the Pedersoli model's.

The cartridge I have in the gun is a 60 grain cartridge, and it is seated as far as it can go without scrunching the paper cartridge. Bearing in mind that when the block is closed, it is cutting off some of the powder, perhaps maybe 5 grains?? You'll also notice the extra chamber space, which I honestly don't worry about.

Would be interested in seeing anybody with a Pedersoli Sharps and a few similar pics of their breech and any excess chamber space they have for comparison. I never understood why guys want to run 70/80 grains of loose powder in the chamber, when 60 is what's recommended. I also never understood why some guys run some sort of "filler" around the paper cartridges to take up any access chamber space.


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The Sharps is about the strongest action out there-THAT IS WHY THE SHARPS ACTION IS USED IN ARTILLERY PIECES!

Looks like to me you are making your cartridges a tad long. Many Skirmishers use the Ladies Hair Curler Papers because: (1) They are cheap. (2) They come out of the box cut the right size. (3) They don't have to be nitrated.
The Sharps is about the strongest action out there-THAT IS WHY THE SHARPS ACTION IS USED IN ARTILLERY PIECES!

Looks like to me you are making your cartridges a tad long. Many Skirmishers use the Ladies Hair Curler Papers because: (1) They are cheap. (2) They come out of the box cut the right size. (3) They don't have to be nitrated.
I'd be curious to know why these were made with such excess chamber space to begin with.

As far as the paper cartridges being a tad long, mine measure 1 5/8 inches long.
I don't know why your Sharps chamber is oversize but I am not familiar with the IAB Sharps Carbine. I have owned and shot two original Sharps Carbines and two reproduction Sharps Carbines (A replica Shiloh and a replica Pedersoli.)

I suggest you contact Charlie Hahn thru the N-SSA Bulletin Board on the "Civil War Small Arms" page. He is the Sharps specialist.

Original Sharps and the Pedersoli Sharps have a "sliding chamber" that helps seal the gases in when the arm is fired. The Pedersoli has a sliding chamber made out of stainless steel-looks like your carbine also has a stainless steel sliding chamber.
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