Sharps 1874: Best bang for the buck?
- Thread starter Slimbo
- Start date
Ammo
Can you tell me the advantages of the different calibers in the quigley and where ammunition can be purchased? Can you inform me how accurate suych a gun would be and whether one can get in the range of a moose?
Lets turn the question around a bit; is the gun going to be used for hunting primarily/only or silhouette shooting? What range are you intending to shoot?
To some extent the various calibers are similar in end performance with the qualification that you probably want a bullet in excess of 300 grains to knock silhouettes over out to 500 yards and a heavier bullet for longer ranges. The smaller calibers allow lighter bullets and less recoil which can be a concern with the heaviest bullets and heaviest powder charges. In my opinion at least, accurately shooting black powder cartridge rifles is a question of learning their trajectory and accurately knowing the range of the target plus knowing your sight settings. Also the smaller calibers allow a longer bullet for the same weight of slug.
For hunting, I suspect all of the calibers available will perform in a similar fashion at ranges out to say 200 yards.
cheers mooncoon
To some extent the various calibers are similar in end performance with the qualification that you probably want a bullet in excess of 300 grains to knock silhouettes over out to 500 yards and a heavier bullet for longer ranges. The smaller calibers allow lighter bullets and less recoil which can be a concern with the heaviest bullets and heaviest powder charges. In my opinion at least, accurately shooting black powder cartridge rifles is a question of learning their trajectory and accurately knowing the range of the target plus knowing your sight settings. Also the smaller calibers allow a longer bullet for the same weight of slug.
For hunting, I suspect all of the calibers available will perform in a similar fashion at ranges out to say 200 yards.
cheers mooncoon
A Sharps is accurate up to 500 yards?
Actually, there are 1000 yd matches. I would not stand in front of a target with anyone like Mike Venturino, Steve Garbe, Kenny Wasserburger, and many others at that range and beyond. And that is WITH OPEN SIGHTS! I have personally shot seven rams @ 500 meters with seven shots(ran out of bullets) after knocking down ten pigs with eleven shots. Awesome feeling to shoot, and have the spotter tell you it's a hit, watch it fall-THEN hear the CLANG!!
Can't seem to get on photobucket for some pics, tomorrow.
LeRoy
Can't seem to get on photobucket for some pics, tomorrow.
LeRoy
Jealousy
You lucky dog! That is amazing. I bought 5 guns this year so maybe Ill try to get a dealer to order a Quigley and wait. My mastercard should be down by then lol
Here is a pic of me shooting Mike Otterberg's Shiloh Sharps at Missoula, MT. silli shoot in Sept. '05. It was with this rifle and his loads that I shot so well. He is spotting, and coaching me on the come-ups/downs, and windage. This when I met Mike V., Ted Tompkins, Dave Gruhler, and quite a few other championship winners. That weekend is one of the greatest I have ever had! Went to Big Timber the next day and my wife bought me a #1 Sporter for my birthday. You can send a deposit(if you order one to be built), and pay the rest when it goes into production.
If you are going to shoot silly-wet, the rifle cannot weigh more than 12lbs 2oz. A Quigley is much too heavy. It is also best to start out with a 45-2.1(70), or 2.4(90), as they are the easiest to LEARN to load for. I know that many will disagree. Read as much as you can BEFORE you commit. I recommend Mike V.'s "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West", my copy is autographed, SPG's "Reloading Primer", by Mike V. and Steve Garbe. It is a little dated, but still has great info for a beginner. Any more q's, you can p.m. me for my phone #. Hope this helps.
Ben....
When you send me some 458-555gr Creedmores, maybe, just maybe, I'll up that from "O.K." to "Not Bad"
LOL
I need your new price list, please, KIND SIR!!....he says with a brown nose!
If you don't have my addy anymore, p.m. me. THANK YOU.
Here's the pic.........
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If you are going to shoot silly-wet, the rifle cannot weigh more than 12lbs 2oz. A Quigley is much too heavy. It is also best to start out with a 45-2.1(70), or 2.4(90), as they are the easiest to LEARN to load for. I know that many will disagree. Read as much as you can BEFORE you commit. I recommend Mike V.'s "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West", my copy is autographed, SPG's "Reloading Primer", by Mike V. and Steve Garbe. It is a little dated, but still has great info for a beginner. Any more q's, you can p.m. me for my phone #. Hope this helps.
