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Shiloh Sharps .54-caliber "Buffalo Slug" wadcutter mold?

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Naphtali

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In the late 1970s, perhaps into the 80s, Shiloh Sharps offered two .54-caliber "Buffalo Slug" wadcutter or "trash can" bullet molds for their 1863 Sharps carbines (and rifles, if these were in production), the larger of the two molds dropping a [nominal] 580-grain wadcutter bullet. Does anyone know where either sample bullets or one of these larger molds can be obtained?
 
MacRob46 said:
Have you contacted Shiloh?

SFAIK Shiloh stopped making these decades ago, before they left NY. There are some blocks in a garage, at least there were, a block from my house but getting to them may be impossible since the owners are both dead. Will make a phone call. Do not hold your breath though not much hope.
IIRC this slug was for stake busting at reenactments.
Dan
 
BTW, they were available in the 70s when the first rifles shipped. I have one of the Farmingdale rifles but no mould.
 
I had a limited supply of those .54 slugs for a while in the 80's. I got them as boot in a trade.

"Trash Can" is an appropriate description.

I shot them out of my Lyman .54 pistol with a pre-cut cloth patch over (IIRC) 40 grains of powder. They were quite accurate to 50 yards, but they kicked like a mule. It made a great backup round for hunting.
 
No luck with the phone call. These are virtually useless for anything but stake busting anyway. I think they made a 58 for Rifle Muskets to. Same purpose.

Dan
 
Dan:

I discovered the wadcutter "Buffalo Slugs" in an old Bucksin Report by the late John Bivins. The part that struck me as interesting was that, at the time of the two-part article, Shiloh-Farmingdale had just begun production of their cavalry carbine. I had assumed - incorrectly - that such a heavy bullet would not stabilize when fired from a short barrel 1:48 twist using such a moderate propellant charge. Since good, consistent accuracy was reported by a trustworthy reporter, I believe it will be a worthwhile bullet option here in the short-range terrain of Lolo National Forest in central west Montana.

I found a mold for the lighter version but had no interest in it. But that was about 18 months ago.
 
I don't know about swaging in detail, but IIRC, there are moulds made for that purpose that cast slugs of different, adjustable lengths. I wonder if such a mould might be a solution.

edit: Never mind. I forgot about the lube grooves. Long day. :td:
 
I possibly have one. I picked it up because it was unusual and I do have a 54. Mine has little to no markings on the mould so I thought it was a T/C mould which often comes that way. Mine are 425gr and when you flip it over there is a RB mould on the under side. I have yet to try shooting them to see how they do but I plan to.
 
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