Shiloh Sharps Hartford model

[FarNorth45]

It sounds like you will be mostly knocking around the woods and hunting with this rifle. You described little chance to lay on a target range with a heavy target rifle - just a few short steps from the vehicle.

You might want to consider the weight of the 12 pound sharps as too heavy. A lighter barrel will serve as well for 99% of what you describe. 30 inches for hunting is long and 28 inches might fit the tasks even better. You may be a bull moose of a woodsman now, but in the years to come the wise choice of a more weight friendly rifle to carry will pay off.

I have a lot of big heavy target rifles but when it came to hunting I built a 50-90 using a half round 28 inch barrel. Much lighter to pack around for days on end. You give up little in velocity or sight radius.

Half the fun is in the choosing.
Just my 2 cents worth.

I'm sorry i probably should have tried to be a little more clear on my main intentions for this gun . Guess i got a little to wound up about finally getting a Sharps ha!ha
So first and foremost this rifle will be for target shooting, i have a 200yrd range in my front yardwith a lot of steel targets . And i have access to 1000yrds close by . I have plenty of other guns to hunt with , but it would be kinda kool to take a bear/moose maybe with it . Hunting season here is usually very wet ..... so theres a good chance i never would drag it out in the weather !!! Ha!ha .... so guys i should've explained my main intentions for this rifle better

[FarNorth45]

Very nice looking rifle. Especially like the Hartford collar. The shotgun butt is definitely a must with the 45 Calibers. in regards to straight grip and pistol grip Sharps the explanation that Deadeye Bly gives above is spot on. The vast majority of original 1874 Sharps Sporting Rifles were configured with straight grips.

PS
A surprising number of Shiloh Sharps were sold in Anchorage and Fairbanks over the years. Bought my first Shiloh in 1979 from Gun and Ammo at Turpin and DeBarr In Anchorage.. It was a 50-140 with a rifle buttstock. Really tough on the shoulder. Several years later I sold it and bought a Number 1 Sporter in 50-140 also, it had a shotgun butt and was a quite a bit more pleasant to shoot off a the bench. John W of Anchorage cut a custom 615 grain GC Mold that really shot well in that rifle. In the 1980’s a group of us used to gather at Bill Fuller’s Shop in Cooper Landing and shoot Sharps Buffalo Rifles. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday were busy. Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s especially. I recall one afternoon during this time, when I counted over 14 original 1874 Sharps Sporting Rifles and 7 Sharps Borschardt’s in Bills shop. About 5 Shilohs were present that day also. At the time I was campaigning a Octagon topped heavy barrel Sharps Borschardt Sporting Rifle in 45-110. Seeing these seven Borschardts together, I asked the owners if I could weight and measure their rifles. Bill had a 2’x2’x3’ tall metal cabinet with a wood top that stood by itself in between his workbench and loading bench. As I weighted and measured the barrel on each rifle, I opened the lever and placed it on its back on the cabinet mentioned above. This allowed us to see the serial numbers. I recall one of the other six rifles being within 10 numbers of mine. Here it was 107 years later and the two rifles were reunited. After 10 minutes in this configuration, I returned the rifles to the gun rack. What an afternoon!
Rick

Awesome story , thanks for sharing !!! I live out by Shilak Lake , not far from cooper landing. It still amazes me to listen to stories from boss and older guys who has lived here for a long time , all the things that people did and had here ! I think people got out and done more things years ago . Now it gets so over run in the summer here on the kenai peninsula that i just go to work and straight home to hide ha!ha . I need to check in Anchorage at Great northen guns to see what they got . I wish there was some BPCR events here , or even just a bunch of nice people to have a shoot !

[FarNorth45]

Attachment 265217

This is my idea of a hunting rifle and I would not change a thing, well maybe one thing, I would let them add sling swivels tapped to the barrel and buttstock.
The rifle comes in right at 10# with a 30" light weight octagon barrel as you see it and the light weight barrel does not take the back seat to the heavy for accuracy.
It's chambered in the .44-77 caliber and the second choice would be the .45-70. These two calibers will bring down any game on this Continent in fine shape.
I don't use it for match shooting other then busting rocks or bowling pins. For match that is what the other Sharps are used for.

That's a fine looking rifle !!!! I agree for hunting that's a great setup, I'm sure i will eventually own at least a couple . This one i mainly want for a target rifle. But I'm sure I'll need to get another rifle for just hunting ..... sometime in the future???

[Lead pot]

If I was to get another Shiloh for target and I really would like another but at 80 years I'm a short timer in this game so the 2.5 year wait is out, but it would be a 2.4 1877 with a 32" 1/2 round barrel for target work.
I just like the lines of the 77's. I have a 77 Axtell in the .45-2.6 but it holds more powder then needed for the 1000.
This rifle has a 34" 1/2 round.
Attachment 265229

[Deadeye Bly]

I don't think there are any serious organized matches near you but some shooters in Anchorage have what they call a "clang and bang" match once a month. Mike Deland and Leo Remiger are regular attendees. You might try contacting one of them. Mike Deland posts over on the Shiloh forum.

