My new Sharps!!!

[alemonkey]

Ok, so I'm a little excited....I just got the rifle I've wanted since I was a little kid. Pedersoli 1874 Sharps, .45-70, 32" barrel with Vernier tang sight and globe front. The only thing I would change would be to have a straight stock instead of the pistol grip, but I couldn't pass up the deal on this rifle. The pistol grip is more "ergonomic" but I like the looks of the straight stock better on the Sharps. Can't wait to get to the range with this one....

 

[iamkris]

I have the Billy Dixon Pedersoli model...almost a twin of yours. When I'm doing my part, the rifle can print 1-1/8" 100 yard groups. Not every time but often enough that it makes it interesting.

 

[alemonkey]

I think I saw a pic of your Billy Dixon in another thread....that's hands down my favorite Sharps.

 

[adobewalls]

iamkris, do you mind sharing what you are feeding yours?

I have done 4-inches at a 100, but found I have to get used to using open sights all over again (and wishing I were 20 years younger). That's the real benefit that I see with these rifles, they force you to go back to the fundamentals of marksmanship.

 

[ArmedBear]

Feed it something delicious.

520 grain cast bullets, two milk carton punchouts, over 68+ grains of GOEX through a drop tube. It'll love that.

My wife and our friends love it, too. Not shooting it, eating what it shot.

That's the real benefit that I see with these rifles, they force you to go back to the fundamentals of marksmanship.

The real benefit is the buffalo meat in the freezer.

Have fun with that thing! They're magical, somehow. Hard to explain.

 

[1200 meters]

I'm a newbie here. Been a shooter a very long time ,b ut only recently acquired a pedersoli 1874 Quigly model 45=110 I have loaded and shot about 100 rounds, but not grouped them yet. I've hit 788yd man size silhouette after some lengthly ranging with the Vernier. I've chronied my rounds and found them to have too great a spread in velocity. They are running between 1580 and 1640 fps. I read where the competitive shooters are loading speeds in the mid 1400s. don't know how they slow them down.
Of course the 34 inch barrel may have something to do with burn time. The kick is tolerable for me, but I'm not sure about a whole day's shooting. Blitz

 

[stubbicatt]

I had a Pedersoli Sharps in 40-65 for awhile. It was a fun rifle to shoot, but it was a serious pain to futz with. Fouling became an issue very quickly. Blowing down the little tube to keep the fouling soft left much to be desired in my experience.

It was sort of fun, but I think I prefer shooting modern cartridges and 22 long rifles more.

 

[tallpaul]

Gee I thought ya meant a Shiloh....

Have fun with that gun. They seem to work fine. I have two Never been shot since the factory Shiloh #1 heavy barrel with pewter fore end caps form the early nineties - I think. A group of us ordered em and dad could not buy his when it came so I grabbed it too... I have just not got around to shooting them yet. They are really pretty though

 

[iamkris]

do you mind sharing what you are feeding yours?

405 gr Meister LFN, 38.5 gr IMR 3031, CCI LR primer, S-L case, crimp to groove

This load will print 2-1/2" VERY consistently but every once in a while I get the magic juices flowing and we get a real gem. I've tried BPCR loading and haven't quite figured out that mojo yet.

 

[fineredmist]

Congratulations on your purchase, it is a fine rifle and it will give you a great deal of pleasure. My next single shot will be similiar to yours but until then I will enjoy my Uberti High Walls. This combination works very well in my .45-70 so I will pass it on:

Winchester brass - neck sized - Lyman neck sizing die - Lee Expander Die
Winchester Large Rifle Primers
Bullets - Lazer Cast 405 gr. and 350 gr.
Powder - Accurate 5744 - 28 gr (both 405 and 350 gr bullets)
OAL - 2.550" - Lee seating die - bullet is a bit longer than if seated to the
crimp
Light crimp with a Lee Factory crimp die.

This combination gives me a average velocity of 1285 fps and 1325 fps with the 405 and 350 respectively with low recoil and good accuracy.
On the rare occassion when everthing comes together and the devil Murphy is on vacation this load will shoot under 1" at 100 yds.

My High Wall has a Pedersoli Soule sight set which is as good as anything on the market. Shooting with these sights is a learning experience as you must experiment with the rear sight (apperture adjustment) as well as the selection of the front insert. Set the rifle up on a good rest and experiment with the sights without shooting and you will be suprised at the differences in the combinations. These sights were used 100+ years ago in 1000 yd competition so they will work at 100 yds.

Enjoy your new toy.

 

[Chuck R.]

iamkris, do you mind sharing what you are feeding yours?

A while back I wrote an article on BPCR reloading that was published in one of the single shot rifle rags. If you're interested PM me with an Email address and I'll send you a copy.

Chuck

 

[browningguy]

The 45-70 is a very nice piece, I shoot a Browning 1885 High Wall with the striaght grip stock and tang peep sight. Mine pushes a 300 gr. FP at 2100 FPS with no problems at all, not sure what the Sharps is rated for pressure wise but most of the reloading manuals give loads for original Sharps, modern lever actions, and Ruger No.1 and modern Browning High Wall.

 

[ArmedBear]

Blowing down the little tube to keep the fouling soft left much to be desired in my experience.

"Little tube?" All you have to do is breathe down the barrel when the breech is open. Works fine.

 

[Vaarok]

Awesome. I think the Sharps and equivalents are the US analogy for the Continental European double-shotgun. The ultimate luxury firearm in our shooting culture.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Congratulations on the new Sharp's! Also being from Lincoln I am curious as to where you go shooting. I would be nice to have good 200 yard plus range for a rifle like that.

 

[alemonkey]

Thanks Mikee,

I'm planning on joining the Isaac Walton League. They have a 300 yard range where they host a big-bore single shot silhouette shoot once a month or so. I've never been out there, but I work with a guy who's a member and he says it's a pretty nice range.

fineredmist - Thanks for the load data, I think I'll give that a try. I was going to pick up some Trail Boss today, but they were all out at the store. I did pick up the brass and some 405 grain cast boolits though. I was all excited to put some loads together tonight.

not sure what the Sharps is rated for pressure wise but most of the reloading manuals give loads for original Sharps, modern lever actions, and Ruger No.1 and modern Browning High Wall.

According to the manual, Pedersoli rates them for 29,000 CUP, which I believe is just above where most factory ammo is loaded to.

 

[alemonkey]

Well, I shot it for the first time today and I'm happier than Rosie O'Donnell with a dozen donuts. My best group for the day was 3 shots in almost exactly 1" at 100 yards, with most groups being around 2-3". I have a feeling with some load development and practice I can shrink that a lot.

The best part was hearing the bullet strike the berm behind the target a split second after the BOOM. That was a hoot.

 

[iamkris]

Yup, most people are pretty amazed at the kind of groups you can get with "that old rifle" and iron sights.

 

[alemonkey]

Yeah, I knew they were capable of that kind of accuracy, but I was still surprised when it proved it the first time out.