I have heard nothing but good things about Shiloh Sharps rifles, but I have also heard that Pedersoli sharps will shoot just as well. I'm looking to get into mid-long range blackpowder cartridge shooting. A basic Pedersoli Sharps starts at about $1400 USD, and Shiloh Sharps start about $2000. Do you guys think the Shiloh is worth the extra $600? I'm thinking 45-90 caliber.
Shiloh Sharps vs Pedersoli
- Thread starter flintyboom
- Start date
I presently have three Shiloh Sharps and CSharps 1875 sporter.As far fit and finish and quality ,Pedersoli is no where near the Shiloh Sharps.Shilohs guns have a lot of hand fitting where the Pedersolis are mainly production line guns that's why there is such a long wait when you order a Shiloh.Shilohs are more of a purist
style gun as they are as close to an original as you can get and the parts will actually interchange with originals and they have great customer support.Also with a Shiloh you can custom order it to your taste if you want to spend the money.
That all said there is nothing wrong with a Pedersoli Sharps as they can be very accurate but that also depends on the man behind the gun as well.The way I look at it if you have the money and want one as close to an original you can get buy a Shiloh but if you just want a sharps replica to shoot then get a pedersoli either way you can t go wrong
style gun as they are as close to an original as you can get and the parts will actually interchange with originals and they have great customer support.Also with a Shiloh you can custom order it to your taste if you want to spend the money.
That all said there is nothing wrong with a Pedersoli Sharps as they can be very accurate but that also depends on the man behind the gun as well.The way I look at it if you have the money and want one as close to an original you can get buy a Shiloh but if you just want a sharps replica to shoot then get a pedersoli either way you can t go wrong
BlackPowderBurner
CGN frequent flyer
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The above post is a good summary. There is nothing wrong with a Pedersoli, they're very well built and shoot beyond their price range. If you are new to the BPCR hobby, it could be beneficial to start with a Pedersoli as a way to learn game and figure out what you would actually appreciate in a custom order rifle. Dropping big dough out the gate and waiting a long time for a set of features you may not need/want later down the line sort of limits you. Reselling a Pedersoli after a year or two of shooting isn't going to hurt your pocket book like trying to get rid of a custom gun built to your personal specs.
Almost all of my BP competition shooting has been in America. I shoot Shiloh Sharps rifles almost exclusively and they are superbly accurate. They are always top finishers in the BPTR matches I attend. I have seen Pedersoli rifles at Silhouette matches here in Canada, but have only ever seen one ever at a black powder target rifle match in America and it had been re-barreled. I do know a guy who made expert class in midrange with a Pedersoli Sharps though, so obviously they can shoot. He only has Shiloh rifles now however.
At the BPTR matches I shoot in America, almost everyone has a Shiloh or a custom built rifle on an original or C. Sharps action, at least that's all I've ever seen win. Some of that is probably the "made in America" phenomenon, and some of it is likely fit and finish. The one thing I can say is that all of my Shiloh riflers have been extremely easy to get shooting competitively.
In the end I think it comes down to how much you want to spend. Assuming the rifle is well built and doesn't have a poorly cut chamber, what you see on the target will most likely be due to shooter and spotter skill more than the brand of the gun.
Chris.
At the BPTR matches I shoot in America, almost everyone has a Shiloh or a custom built rifle on an original or C. Sharps action, at least that's all I've ever seen win. Some of that is probably the "made in America" phenomenon, and some of it is likely fit and finish. The one thing I can say is that all of my Shiloh riflers have been extremely easy to get shooting competitively.
In the end I think it comes down to how much you want to spend. Assuming the rifle is well built and doesn't have a poorly cut chamber, what you see on the target will most likely be due to shooter and spotter skill more than the brand of the gun.
Chris.
- Location
- Juan de Fuca subduction zone Yiiikes
Here are mine. I sold the saddle rifle (second from the top) so I’m down to three
. Might spring for another, who knows, anyway comparing a Shiloh to a Pedersoli is like comparing a Norinco to a Les Baer. However if you don’t have a lot of money, nothing wrong with the Pedersoli.