[FarNorth45]

If I was to get another Shiloh for target and I really would like another but at 80 years I'm a short timer in this game so the 2.5 year wait is out, but it would be a 2.4 1877 with a 32" 1/2 round barrel for target work.
I just like the lines of the 77's. I have a 77 Axtell in the .45-2.6 but it holds more powder then needed for the 1000.
This rifle has a 34" 1/2 round.
Attachment 265229

Lead Pot , that is a gorgeous rifle !! The wood grain is perfect in my opinion. Did you build that case ? If you don't mind me asking , how long have you been shooting Sharps ? I've always wanted one since i was a kid , but a few series of unpreventable events through life has kept me from affording one . Although there is times i wasted money on other things that could have been put towards one for sure...... and i would have definitely been better off today if i would've Ha!ha . But better late than never i guess .

[FarNorth45]

I don't think there are any serious organized matches near you but some shooters in Anchorage have what they call a "clang and bang" match once a month. Mike Deland and Leo Remiger are regular attendees. You might try contacting one of them. Mike Deland posts over on the Shiloh forum.

I will have to look into that , i think there maybe a couple guys that shoot out at the Soldotna gun range . Maybe a guy could round up a few people and get a couple shoots going . It would be worth a try for sure !

[Lead pot]

Lead Pot , that is a gorgeous rifle !! The wood grain is perfect in my opinion. Did you build that case ? If you don't mind me asking , how long have you been shooting Sharps ? I've always wanted one since i was a kid , but a few series of unpreventable events through life has kept me from affording one . Although there is times i wasted money on other things that could have been put towards one for sure...... and i would have definitely been better off today if i would've Ha!ha . But better late than never i guess .

I got my first Sharps in the 90's but I mostly been shooting Rollers since 1954 when they were $12. out of the back pages of the NRA magazine. Couldn't afford the Sharps that cost up in the 20's so the rollers were it and mostly between then and the first repo sharps a Pedersoli like most of us here the expenses went for Family stuff getting kids raised so the Sharps like you were just a twinkle in the eyes.
That rifle came in the case like you see it except for the breach seating tool. It is also set up for a heal sight for shooting the spine position when I bought it but it's missing a part that locks the sight upright under spring pressure.

Attachment 265268

[FarNorth45]

That is i really nice rifle Lead Pot !!!! I'm hoping i will be able to make a purchase tomorrow..... but i will just halft to wait and see . I'm just sitting and watching sharps sell left and right !!! ...... come on money , i needs a new rifle lol !! I even ordered a new Lyman 535gr Postell mold and have been casting bullets for a new gun i haven't got yet . Built a drop tube , making a under sized steel dummy bullet for compression loads for now and have a couple thousand wads ready to go Ha!ha

[FarNorth45]

My new Shiloh Sharps Hartford will be here Wednesday!!!!!! Emailed Steve Baldwin , ordered his Long Range Sight and Front Sight ..... What a stand up Guy !!!! He is sending Sights tomorrow in the mail tomorrow, with a bill in the box and then i send payment ? I'm kinda blown away by that !!! Glad i choose to do buisness with Him .

[smoked turkey]

FarNorth45 I love it when the plan comes together! I really enjoyed reading and now rereading this thread for the second time. I have a couple of C Sharps rifles; one in 45-120 and one in 45-70. Haven't had them out shooting in too long. I think I'll have to remedy that. Congratulations on your new Shiloh Sharps Hartford. My 45-120 is in need of tang sight as it now only has a buckhorn rear sight (set up for hunting, but it's really too heavy). I might need to give Steve Baldwin a call.

[FarNorth45]

FarNorth45 I love it when the plan comes together! I really enjoyed reading and now rereading this thread for the second time. I have a couple of C Sharps rifles; one in 45-120 and one in 45-70. Haven't had them out shooting in too long. I think I'll have to remedy that. Congratulations on your new Shiloh Sharps Hartford. My 45-120 is in need of tang sight as it now only has a buckhorn rear sight (set up for hunting, but it's really too heavy). I might need to give Steve Baldwin a call.

Thanks Smoked Turkey,
Steve sent me a tracking number today , I'm new to Sharps and for the most part BPRC . I have read a lot about the different sights and was really thinking about a MVA . At the last minute i decided to go with Steve's front and rear sight . Glad i did , I've never had some do that and i would bet anything his customer service is second to none . To bad the whole world can't be like that !!
I hope one day to have more than one Sharps....
and you need to show them Sharps some Attention!!!!! Ha!ha

[Deadeye Bly]

I think you will be quite pleased with your purchase.

[FarNorth45]

Man oh man !!!! I think thats all i can say at the moment Haha
I would say it was worth all the wait , but thats not completely true..... i should have pulled the trigger on one years ago !!! I'm addicted, now the fun part of working up some match grade rounds !!!

[FarNorth45]

Pretty lucky to have my own shooting range right in my front yard . Right now i have a 200yrd capable, but i think that i can clear some more and get 300-400 yrds . My gun club 25 miles away does have a 1000yrd also .

[Big Mak]

Congrats FarNorth!
I pick up mine tomorrow!
My wait was 2 years and 2 months. I ordered it on the day I retired.

[FarNorth45]

Congrats FarNorth!
I pick up mine tomorrow!
My wait was 2 years and 2 months. I ordered it on the day I retired.

Thanks Big Mak , and congratulations on your new rifle ........ Man , i don't know if i could ever make a 2 year wait !! I'm just to impatient, i get thoughts like , What if the world ends before i get it ??? or what if some tourist runs over me before i even get to see my new rifle ???
Ha!ha

[sharps4590]

Heck, when Shiloh, C. Sharps and all the others were at their peak I ordered my 3rd Shiloh, a #1 Sporter. 5 years and 5 months later it arrived. I ordered it, paid for it and forgot about it until it arrived......but I also had two others to shoot.