I just bought an old 50-70 Rolling block (that needs finish work and sights), and I want to get into shooting BPC at a local club in the near future. I need to know what I need as far as brass, bullets, and powder plus any other things Im not aware of. The gun is a 1871 model made in 1872,,near as I can tell. It has a repaired stock, repaired ears on the block and hammer no rear sight and looks like some one sawed off the end of the barrel to 26 inches in length (good job on the cut....but no front sight or dovetail). The bore and chamber are excellent and I think it will fix up to a nice "sporter". The action works very well....as well as I can tell without shooting it.

I guess thats enough for now....I know I will have more and more questions as this projects gets underway.

PS Who has the stuff I need? I tried the Dixie sight....but its hard to navigate that thing.

This will get your started (from Track of the Wolf):
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(2wgvsp454madbp55rjzsae55))/categories/partList.aspx?catID=2&subID=190&styleID=923

Had a New York contract 50/70 Rolling Block and found it an enjoyable shooter, good hunter, but the trajectory gets at bit "arched" for long range work. Really not a hard cartridge to load for, but I would slug the barrel and find out just what bore diameter really is....modern reproduction 50-70's tend to the tight side (.512-515") while the old ones tend to the large size (.515-518") and it would be good to know before ordering molds.

Couple of words about safety. These old actions are safe enough, but in their long past it's possible someone did something stupid. Besides a headspace check, would be good to have it checked carefully for cracks.

Thankyou for the link and the tips

That SPG BP guide is well worth buying.
Pete

Your description is interesting. My 50-70 has the same, cleanly cut off barrel, no rear sight, but has a dovetail and a cut-off screw where the sight should be, also no front sight. Mine has no barrel bands, simply a shortened chunk of the original forestock about 10-12 inches long, strictly a friction fit to the barrel. I wonder if Fladerman's or someone else mass-produced these modifications?
Bill

Instead of the SPG guide, I highly recommend "The 50/70 Shooters Handbook" by Croft Barker.

Published by Cistern Publishing, they advertise in most of the Black Powder magazines.

Another GOOD source of info and equipment is www.buffaloarms.com
If they don't have it, you don't need it!!