View attachment 391337
. Might spring for another, who knows, anyway comparing a Shiloh to a Pedersoli is like comparing a Norinco to a Les Baer. However if you don’t have a lot of money, nothing wrong with the Pedersoli.View attachment 391337
I own three Sharps rifles, a Pedersoli 1874 rifle in .45-70, a Shiloh Sharps 1874 rifle in .45-120 and an antique 1863 Sharps carbine that was converted by the US Government to .50-70 in the late 1860s. I have shot all three.
The Pedersoli rifles are excellent in my experience. Although the fit and finish on the Shiloh is definitely nicer, I wouldn’t compare it to the vast difference between a Norinco firearm and something else like a Colt or Kimber etc... the difference I’d argue is closer than that. Further, the barrel quality on the Pedersoli is also excellent, and it is capable of very good accuracy. I haven’t compared my Shiloh to my Pedersoli given the different nature of the two rifle calibers, but I’m very confident in the accuracy of the Pedersoli.
If this is your first foray into BPCR shooting, I’d personally recommend a Pedersoli in .45-70. Not only is the rifle cheaper, but a common caliber will make life so much easier in many ways. I have a very hard time finding .45-120 brass while .45-70 brass is plentiful and (relatively) cheap. The extra money you save in buying a Pedersoli will pay dividends when used for ammo, powder and range time.
The Pedersoli rifles are excellent in my experience. Although the fit and finish on the Shiloh is definitely nicer, I wouldn’t compare it to the vast difference between a Norinco firearm and something else like a Colt or Kimber etc... the difference I’d argue is closer than that. Further, the barrel quality on the Pedersoli is also excellent, and it is capable of very good accuracy. I haven’t compared my Shiloh to my Pedersoli given the different nature of the two rifle calibers, but I’m very confident in the accuracy of the Pedersoli.
If this is your first foray into BPCR shooting, I’d personally recommend a Pedersoli in .45-70. Not only is the rifle cheaper, but a common caliber will make life so much easier in many ways. I have a very hard time finding .45-120 brass while .45-70 brass is plentiful and (relatively) cheap. The extra money you save in buying a Pedersoli will pay dividends when used for ammo, powder and range time.
Simple answer? Yes!
I only own one so far, a Montana Roughrider dressed to the max in 40-90 Sharps Straight, but I intend to own more!
If you are wanting to cut the wait time ordering one contact Bill Goodman Guns.
I used to have 3 of them one in 54 the other two in 45/70 They all shot very well, cleaning after the match was very easy. I shot with another fellow who had a Pedersoli in 45/70 His first time to Bethune he was shooting with the master class shooters after the first days scores. We had to use a Dave Manson crowning tool to straighten out the crown on his rifle and he blew the doors off some of the other master class shooters that had high end rifles. On the other spectrum It is nice to have a custom made rifle say a Remington Hepburn with a Green mountain Barrel done up in 45/70 and compete along side all the shiloh owners and be very competitive. I would first decide what type of shooting you will use it for gong matches shooting sitting or silhouette matches shooting prone off cross sticks. As you get older the recoil of full black loads all day long, shooting a 530gr pill starts to wear on you....I sold off my 45/70s and now play with a 40/50SS less recoil and more than enough to knock over rams at 500 with right load and practice.
I dont own any of these rifles as of yet but I can tell you this...In the fall of 2019 I toured both C. Sharps and Shiloh Sharps factories. I spent the entire day in Big Timber Montana. Both companies make beautiful rifles BUT in my experience, the Shiloh exceeds the C. Sharps hands down. Not one single piece of the Shiloh is outsourced, it's all made or built under one roof whereas the C. Sharps is not. I much preferred the fit and finish of the Shiloh as well. I met the owner at Shiloh, Robert Bryan, a fine gentleman who took me on a personal tour of even the foundry. Amazing people with phenomenal skills.
I have had the pleasure to shoot against the shiloh team at Bethune and Kirk and the gang are first class people who stand behind their product. I had a early Montana Roughrider with a 26" barrel that was my first Shiloh and it was giving me some problems. I visited Kirks trailer after the first day of shooting and showed him my rifle ,he found a broken firing pin and fixed it on the spot. They were great people to deal with , very accommodating.
I hope to see them again some day at a shoot.
I hope to see them again some day at a shoot.