Ben....
When you send me some 458-555gr Creedmores, maybe, just maybe, I'll up that from "O.K." to "Not Bad"
LOL I need your new price list, please, KIND SIR!!....he says with a brown nose!
If you don't have my addy anymore, p.m. me. THANK YOU.
Here's the pic.........
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Here you go.
www.liveleak.com/view?i=7a4_1197601946
www.liveleak.com/view?i=7a4_1197601946
Yeah that is Dave Gullo, he's a good guy, even takes orders and stuff.
I can't remember how far that was, and I wouldn't hazard to guess.
I'd love to shoot my 45-110 at those distances.
I think it would do pretty well.
I can't remember how far that was, and I wouldn't hazard to guess.
I'd love to shoot my 45-110 at those distances.
I think it would do pretty well.
I can easily get 1.5" groups with my 45-90 and 1.5" is a big group.
Usually it shoots between 1" and 1.5" @ 100 yards.
My 40-90 with the slow 1 X 18" twist will shoot 2" groups and smaller consistently.
I have only shot my new 45-110 enough to fire form a few cases, but I'm sure it will shoot very well once find the charge it likes.
You need to reload to get these rifles shooting to their full potential.
Like Leroy says, the Shiloh forums are a great place to learn the ropes.
I only had that 45-90 for 2 months and I was a total Noob, but thanks to the Shiloh forums I learned how to develop loads and I had the load in that 2 month period.
Having the correct cartridge OAL is very important with these Sharps rifles.
That bullet should engrave the rifling slightly when you chamber the round.
Here's a 5 shot group @ 100 yards that I shot with my 45-90.
This was the first group I ever shot with my 40-90 @ 100 yards.
Good enough to pop an Elk.
mackillan....
I have never seen any in Canada, but that doesn't mean there is none.
Reloading for the '74, or any of the B.P. rifles is at least half the fun of them.
Not to mention the fact that each rifle shoots better with tailored loads. And isn't shooting them LOTS why you get them.
As soon as Ben sends me some boolits, and I get my loader set up, my shoulder is going to take a pounding!
Between the 11lb. Shiloh, 17 lb. 300 RUM, it will be black and blue-read FUN!!
Have fun,
LeRoy
I have never seen any in Canada, but that doesn't mean there is none.
Reloading for the '74, or any of the B.P. rifles is at least half the fun of them.
Not to mention the fact that each rifle shoots better with tailored loads. And isn't shooting them LOTS why you get them.
As soon as Ben sends me some boolits, and I get my loader set up, my shoulder is going to take a pounding!
Between the 11lb. Shiloh, 17 lb. 300 RUM, it will be black and blue-read FUN!!
Have fun,
LeRoy
You should try my 338-378 Weatherby without the muzzle brake.
On second thought maybe not.
I'll tell you this about my Shiloh 45-110.
It don't kick, at least not hard.
I had Shiloh install a recoil suppressor when they built my rifle, and they really seem to work well.
It does kind of rattle a bit, but you get used to it.
If the weather holds I'm going to take the 40-90 and the 45-110 out tomorrow for some load testing.
The 40-90 is almost done, but I'm just starting with the 45-110.
Im hoping to get some 1 holers with that one.
Leroy and the rest, sorry but I am just getting back to this thread, anyone wanting the 555gr. Creedmores or the new 535 Saeco's should PM me with requirements.......For the 40s I also have the .410/410gr. Saeco all are cast to your specs, dia., alloy, lube, etc.......For the newby BPCR shooters: This stuff is the most fun you can have with your clothes on, but you are gonna' have to work at it, there is a learning curve as none of this ammo is made, at least none with the good long range bullets. You will learn to tailor the load to your rifle and chamber, and how to mitigate against fouling, sight settings, compression, duplex,....I could go on and on...but nobody wants to hear me...just go do it!!!
Hitting Bison or whitetail at under 150 yards.
