1874 Sharps 45-70

[Austin Edwards]

Hello Everyone,
I just picked up a chiappa 1874 Sharps Sporting 32 inch barrel in 45-70.(I know there not the best sharps remakes out there)
I Picked up a Pedersoli soule type middle range creedmore, with a pedersoli #S10 Globe.
Two things.
1- The gun shot great with the factory sights, but there were a bit hard to use.
2- Now that I have the sights on correct. ( I leveled the gun and checked to make sure soule sight was leved and squared) I am shooting about 8-10 inches high at 100 yards.
I have read on other forums that the gun needs to shoot a heaver grain bullet.
(405 grain hsm cowboy loads, just wanted to shoot some surplus ammo I had to get it somewhat sighted in before I went with other ammo. Tried multiple brands of ammo and they all shot high)
Will I have to get a taller front sight or should I try loading heavier bullets. I do plan on hand loading for this rifle same as I do with my other guns.
I plan on shooting 50-150 for hunting and range shooting with the chances of shooting out to 500 yards when permitted.
Thanks for any and all help.

 

[mustanger98]

2- Now that I have the sights on correct. ( I leveled the gun and checked to make sure soule sight was leved and squared) I am shooting about 8-10 inches high at 100 yards.
I have read on other forums that the gun needs to shoot a heaver grain bullet.
(405 grain hsm cowboy loads, just wanted to shoot some surplus ammo I had to get it somewhat sighted in before I went with other ammo. Tried multiple brands of ammo and they all shot high)
Will I have to get a taller front sight or should I try loading heavier bullets. I do plan on hand loading for this rifle same as I do with my other guns.
I plan on shooting 50-150 for hunting and range shooting with the chances of shooting out to 500 yards when permitted.
Thanks for any and all help.

You said you installed a Pedersoli globe sight... What height is it? I'm thinking for your 50-150yd shooting, you need to swap it off for taller. While I've used a globe sight, or maybe because I've used one, I wouldn't recommend hunting with it. I assume that barrel has a 3/8" dovetail... I'd recommend a 1/16" fake ivory bead which Marbles makes and MidwayUSA has them in a variety of heights and base widths. I think getting the correct height front sight will solve it.

While you could load up some heavier bullets... it might be interesting to compare the 405's, for accuracy/groups/whatever, to 425's and up through 550's or so... I don't know that you necessarily must. The rifle will tell you what works best.

 

[Austin Edwards]

Thank you for the information.
What should I measure to find out what the current height of my globe. from the base of the dove tail to the center of the globe or the overall length.
And yes the dovetail is 3/8. I want to confirm the correct height before I start reloading fully. I am completely new to this type of shooting so i figured asking here and getting as much information I can.

 

[mustanger98]

Thank you for the information.
What should I measure to find out what the current height of my globe. from the base of the dove tail to the center of the globe or the overall length.
And yes the dovetail is 3/8. I want to confirm the correct height before I start reloading fully. I am completely new to this type of shooting so i figured asking here and getting as much information I can.

That's it... bottom of the dovetail to center of the globe. (Not the overall length as that's front-to-back... or did you mean overall height, but that's a false reading that'll put you way off the other way.) Your new front sight needs to be taller than that.

I used to have the formula, which I found online, for figuring the difference in either direction. It's probably still out there.

 

[loose noose]

Sure would like a few photos of the gun especially with the front and rear sights that you just installed, incidentally I also have a 1874 Sharps remake, however I don't recall the brand name off hand. I know for a fact it will hit the steel buffalo out to 500 yards at the Las Vegas Military range, using hand casted 405 grain flat nosed bullets, during a CAS shoot that was held there, about 15 years ago. Note I also installed a Creedmore rear and front sight on mine.

 

[Jim Watson]

Most "Buffalo Rifles" have a sight radius near enough 36" that you can rule of thumb 0.01" on the sight is a MOA on the targets.
That is probably what your tang sight is graduated in.

Heavier bullets might strike lower, but why limit yourself? Go with a taller front.
I had a combination that could not be zeroed at 100 yards, but I didn't care because I shot it in BPCR Silhouette and Midrange, nothing closer than 200.