Sharps 1874, uneducated buyer

[Tatume]

Hello Folks,

Lately I have had the urge to get a Sharps rifle, but I know very little about them. Would some of you guys help to educate me?

I know I can't go wrong with a Shiloh Sharps, but I can't afford $2000 and I don't want to wait a year. What other brands are out there that are more affordable and available.

In all likelihood I will shoot smokeless powder and cast bullets. If a brand is restricted to black powder, I will probably avoid it (although I may change my mind if the gun is attractive for other reasons).

The caliber is undetermined. The 45-70 is attractive because I already load for that cartridge. Other cartridges are attactive because I don't already work with them. What can I say?

The business, sporting, or military carbine versions appeal to me, because I like short(er) rifles, and don't want to lug around 18-20 lbs. Lighter is better.

So, what can you tell me? Thanks in anticipation.

Take care, Tom

[OBCoal]

Tatume,
Pedersoli makes a high quality sharps rifle ,I have the deluxe model in 45/70. If you search the web you can buy one for under 1500.00 I gave a thousand for mine about 4 OR 5 yrs ago and i'm sure the price has gone up some. Shoots great with smokless or bp. There are cheaper brands but they are not the same quality. BTW I think that Pedersoli makes the rifle for Uberti.

[Tatume]

Hi again,

What do you fellows know about using brass cases with the 1859-1863 Sharps rifles?

http://www.possibleshop.com/did-you-know/d-y-k-shooting-1859-sharps.html

Take care, Tom

[chuebner]

Stick with Pedersoli or Uberti for an inexpensive Sharps. I picked up a Pedersoli Business Rifle about a year ago off Gunbroker for under a grand. It even came with a tang sight and globe front sight. I would suggest staying away from IAB or EMF Sharps. My shooting buddy has an IAB Sharps that keeps breaking firing pins.

Charlie

[hickstick_10]

If you cant afford a good one right away, save up for it.

Shiloh ballard may have used ones once in awhile. like the 54 caliber for 1800$ C sharps has the 1875 for a reasonable price as well.

http://www.shiloh-ballard.com/shiloh_sharps_rifles_for_sale.htm

[405]

If you cant afford a good one right away, save up for it.
Ditto!

A true story. A friend was looking for a "Sharps" about 3 years ago. We had a local gun show. Eureka!!! I found a used, in A+ shape, Shiloh Sharps 74 in 45-70 for 1500. I grabbed the friend, showed it to him and explained all the details about it yadayadayada and that he would be a fool not to get it. He didn't get it. He wanted a 45-110 bygolly! because he had heard about the 45-110. I washed my hands as adviser. He ended up buying a so-called "Sharps 74" Armi Sport 45-110 for about 1300. Sad story. Something about horses and water?[smilie=b:

[Don McDowell]

Hello Folks,

Lately I have had the urge to get a Sharps rifle, but I know very little about them. Would some of you guys help to educate me?

I know I can't go wrong with a Shiloh Sharps, but I can't afford $2000 and I don't want to wait a year. What other brands are out there that are more affordable and available.

In all likelihood I will shoot smokeless powder and cast bullets. If a brand is restricted to black powder, I will probably avoid it (although I may change my mind if the gun is attractive for other reasons).

The caliber is undetermined. The 45-70 is attractive because I already load for that cartridge. Other cartridges are attactive because I don't already work with them. What can I say?

The business, sporting, or military carbine versions appeal to me, because I like short(er) rifles, and don't want to lug around 18-20 lbs. Lighter is better.

So, what can you tell me? Thanks in anticipation.

Take care, Tom

Buy an IAB or maybe even three, get six if you can find em used. You'll be much happier that way.:groner:

[mattbowen]

tatume;

The wife bought me a Pedersoli for Christmas from Track of the wolf ( http://www.trackofthewolf.com/%28S%284gxp335zxepkjg5gsclgnrwu%29%29/index.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1&as=1&as=1 ) and love the way it shoots but they sell other makes there also the last time I looked they had a CSharps also for right at 1400.00

[cajun shooter]

Why buy a rifle that is designed for Black powder and then do everything you can to use it in another way. I agree with DON and think you should buy all the off brand Sharps that you may find. I am not trying to put down on you but it seems as if you would be a much happier person with a more modern rifle. My reasons are that you seem to be unaware that although the modern Sharps are able to fire that other powder they are "NOT DESIGNED TO SHOOT A STEADY DIET" of it. If you are going to shoot mild loads in the 15000 FPS range then you will not have a problem but if you intend to shoot hot fast rounds then you have picked the wrong rifle for all the wrong reasons. I don't think any of the builders will say it's not a problem. I have heard that Pedersoli test rounds are at 45,000 but that is just hearsay.

[mattbowen]

I have to agree with Don and Cajun my rifle shoots far better at slower velocities, I group at about two inch groups with a 405gr boolit at about 1500fps but come down to about 1200fps and my groups come down to about 1.5 to 1.25 at 100. I want to shoot the black but can't find anybody who sells it all they want to sell are the subs.

