Newbie to falling block

Nibe

Nibe

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Mostly handguns over the years, started collecting SA colt clones recently. Awhile back I joined the long gun crowd…mostly levers. Anyway, bought and sold a Henry single shot 45- 70 last year which piqued my interest in single shot. So now I’m thinking of a Falling Block. I know practically zip about these beautiful firearms and would appreciate some advice and direction. I don’t hunt, this would be a range and collectible gun. My budget is in the 1500-2000 range.

I like things that go boom so 45-70?
Recommend a brand/model in my price range?

Appreciate any and all input. Hopefully this is the correct forum, if not mods please move.

Nibe
 
Nibe said:
Mostly handguns over the years, started collecting SA colt clones recently. Awhile back I joined the long gun crowd…mostly levers. Anyway, bought and sold a Henry single shot 45- 70 last year which piqued my interest in single shot. So now I’m thinking of a Falling Block. I know practically zip about these beautiful firearms and would appreciate some advice and direction. I don’t hunt, this would be a range and collectible gun. My budget is in the 1500-2000 range.

I like things that go boom so 45-70?
Recommend a brand/model in my price range?

Appreciate any and all input. Hopefully this is the correct forum, if not mods please move.

Nibe
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Pretty tough too find a decent rifle in that price range , but they do come up occasionally .
There is a nice Uberti Courtney for sale on the EE right now, but that is outside your budget - the nice thing about it is it's in 303 Brit!:dancingbanana:
This one would have been a good deal!
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...er-Sold-Pending-Funds?highlight=falling+block
Cat
 
iron cat said:
Pretty tough too find a decent rifle in that price range , but they do come up occasionally .
There is a nice Uberti Courtney for sale on the EE right now, but that is outside your budget - the nice thing about it is it's in 303 Brit!:dancingbanana:
This one would have been a good deal!
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...er-Sold-Pending-Funds?highlight=falling+block
Cat
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Thanks, appreciate the feedback. Sounds like I'm better off waiting to purchase something in the 3g range.
 
Nibe said:
Thanks, appreciate the feedback. Sounds like I'm better off waiting to purchase something in the 3g range.
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Well, 2.5- 3G range possibly.
A lot depends on just what you are looking for . Many of the long range BPCR rifles are pretty unwieldy when it comes to hunting with them, and their sights are not quickly adjusted, but some are set up as nice hunting rifles as well.
Cat
 
iron cat said:
Well, 2.5- 3G range possibly.
A lot depends on just what you are looking for . Many of the long range BPCR rifles are pretty unwieldy when it comes to hunting with them, and their sights are not quickly adjusted, but some are set up as nice hunting rifles as well.
Cat
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Nah, I'm not a hunter. Would strictly be a collectible 'plinker'
 
I have had the Lee Shaver sights before and they are top quality that sight alone is worth 500 CDN as for the sharps the older Italian copies were very good quality more so than the present day Pedersoli rifles. The new rifles I find have poor springs and locks. I have had many over the years and and the IAB is a good shooter and hold their value
....my 2 cents.
 
Ok a naive question from a guy that perhaps is headed down the wrong road: Do I have to cast my own bullets with these works of art, and is smokeless inherently dangerous with these guys.

I’m such a newb.
 
you can shoot factory ammo out of a reproduction Sharps ...but for best long range play load development will be best. The repro stuff is made for the safety factor of smokeless thus is why factory 45/70 ammo is still safe to shoot in original Trapdoor rifles. The ad says something about 5744 loads so see what he has for load development, most people will send load data and bullet type and weights for best results.
 
cdnrokon said:
you can shoot factory ammo out of a reproduction Sharps ...but for best long range play load development will be best. The repro stuff is made for the safety factor of smokeless thus is why factory 45/70 ammo is still safe to shoot in original Trapdoor rifles. The ad says something about 5744 loads so see what he has for load development, most people will send load data and bullet type and weights for best results.
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Interesting. Since we downsized last year don’t really have the space to get into casting. Although it looks like fun I’ll have to stick with off the rack for now. So standard loads are ok.

The IAB Sharps repo looks pretty cool but the cursory digging I’ve done online gives mixed reviews. No disrespect to the one you mentioned, I’m obviously an innocent when it comes to these firearms. I do appreciate the feedback and suggestions, really.
 
You can buy cast bullets from places in Canada and they are good quality. As for the IAB having poor feedback.... In your price range you do not have much to pick from, and since you do not cast your own bullets that wipes out a old original shooter like a Swedish roller in 12.7 x 44r (50/70) . The experience that I have had with the Italian reproductions the best of the bunch for reliable use is a Uberti, then IAB and last Pedersoli. If you go with a Pedersoli make sure you find a spares kit for it and have it on hand.
If you are just plinking and maybe going to Quigley a Uberti or IAB Sharps will do . Most people into competition will drop almost 1000 on just sights and then put them on a custom built rifle or a Shiloh Sharps... Kind of nice when you walk up to the owner of Shiloh and ask them to have a look at your rifle and he pulls out his tool box on the back of his pick up and changes a part for you right there. Great gun and good people.
 
cdnrokon said:
You can buy cast bullets from places in Canada and they are good quality. As for the IAB having poor feedback.... In your price range you do not have much to pick from, and since you do not cast your own bullets that wipes out a old original shooter like a Swedish roller in 12.7 x 44r (50/70) . The experience that I have had with the Italian reproductions the best of the bunch for reliable use is a Uberti, then IAB and last Pedersoli. If you go with a Pedersoli make sure you find a spares kit for it and have it on hand.
If you are just plinking and maybe going to Quigley a Uberti or IAB Sharps will do . Most people into competition will drop almost 1000 on just sights and then put them on a custom built rifle or a Shiloh Sharps... Kind of nice when you walk up to the owner of Shiloh and ask them to have a look at your rifle and he pulls out his tool box on the back of his pick up and changes a part for you right there. Great gun and good people.
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I’ve been pleased with my Uberti’s in the past so kinda leaning that way. Seems like a low risk, entry level strategy.
 
bullet barn and jet bullet are the Canadian bullet makers that I know of and if you want to get into casting send me a pm I have a mould left over from when I had my Sharps 45/70 that will work in that IAB if you buy it
 
If you purchase a Sharps rifle regardless of the make you have to get into the habit of putting the hammer on half #### before you open the action as if you do not you run the risk of breaking the tip off of the firing pin
 
cdnrokon said:
bullet barn and jet bullet are the Canadian bullet makers that I know of and if you want to get into casting send me a pm I have a mould left over from when I had my Sharps 45/70 that will work in that IAB if you buy it
Click to expand...

Thanks will keep that in mind

chasseur said:
If you purchase a Sharps rifle regardless of the make you have to get into the habit of putting the hammer on half #### before you open the action as if you do not you run the risk of breaking the tip off of the firing pin
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Noted, and appreciated
 
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