Review: Chiappa Sharps 1874 Business Rifle, 45-70, purchased at Tenda

J

jaegermeister1

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Good Day Ladies and Gents:

I was browsing the Tenda Canada website, (they are one of the advertisers here), 01 January when I saw a Chiappa model Sharps 1874 business rifle in 45-70 on sale for $929.99, (regular $1429.99), and free shipping. Among other things the stock is listed as being “Hand Oiled Walnut” with colour case receiver. I ordered it.

Chiappa wrote back saying there was a Canada Post surcharge of $31.00 for extra large box. So much for free shipping. I paid the additional fee.

I received the rifle today. The colour case hardening is absolutely stunning. The butt plate is a steel crescent butt plate that is also magnificently colour case hardened.

I am not a fan of buckhorn sights but this is beautiful. Lots of room to see and the blade front sight is just the right width.

The stock is NOT hand rubbed oil. It looks to be a shiny lacquer of some sort. The receiver tang sits proud of the wood by about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch, right where your thumb rests. Definately noticeable.

And now for the really curious part: at the range I tried loading a factory Remington Express Rifle 45-70 Government, 405 grain soft point, article number R4570G into the rifle. The cartridge slid into the chamber nicely and bottomed out. When I tried to close the block it would not close. The rim of the case was preventing the block from rising up and closing. The only thing I can think of is the throat was cut short. As stated, it was a factory round.

Has anyone else encountered this situation? Any suggestions? I wrote a note to Tenda outlining the issue. I will keep you apprised of the situation.

Opinions on the rifle: I am a little annoyed at the tang sitting proud of the wood and that the wood is not a hand rubbed oil finish. However, the colour case hardening, the sights, the way the rifle handles and the sale price more than make up for that.

When I looked at the Tenda website on 05 January, the business rifle was sold out. I checked again today and they are back in stock but now are $1249.99.

Kind regards,

Jaegermeister1
 
Last edited:
Further to the above:

With my curiosity piqued, I stepped into my loading room and made some dummy cartridges.

First up was another jacketed projectile of 405 grains. Seated the projectile to the book oal of 2.550 inches. Chambered and went into battery no problem.

Next up was a 405 grain lead projectile from a magma mold seated to book oal of 2.550 inches. Chambered and went into battery no problem.

Now a 360 grain lead projectile from a magma mold seated to book oal of 2.540 inches. The round chambered but I could not raise the block into battery. I finally got it to go into battery when the oal was 2.502 inches.

Last was a 300 grain lead cast projectile from I think a Lee mold seated to book oal at 2.540 inches. Chambered and went into battery no problem.

All projectiles were .459 inches in diameter

So obviously, the issue is the design of the Remington bullet and the 360 grain bullet.

I suspect this has everything to do with the length of free bore.

Kind regards,

Jaegermeister1
 
Just got back from the range. Loaded a few 360 lead cast bullets with 15 grains of trail boss and oal of 2.508 inches. lol what a hoot. This Chiapas sharps is going to be a riot. Whacking steel at 60 yards. Tried at 100 but couldn’t connect with the steel. Will shoot at paper when there is less snow.

I’ve never paper patched however, I wrapped three 250 grain .452 bullets with paper last night. Loaded them up and shot them this afternoon. Again, 15 grains of Trailboss. Hilarious; no recoil to speak of and dead on at 60 yards. I’m going to have to buy some bowling pins this spring.

Final report. This gun is a keeper. I’m going to have a lot of fun this year.

Happy New Year
Jaegermeister1
 
jaegermeister1 said:
Good Day Ladies and Gents:

I was browsing the Tenda Canada website, (they are one of the advertisers here), 01 January when I saw a Chiappa model Sharps 1874 business rifle in 45-70 on sale for $929.99, (regular $1429.99), and free shipping. Among other things the stock is listed as being “Hand Oiled Walnut” with colour case receiver. I ordered it.

Chiappa wrote back saying there was a Canada Post surcharge of $31.00 for extra large box. So much for free shipping.
Click to expand...
Just to point out...this is plainly stated in their shipping policy
"Oversize packages will be quoted separately for oversize surcharge by the courier"


































jaegermeister1 said:
Kind regards,

Jaegermeister1
Click to expand...
 
I know ruger no 1 in 45-70 had two leade lengths. Friends had rifles that would not seat the 405 or 525 grain bullets. Other friends rifles had no problem seating the longer bullets. Strange.
 
jaegermeister1 said:
The stock is NOT hand rubbed oil. It looks to be a shiny lacquer of some sort. The receiver tang sits proud of the wood by about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch, right where your thumb rests. Definately noticeable.
Click to expand...

Today I checked out two Chiappa Sharps, one Business and one Berdan.

While I cannot say anything about the metal fit and finish, it looks good to me, the wood finish is definitely not hand rubbed.
It is some cheap and rough lacquer finish, which detracts from the otherwise good-looking rifles.
 
My rifle is the business rifle and comes with the semi buckhorn rear sight. The sporting rifles are fitted with a ladder sight. I’ve used tang sights on previous sharps rifles and frankly are a pita to use. I would like to swap out the semi buckhorn for a ladder sight. Anybody have any recommendations?

Ultimately, I’m hoping to shoot out to 500 yards. Figured the ladder sight would be the way to go. Ideally it would have a semi buckhorn when folded down and a peep when the ladder is up.

I’m looking forward to your comments.
 
jaegermeister1 said:
I’ve never paper patched however, I wrapped three 250 grain .452 bullets with paper last night. Loaded them up and shot them this afternoon. Again, 15 grains of Trailboss. Hilarious; no recoil to speak of and dead on at 60 yards. I’m going to have to buy some bowling pins this spring.



Happy New Year
Jaegermeister1
Click to expand...
What are you using for paper for patching your bullets?
Have you shot it at 200 yards yet?
Cat
 
The Chiappa replica guns are things of beauty to behold...I virtually never experience love at first sight at a gun shop but I did when I saw my Chiappa M92 trapper in .357 on the rack. Oh my. I should have suspected she was a 3 dressed up as a 9 when the ladder sight fell off as we were putting it into the box! Long story short, we parted company after a few disappointing range dates. Hopefully yours is a shooter. Beautiful piece for sure.
 
Hello Iron Cat:

I am new to the world of paper patching. I was trying my hand for the first time.

To start, I read the excellent book “The Paper Jacket”, by Paul Mathew’s. I used onion skin paper that measured one and a half thousands of an inch thick. Two wraps brought the bullet to .458” and I ran it through my lube sizer for a confirmed .458. Because I had no unlubed bullets, I paper patched bullets that had already been lubed and sized. I left the
Lube on the bullet and then patched it.

Kind regards,

Jaegermeister1
Max
 
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