Sharps 1874, Would like some opinions + thoughts

If you are going to get into silhouette shooting in the future , go with a max barrel length of 30" for 45/70,or 40/65
The Pedersoli is a entry level rifle and they are well built, buy spares if they offer them (springs) (firing pins) and then spend almost as much as the rifle on some good sights MVA is the best That I have found.
Just my 2 cents worth.



Hey guys!
Thanks for sharing. Got any pics?
I think I am leaning towards this Pedersoli
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sch...arps-rifle-1874-sharps-silhouette-deluxe.html
-E
 
Hello all!
I am currently 19 and have a fair collection of guns building. However I have imposed a moratorium on new purchases, and have decided to save up for something really nice. One of the options I have given myself is a repro of a Sharps 1874. I think it was maybe Hickok45 who spurred my interest, but has it ever been spurred! Also love the history and classic old west feel of them. I've seen many different options for the rifles on the internet.
Some things I looks for include:
-.45-70
-Double set triggers
-Tang sights
-octagon barrel 32 inch maybe? 34? the longer the better
-the partial pistol grip? on some models?
-case hardened receiver maybe?

Not %100 sure yet. Just been dreaming of them! I'll probably have to get into reloading too.
So far I've seen Pedersoli and Shilohs. What do you guys think of those companies? Are there others? How do the Pedersolis stand up in quality?
Any essentials to consider?
I will probably use it for mainly admiring, but getting out and shooting every once in a while. Maybe silhoutte shooting for fun? Idk.
What do you guys think of these rifles? What do you think of Pedersoli? Please share your experience, knowledge, pictures, and love of these rifles with me!!
Thanks!

Try to find a Farmingdale Shiloh. Going to be tuff,but. Not impossible and You'll be glad you did
 
I own both Farmingdale and non-Farmingdale rifles. All are fine products. Other than the [Old Reliable] on the barrel, what's the difference?

The story I've heard from more than one Sharps source is that the Farmingdale's were manufactured at a time when the common thought was that a "cast bullet" gun must have a very long free-bore, making them a "one bullet" gun...they had a sweet-spot bullet/seating depth that when found, would shoot good but not with anything else.

When Sharps was moved to Big Timber it took awhile but BPCR shooters (after trials with their own custom barreled actions) finally convinced the makers that a short free-bore make a very much more shooter friendly rifle. Very much considered as gospel among BPCR shooters that barrels manufactured with the new reamers are better all-round shooters.
 
My Farmer 'Business Rifle' has a tight chamber and will not accept rds that are roll crimped. ALL cases must be full length resized. It does not shoot well with 405 gr or less bullets. That might bear out the theory.
With the Lyman 457125/525 gr bullets, it shoots better than I can hold.

My Argentine RB has a long throat. Short 375 gr bullets must be seated out one grease groove to an OAL of 3.055" to get the level of accuracy I get with the longer NEI 470 gr bullets.

Over the years, the rate of twist have been increased to where 1x18" (even 1x16") is now the norm for 45-70. Used to be 1x22". ROT for the 50-70 was historically 1x42", then 1x36". Now it's 1x26" in my current carbine and it's a LEFT hand twist as well.
 
I had a Farmingdale in 45-120 quite a few years ago. Very shallow rifling and would only shoot paper patched slugs. A well made rifle and the main reason that I sold it was that the recoil was brutal

cheers mooncoon
 
If you are going to get into silhouette shooting in the future , go with a max barrel length of 30" for 45/70,or 40/65
The Pedersoli is a entry level rifle and they are well built, buy spares if they offer them (springs) (firing pins) and then spend almost as much as the rifle on some good sights MVA is the best That I have found. Just my 2 cents worth.

No need to say any more - 80% of ALL North American BPCR shooters agree, and some of us over here, too.

tac
 
The historic Sharps rifles only had .003" rifling, so the modern barrels are in keeping.

Like mooncoon says - I really enjoy watching someone shooting his 45-120 pretending that he's having a good time. I know that if you order a "Quigley" model from Shiloh, they will try and talk you into ordering it chambered in 45-70 or 45-90, not the Full Monte. The "Quigley" comes with the curved military butt plate and straight grip stock making it a bear to shoot.

But some guys gotta the biggest gun on the block. Around here it is common knowledge that a moose cannot be killed with anything less than a .338. Strange, the two moose that fell to my '86 45-70 didn't know that and obligingly fell over .....
 
My Shiloh is a 45-120 bought in an estate sale when my Dear Wife hauled me to this particular sale shopping for furniture.
We were looking at the dining room sets when I overheard two gentlemen discussing " what should we do with Dad's guns ? "
I struck up a conversation and found out that Dad had bought a Shiloh Sharps just a few months before his untimely passing.
I made them an offer on everything and long story short ended up with a 45-120 Shiloh in the safe beside my BPCR Browning.
I don't mind the recoil but then again I am sort of seasoned to it through shooting a 458, 404. 416 etc. however, I don't use it for match shooting..
 
Kevin - if you can eat the punch from a .416, then the push from a case full of BP in 45-120 must come as a relief by comparison.

When seasoned BPCR shooter's like Dave Gullo (1000 yd shooter) and Mike Venturino (BPCR sil shooter) stay with the 45-70 and 45-90, that says something.
 
As I said I don't mind shooting it, but certainly not in a match situation.
I've met Dave Gullo and many years ago shot against a chap who was Big Mike's spotter, they handled recoil as if it didn't exist.
However my BPCR Browning with a 550 Brooks or 600 Hoch would really start to wear on me by the end of a relay, I'm only a little old guy...
 
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