Guns & Outdoors Forum

He bought himself a Shilo Sharps in 50-90 and hits a snag. There’s no source of real BP anywhere in the USA and he doesn’t want to use the “fake stuff”. He has 1,000 new cases, dies and bought bullet molds so he’s ready to roll. Being who he is how does he fix his dilemma?

I went over for dinner tonight and I hear noises out of his garage. I asked him what the noise was and he says “ball mill”.

Wait WHAT?!?!?

During his last trip he got bored so he taught himself how to manufacture BP and ordered all the chemicals and equipment including a ball mill and a press to make the pucks…. In a few days we’ll be sifting real black powder.

This going to be fun, can’t wait to touch off that Sharps

https://www.youtube.com/@Everythingblackpowder

He has tried a lot of different things. If I didnt live in the city and had the space to shoot in my backyard, I would consider making my own to try out.

If you are interested there is a long thread on homemade black powder on castboolits...


https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showth ... ack-powder

Cool, thanks guys! I've always heard about how risky this is but I trust him because when he decides to become an expert on something he DOES! He just doesn't know how to do small. His lead smelting pot could fit a human body

Actually I'm really excited about learning the process and testing the end results.

You guys are going to be a one stop shop for all things dash cartridge in no time!!!!

I was just texting with him and asked if it was true you need a 20 ton press to make the pucks. His answer was “I bought a 20 ton press and the BP puck dies, they’re in the back of my truck.”

I should have known…

Gotta say, the .50-90 intrigues me a little...

My dad has a couple .50-70's and the Maynard. . . .52-50, I think it is. A lot of fun, but the apocryphal stories of Indians being able to see the puff of smoke and finish their breakfast before walking out of the path of the bullet aren't far off the mark. More power Scotty!

Bigslug wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 5:34 am Gotta say, the .50-90 intrigues me a little...

My dad has a couple .50-70's and the Maynard. . . .52-50, I think it is. A lot of fun, but the apocryphal stories of Indians being able to see the puff of smoke and finish their breakfast before walking out of the path of the bullet aren't far off the mark. More power Scotty!

Him and I share a love of the .40+ bores and the jump on to the 50-90 was caused by a Shilo Sharps buy of opportunity actually facilitated by a friend here. As always new guns are like a tipping of the first domino. Now I need bullets which means molds, and I need cases and dies and BP which is unavailable so I need to make BP which means a 20 ton press…

Anyway test results will be forthcoming.

I know where a 45-90 Shiloh with sights and brass,bullets ect ect is……

Required review of Patrick F. McManus's Poof - No Eyebrows: https://youtu.be/P-1Dq2qfrdA

I LOVE Patrick F. McManus!!!!! I used to own ALL his books in hardcover, unfortunately with all the forced moves in my life most of my book library was an early victim of my wife's "cleanup".

BUT, he seems to be falling out of favor with the younger generations who don't know who he is so as soon as I get to my permanent house later this year (that's the plan) I'm going on eBay to re-buy them all and then I'll have a marathon reading lesson.

Elk Creek wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 2:53 pm I know where a 45-90 Shiloh with sights and brass,bullets ect ect is……

YOU HUSH!!!!!

That's how THIS whole mess started!!!!!

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 3:35 pm

Elk Creek wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 2:53 pm I know where a 45-90 Shiloh with sights and brass,bullets ect ect is……

YOU HUSH!!!!!

That's how THIS whole mess started!!!!!

Oh?

My wife is getting ready to ask Verizon to shut down my text messages

https://goexblackpowderusa.com/geox-black-powder/

https://allpowdershop.com/product/goex- ... wder-1-lb/

https://westernreloadingprimers.com/pro ... ck-powder/

Damn, guess they’re selling BP again. Thanks

I’ve thought about loading 405gr bullets with black powder for my Sharps. Just for fun. But not something I’m interested in enough to make the leap and I don’t want to deal with the cleanup afterwards. Those bullets shoot just fine with Trail Boss.

Jay wrote: ↑Mon Sep 01, 2025 8:18 pm I’ve thought about loading 405gr bullets with black powder for my Sharps. Just for fun. But not something I’m interested in enough to make the leap and I don’t want to deal with the cleanup afterwards. Those bullets shoot just fine with Trail Boss.

I just shot some test loads of Pyrodex using the original 300gr lead bullet out of my 45-60 centennial. They were a freaking HOOT to shoot!!!!! Cleanup is not that bad. Spay bottle of Ballistol a quick swipe of the bore and an overall wipe down and done.

Told my SIL Goex BP is available again and he just smiled and said “way too far down this rabbit hole and having fun with it so not stopping now”.

Can wait to touch off some of the 50-90 shells out of the Sharps!

I load black powder in my 1875 C.Sharps 40-65 and it's no big deal to clean up.I keep a little bottle of windex that I swab the bore with at the range and a good clean when I get home.
I have just a little regret passing on that 50-90 so I hope you all enjoy it. If your SIL will let you, bring it next trip out this way

That’s a thought

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Sep 01, 2025 8:59 pm

Jay wrote: ↑Mon Sep 01, 2025 8:18 pm I’ve thought about loading 405gr bullets with black powder for my Sharps. Just for fun. But not something I’m interested in enough to make the leap and I don’t want to deal with the cleanup afterwards. Those bullets shoot just fine with Trail Boss.

I just shot some test loads of Pyrodex using the original 300gr lead bullet out of my 45-60 centennial. They were a freaking HOOT to shoot!!!!! Cleanup is not that bad. Spay bottle of Ballistol a quick swipe of the bore and an overall wipe down and done.

The "Moose Milk" combo of Ballistol and water in a spray bottle has really opened up some avenues and increased overall peace of mind. The corrosive surplus ammo comes to the range occasionally now, rather than just sitting, awaiting the zombies, and the BP stuff is largely cleaned before leaving the range.

The caveat with black powder is that you still need to know how to get down inside your guns from time to time to access the crud that goes places other than the barrel - more or less complicated depending on the gun - but the Moose Milk is a great way to get the corrosive aspects of the propellant under control.

But as for the barrels themselves, with good fitting bullets carrying a lot of animal/vegetable based lubes like SPG, using base wads, or paper-patching, I think the BP barrels may actually be easier to clean than the high velocity smokeless, with their higher pressures and copper jackets. The carbon flushes out easily and there typically is no leading.

Single shot rifles are super easy, the lever and bolts are a HAIR more complex. Neither requires a complete tear down. I used to use Moose Milk but Ballistol is so freaking cheap on Amazon Prime that I just use straight stuff now. I buy 3 bottle sets and they come with a spray top and every once in a while I just buy a standard spray can type and put it in my range bag. I saturate a pull through type cleaning snake and run it through a few times then push a few clean patches soaked in the stuff and then a dry one. The action gets thoroughly sprayed then cleaned/dried off with an old t-shirt which picks up any residues. then the whole gun gets a once over with a rag with Ballistol.