I tried the Lyman #515141 casting a 450gr. bullet in Ww metal, which was the original design for the .50/70 Government and also used in the .50 2-1/2" Sharps. Although if cast soft, it would expand even with the pointy deign, I wanted a flat nosed slug, so also bought the #515124 Lyman mould which casts a 520gr. bullet in WW and the RCBS 550gr. bullet, also WW. I made a mould for the 700gr. paper patched bullet but didn't like the recoil much with that narrow, steel butt plate.

The RCBS bullet has larger grease grooves than the Lyman and also has a heavier base. Cast in straight WW's, it was very accurate in my Sharps .50 3-1/4" as well as in the .50 Alaskan Rolling block right up to 1,900fps. My favourite load in the Sharps was, if I remember correctly (sold the rifle and gave away the data for it) 68gr. IMR3031 and filled the case with Kapok to the bullet's base. This load gave 1,760fps with the 550gr. and shot into 1 1/2" for 5 at 100 meters off the bags, using the Sharps open sights, kicked pretty good, too. Full case of BP was only good for about 2 1/2" in my rifle. I was surprised at the accuracy I got with smokeless powder as the longer cased .50 Sharps Rifles came with a 36" twist which is more suitable for the shorter bullets.

Check Accurate Arms manuals for data for the .50 3-1/4" - they have some, as well as Hodgdon's Annual Manual also had some data a couple years ago. A buddy of mine now owns my .50 Sharps and loads it with AA3100 and the 450gr.Cast at around 2,200fps. That load kicks a bit too. he used AA3100 as it very nerly fills the case. Also, it killed moose very well indeed for him. Check Accurate Arms Powders web site.

A friend of mine has a J. Blissett .50 BPE double rifle. He used to use a case full of Pyrodex (unfortunately) with the Lyman 450gr. bullet #515141. I've shot right barrel groups of 2" at 100 meters with that rifle. The left, unfortunately wasn't as accurate - 4" about it's best and 6" away, low. Pyrodex, being a percolate powder is corrosive and introduced rott in his barrels before he stopped using it. Please don't use it in anything you treasure - OK for inlines

. Unlike BP fouling, it does not need to absorb moisture to cause to damage barrels, but it is even more hygroscopic than black powder fouling.