1863 Sharps

[sweet apple pete]

Does anyone out there own and shoot the Pedersoli 1863 Sharps paper cartridge rifle. I don`t know very much about this model, but have been offered one in trade.It comes with it`s own mould. Would like to find out more about it??
Thanks

 

[A-zone]

Does anyone out there own and shoot the Pedersoli 1863 Sharps paper cartridge rifle. I don`t know very much about this model, but have been offered one in trade.It comes with it`s own mould. Would like to find out more about it??
Thanks

What caliber is it in?

I had one (a '63 from Shiloh) in .54 that I got in trade from another board member. It certainly is an interesting rifle in terms of the evolution of cartridge firearms and was a lot of fun to play with. Sure was faster to load than a muzzle loader! (If you need any pointers on making nitrated cartridges drop me a pm.) Having a mould for it is very helpful as they are unique to that style of rifle/cartridge (the bullet most likely has a rebated base).

Eventually I traded it off for an 1875 C-Sharps in .45-70. Metallic cartridges offer flexibility that muzzle loaders and breach-loading paper cartridge firearms can't match. Guess that's why they are the dominant firearm technology. For shear fun, though, I'd have another '63.

 

[Incurable Collectoer]

'63 Sharps

They now make catridges so you can shoot it like a Maynard or Burnside you just pour the powder in and seat a bullet but still fire it off with a separate percussion cap. The originals had a bit of a problem with gas escaping between the block and the chamber, but I think the modern models fully solved that one. Mine was converted to cartridge so I do not have any experience with the percussion version but it is a fun gun to shoot.

Branko

 

[Sharps '63]

'63 Ped

Sweet apple pete/Branko

Hey Branko - long time no speak! How are you doing and where are you?

I'm the guy that swapped with A-zone for his Shiloh '63 Sporter. That gave me two paper Sharps - a .50 Military and the .54 Sporter.

I recently ordered some .54 paper tubes from a guy named Charlie Hahn that I met on the Shiloh Rifle site. They are designed to fit over the ring tail on the 'Xmas Tree' bullet. They haven't arrived yet and when I get some experience with them, I'll post it.

Those of us with paper Sharps felt like 'outsiders' on the Shiloh site, so I asked one of the US shooters with close ties to the Bryant family to create a forum just for '63s - they did! Check it out for a lot of good data on what works and what doesn't with a '63.

I got into a postal match (50-100-150-200 yds) with some US shooters with our '63s and we were all pleasantly surprised what they could do. Next time we'll do the Berdan qualifying match of 10 shots under a 50" string measure from a rest (not benched) at 200 yds. That separates the riflemen from the wanna-be's with any rifle!

The Ped uses a different gas seal than the Shiloh, a sliding sleeve. The Shiloh looks like it has a sleeve but relies on the Conant cone for a seal. Both work, but need to be scrupulously cleaned after firing.

If you can get the Ped in .50, do so. Less powder and lead = less recoil. Most .54 shooters use a filler to make up chamber space. In my .50 military, I roll a .54 calibre 60 gr. Pyrodex pellet with a sized/lubed 450 gr. bullet and it makes a great cartridge that handles well and looks authentic.

Todd