Sharps, Highwalls, Trapdoors and the like

Fenix.NZ

Fenix.NZ

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Anyone going old school cool for their long range shooting?

Ive been eyeballing the options available from Pedersoli and Uberti .. and i know that they dont come in the best target calibres, the ol .45-70 can still push out pretty far.

tell us about your successes or failures with these type of rifles
 
Though it isn't as powerful as the big buffalo calibres, I have a nice Rolling Block chambered in .38-55 that I load with long, heavy lead bullets. I'm definitely no marksman, but on a good day last summer I shot six rounds into just over five inches at 300 metres. This was atypical for me, of course, since I will usually shoot two to three times as large a group with the same number of rounds, but I was sure pleased knowing that such an old rifle could do that with iron sights and blackpowder. It has a new barrel, of course, and I'm nearly done refinishing it, but the receiver is just as it was when it was built almost 150 years ago. Now I want to try a nice Sharps and see what I can do with one of the big boys....
 
ErikT said:
Though it isn't as powerful as the big buffalo calibres, I have a nice Rolling Block chambered in .38-55 that I load with long, heavy lead bullets. I'm definitely no marksman, but on a good day last summer I shot six rounds into just over five inches at 300 metres. This was atypical for me, of course, since I will usually shoot two to three times as large a group with the same number of rounds, but I was sure pleased knowing that such an old rifle could do that with iron sights and blackpowder. It has a new barrel, of course, and I'm nearly done refinishing it, but the receiver is just as it was when it was built almost 150 years ago. Now I want to try a nice Sharps and see what I can do with one of the big boys....
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That is great! I had no idea that those old guns could do that good (except for Quigley) This is the first time I have looked at this forum section, (SKS fan)
I looked because the title of this thread appeared on the forum index. Are these antiques discussed much for their precision in this section?
 
ErikT said:
Though it isn't as powerful as the big buffalo calibres, I have a nice Rolling Block chambered in .38-55 that I load with long, heavy lead bullets. I'm definitely no marksman, but on a good day last summer I shot six rounds into just over five inches at 300 metres. This was atypical for me,
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You may not believe it, but those were preferred arms in the hey day of offhand target BPCR a century ago.

I have a space in my collection for a Martini Henry conversion to something more colonial just waiting to be filled.
 
I am a huge 1874 Sharps fan and I am currently saving for one right now. I am going to go with the Pedersoli silhouette model in 45-70 with 32" full octogon. I have all the brass, lead, and moulds, now I just need the rifle, an good set of sights and some black powder.
 
The old black powder single shots are a pile of fun and will definitely shoot long distance. The hard part is finding a place to do it. Here in B.C. we can shoot gongs to 800m, but no paper targets at that distance. There seem to be few, or no, ranges with pits in this part of the world. I've been going to Armerica for mid-range ( 200 yards to 600 yards ), and long range ( 800 yards to 1000 yards ). It is a pile of fun, but these cartridges are very wind sensitive and things get very tricky past 800 yards.

I think it's the most enjoyable type of shooting I've ever done though. I shoot a .40-65 Sharps for mid-range, and a .45-90 highwall for long range.

Chris.
 
Silhouette out to 500m is a hoot and ringing steel past a thousand is done in several places. Fort Benton is one an old friend used to go to. The bullets travel time gets to be several seconds.

Some of the long distance records from the black powder era weren't broken by modern guns until the 70's if I remember correctly. There is no question that they can be extremely accurate.

The techniques, and variables can also be very different than what the modern reloader is used to.
 
im glad that this thread is getting some attention, i was thinking that it might have been a fail.
So glad to hear that you guys are getting good success with your rifles.

Im looking at the Quigley model or perhaps the Military Sniper from Pedersoli
I kind of want to outfit it with a Malcolm scope though so the octagonal barrel would be the best
 
I've always wanted to get into the BPCR (Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette) competition, but it doesn't seem to be popular up here in the frozen north. Plus there are precious few ranges that one can shoot out past 600 metres up here. I like the challenge of using iron sights and lead bullets at long range, even if I suck at it.
 
ErikT said:
I've always wanted to get into the BPCR (Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette) competition, but it doesn't seem to be popular up here in the frozen north. Plus there are precious few ranges that one can shoot out past 600 metres up here. I like the challenge of using iron sights and lead bullets at long range, even if I suck at it.
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As long as you're having fun, thats the main thing
 
ErikT said:
I've always wanted to get into the BPCR (Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Silhouette) competition, but it doesn't seem to be popular up here in the frozen north. Plus there are precious few ranges that one can shoot out past 600 metres up here. I like the challenge of using iron sights and lead bullets at long range, even if I suck at it.
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Which province are you in? We have a really nice silhouette match here in BC and are always looking for new guys. It's a pile of fun. There are more matches in Alberta and Saskatchewan than in B.C. for some reason.

Chris.
 
I would love to try BPCR silhouette. I even think they shoot it not too far from here, around balgonie sk if I remember correctly. I have to buy a gun first, 1874 Sharps for sure. He hardest part will be finding the time.
 
This is mine. 125th anniversary 1885 Winchester in 45-70. They are fun to shoot. Accurate. You really have to do everything right to make them shoot well. Proper technique in shooting or it shows up on the target.

I find shooting 45-70 and 22lr accurate are difficult but very rewarding when it goes right.

 
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Fenix.NZ said:
im glad that this thread is getting some attention, i was thinking that it might have been a fail.
So glad to hear that you guys are getting good success with your rifles.

Im looking at the Quigley model or perhaps the Military Sniper from Pedersoli
I kind of want to outfit it with a Malcolm scope though so the octagonal barrel would be the best
Click to expand...

The Quigley is a fine rifle but it exceeds the max NRA weight restriction by a pound. For most shoots up north don't follow NRA rules to a tee, back in the US they usually do. Something to think if you want to get serious.......
 
MC One Shot said:
The Quigley is a fine rifle but it exceeds the max NRA weight restriction by a pound. For most shoots up north don't follow NRA rules to a tee, back in the US they usually do. Something to think if you want to get serious.......
Click to expand...

I dont shoot competitively - i dont like people.

Any shooting i do is purely for my own enjoyment
 
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