If you are going to keep it down to the velocities that they were designed for then you will have a lot of fun but if you want to go to go much over the 1500 mark then I would look more toward the Ruger.

[Dave B]

Cabelas has a Pedersoli Sharps for about $1000. It's their hunting model, with a matte finish on the bbl. They shoot great.

[doubs43]

Cabelas has a Pedersoli Sharps for about $1000. It's their hunting model, with a matte finish on the bbl. They shoot great.

I bought the identical rifle last year for $800 when they were on sale. Two and a half weeks ago I used it to out-shoot three Shiloh Sharps. I use a duplex load that pushes a 320 grain boolit at a flat 1600 fps. Accuracy is excellent.

I've used my duplex load in a Miroku Winchester 1885 Hi-Wall, a C. Sharps 1875 Business rifle, my 1874 Pedersoli and my 1895 Marlin CB rifle. The C. Sharps in particular has had many, many thousands of my duplex rounds through it and it's as tight today as it was when I bought it second hand in 1991... 5 round groups of 1.25" at 108 yards are common.

Buy a Pedersoli now and shoot it while you save for a C. Sharps or Shiloh. In time you may find that you don't need to buy another rifle at all.

[mattbowen]

doubs43;

What type of duplex load do you use? You Sir have sparked my interest.

[Tatume]

Hi Fellows,

I didn't say I'm going to shoot high-velociity ammo. My modern 45-70 rifles are fed a stead diet of ammo in the 1350 - 1400 fps range. I just plan to use smokeless powder to do it.

Take care, Tom

[doubs43]

doubs43;

What type of duplex load do you use? You Sir have sparked my interest.

It's a compressed load in either R-P or Starline brass. I use a standard LR primer, 3.0 grains of WW-231 and 57.0 grains of WC-860, a surplus 50 cal. machinegun ball powder. I started with AA-8700 until it was no longer available. Surplus WC-872 from Wiedners should work also on a grain-for-grain substitution.

Either the 300 grain RCBS GC boolit which comes out about 320 grains with the GC seated, or the 300 grain SAECO plain base boolit that weighs 306-307 grains as cast work equally well. I seat them to crimp just above the top drive band.

I've been shooting this load for over 20 years and many members of our club have also used it with excellent results.

The only danger is a double charge of the WW-231 and I cannot accept responsibility for any mistakes in loading that others may make as I can't control their procedure. You can't stuff enough WC-860 or WC-872 into a 45-70 case to create high pressures. Over a chronograph I get 1600 fps with an average deviation of 10 fps... extremely consistent.

[Dave B]

My Pedersoli Sharps loves 27gr AA5744 with Ranch Dogs 350gr sized to .460 and the gas check left off. Accurate ,easy shooter.

[mattbowen]

doubs43;

Thanks for the reply I am going to have to look in to this load. I wonder if Hodgdon's BMG powder is close to 860 or 872.

[doubs43]

doubs43; Thanks for the reply I am going to have to look in to this load. I wonder if Hodgdon's BMG powder is close to 860 or 872.

I'm not familiar with Hodgdon's BMG powder so I can't say. Some 50 caliber powder is extruded and won't fill the case like ball powder does.

I'll add that you can also reduce the amount of WC-860 or 872 and use heavier boolits than the 320 grain types. You should be able to get 1400+ fps with a 405 grain boolit easily enough. Just remember to use a compressed load to get the slow powder burning.

The first load I gave you doesn't recoil sharply but is more of a shove. It's a very pleasant load to shoot and will take down a full size steel ram at least to 350 yards reliably.

[SamTexas49]

All the Sharps availabe our goodguns, But come on , A Sharps made in America!!! I know everyone cant have the experience I did back in 1985 when I drove up to the Shiloh Sharps Location, walked in and then out same day with a Sharps 45/70 Saddle Rifle but being there, talking to the folks, seeing the works in Montana, In America!! Can it get any better ??

[mattbowen]

Thanks doubs43 I appreciate it.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

What can I say; they are very addictive, I started with one and ended up with a rack full all Pedersolis'

Unless your particularly set on a Sharps, their 38/55 'Target" (that I'm holding)with it's fast twist 1:12" barrel is the easiest BPCR I've ever had to tune, darn thing is very accurate. Loaded with a 374gn cast boolit it's not far behind the 45/70 and would make a good target or hunting rifle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Picture028.jpg

[doubs43]

That's a nice collection of Pedersoli Sharps, BAW. I only have the one but it's a SHOOTER!

[161]

I picked up a Pedersoli Billy Dixon Model about two months ago. Never owned or shot one before. I was worried about it not being made in the USA but the fit and finish is very good. Paid $950 for the gun 200 rnds of 45-70 a set of dies and about 150 405 gr boolits. It has the pedersoli rear tang sight. I didn't have tome to shoot it much before the cold set in. But I shot a few 1.5 groups at 100 yrds. I know the powder was 5744 but not how much. I loaded 26 gr of 5744 just haven't had time to shoot them. I like the rifle. It has never had BP shot in it.
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[161]

I see I posted 5477 instead of 5744 sorry I'm dyslexic.:sad:
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