That sounds terrible, the only thing I like about our summer weather is the very low humidity year round really. It is great for guns you do not have to worry about rust very much.

Milton I have been very fortunate to have hunted both Alaska and Africa multiple times and either place is a life changeing event.

A Zebra hunt is a challenge, those that don't know better downplay it as shooting a horse. they are smart and tough animals and a worthy trophy. I used a custom built rifle on a Ruger tang safty action in 416 Taylor using a Swift 400gr A-Frame and wasn't overgunned.

When increasing your Parker collection buy the highest condition gun you can, you'll pay more now but in he long run it will appreciate more. I like the small bores myself but hey I'm an old fart:rotf:

I bought a new/old double two months ago and it got pretty hot around here. I've been ordered to lay off the shotgun buying. To keep from having to dig a foxhole in my living room that is what I have done.

I enjoy my gun collection which numbers well over 200 guns of all kinds. While it might be strange to some to call guns charming, I find them somehow alluring. I think it is their history that drives and the knowledge that someone in the past, some times in the distant past, held and used that gun too.

I too have been to Africa. Zebra are not treated as pets. They are not a horse and no one walks up to one to stroke it's nose. One morning I watched a few kick a wandering jackal to death. It tried to join them at the rim of a watering hole. The Zebra took an exception, and kicked it to bits. If a zebra bites it'll take out a chunk of flesh the size of an over ripe apple, or it'll eviscerate you with their sharp hooves. Best to give them room. They look wonderful! They herd and do indeed dazzle you with their stripes and at a distance the black and white strips blend and they look sort of grayish.

i too agree there is something about an old shotgun or reifle that is very appealing to me.i can admire them for long periods of time..aiming and pointing at imaginary targets..wondering who had this gun before me what type of game had been taken with her...yep i think all of us who like guns are really dreamers to some extent... charlie

Thanks for the story ! Are you a member on the accurate reloading forum ?
Its mostly about big bores and hunting African game . Its where I met my gunsmith

Don't think so. I'll have to check it out. My big bores are limited to 45/70s, 577 Snider, and 450/577 Martini Henry. I've got about half a dozen 45/70's new and old. Reloaded some hot loads for my Ruger No 1. A sporting rifle. It is light. With the 405 half jacketed Remington bullet in front of something like 40 grns (forgot) of 3031, it'll take your head off, and that's just the shooter!

I think one can load one to about 450/400 numbers.

I'll check the reloading site. Thanks for the heads up.

Ive also pondered getting a 45/70 but it would have to be a sharps or something like that . With my 585 I plan on shooting a 650gr brass solid @ 2700 fps . should be plenty of oomph lol . I also wanted a 577 snider before but wasn't into the look of the rifle . you could always ream that #1 to 45-120 and load it smokeless !

40 grs of 3031 is a pretty light load in a 45/70. You wont gain much by rechambering to 45/120 with smokeless powder. My 400/450 uses 60grs of 3031 with a 400gr jacked bullet. Mine is a double so it probable weighs a little more than a Ruger no 1.

At one time I had a Marlin in 45/70. If memory serves me I used 50-52 gr of 3031 and a 350gr JHP. I had a 2.5x scope on a pivot mount and for a woods deer rifle it was awesome. I sold it off when I got the 416 Taylor.

Bet you kind of wished you had kept that one. those were nice guns for brush hunting.

Wow! That is one heck of a load! 585 bullet at 2700 fps? That's .458 numbers. More. I think. A .458 will push a bullet that heavy to about 2200, I think.

I own one of those Axtell 1877 Sharps rifles. Have yet to shoot it! It is a pretty thing. I called the company, before they went broke, and asked them if I could shoot smokeless in it. They reported that it was only proofed for BP. They also said that they are a lot stronger than is the original Sharps. Anyway, if I ever get around to shooting it, I'll load it to moderate smokeless levels. I like shooting BP tho. Might try 777.

I cannot recall what the load was I used in my 45/70 for the Ruger No 1. I do recall using 3031. I usually load the middle load as recorded in a reloading manual.

I have a friend who hunts with Lord Randolph Churchill's 400/450! I've seen the rifle, beautiful. Cased. As I write I cannot recall the maker. The owner had about a eight or ten wonderful double rifles.

That would be something to see.
My .458 lott will push a 500 grain bullet 2300 and the .460 weatherby will go about 2600. I heard the early factory ammo for the .460 weatherby went as fast as 2700 but they turned it down.

There have been times I wish I had it but the Taylor is a real nice rifle and will do much more than the 45/70 is capable of.

You can shoot smokeless loads in that sharps but you should stick with nitro for black loads. 5744 is a pretty good powder to work with. Load to trap door pressures. Can you post some pics of your sharps.

I have fired a Whby 460 once, and from the bench. I embarrassed myself when the end of the bolt came back and hit me square on the nose, which filled my eyes with tears. I couldn't help it. When I shoot really big bore rifles I stand up and allow by torso to take the recoil.

I enjoy shooting H&H 375's and don't find them punishing. Of course when you actually shoot at hair you don't notice the recoil at all.

I doubt I'll ever go back to Africa. Around here elk are thick, I mean in my neighborhood! They are a pest. Deer too. I have never even shot at an elk tho. During elk season the woods sound like an infantry attack. Most guys, however; go after them with a bow in the earlier season and the success rate is high.

Here is the Axtell:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...harps009-1.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...7Sharps001.jpg

Critics complain that the Axtell's aren't up to Shiloh Sharps quality. Mine looks okay to me. I can see some slight flaws in the inletting, but not much.

That is not an ugly gun. Can we see a few more pictures?

Dam fine English sharps (1877). Looks pretty good to me.

I can take some more pics of the rifle, of course. I don't have many really fine guns, a few Parkers, a Winchester 73 and nice model 70 in 270 and then some old double barreled shotguns, but the Axtell Sharps is my only gun that catches one's breath. I don't think the original owner shot it. Bought it used at Martin Rettings in Culver City, CA.

I think the 458 win mag is 2100 fps with 500gr , 458 lott 2300 and the 460 wby 2600 . Like Eldon said it used to be loaded to 2700 fps but I think that was a 70k psi load they loaded down to 2600 fps . the 270 wby is loaded to 70k psi , highest pressure commercial rifle round . with my 585 I can load to nitro express levels 750gr @ 2000 fps . or wild loads to 2600 fps . Steve im shooting pyrodex in a muzzleloader and it doesn't have a large cloud of smoke though I hear 777 is easy to clean up . I seen c sharps sales a action which would be fun to build a custom rifle on .