Patches must be cut just the right shape, and to install them on the bullet I hold the point of the bullet with the left forefinger and thumb, then wet the patch and lay on the bullet with the long point toward me, then, turning the bullet toward me, roll the patch tightly on the slug. Next I twist the resultant end, and curl it up on the base, or if a hollow base bullet push the curled and twisted end of the patch down into the cavity of the base. Then I let it dry thoroughly, and if a flat base slug, take sharp shears and clip off the patch as short as possible. After firing and recovering the big slug, you will always find the delicate pattern or tracery made by the powder charge and lubricant driving any and all tiny wrinkles and folds of the patch on the base into the metal itself. This is so shallow as to cause no harm, but if you leave the tail of the patch that you twisted and curled up on the base without clipping off, it will always cause a deep dent in the bullet base from pressure, and of course is a detriment to fine accuracy.

Though I have killed elk and deer with .45 and .44 caliber Sharps I have not fired this rifle at game, but it certainly should be a killer. From the sound of the bullet passing you, also the powder charge and the bullet weight, I would estimate the velocity to be around 1500 feet. Using the pounds-feet formula I have described in the Rifleman, it becomes the most powerful sporting cartridge every made and used in America, to my knowledge. If said velocity is 1500 feet as estimated, then the big gun would develop 150 pounds-feet of energy or the same as the British 470 Express Cordite cartridge with 500 grain bullet at 2100 feet. I know if I had to stop a big Alaskan Brownie with just one shot, and my life depended on it, I would rather bust him in the chest with this big gun than with any modern American load. This gun and cartridge prove definitely that the old timers who demanded and made such a gun possible knew what it took for clean one shot kills on our American bison, and while black powder will somewhat obscure your game after firing and these loads like all other black powder loads have a high trajectory, nevertheless the old buffalo hunters knew what was needed far better than any hunters of today, and as a class were probably the most skilled game shots of all time.

I fired the big fifty at two straight grain yellow pine blocks, each block 18” thick and set end to end. The 700 grain slug went through both at each shot, so I don’t know yet how many it would take to stop it. It is to me one of the most interested truly American rifles and loads.