Pedersoli Sharps 1874 45-70 Range report

[ms6852]

After 10 days of suffering with the flu I decided to figure out how to post pictures off of my phone and finally did it. This are pics of my new toy and a six shot group I did at 200 yds. The two shot in the bullseye were there not mine. I shot four shots first before adjusting for winds at 12 to 16 mph gusts using Winchester 300 grain factory loads. Can't wait to start reloading with cast bullets and use 405 grainers. Still learning the ropes with cast bullets and plan to keep her smokeless powder for about a year before doing over to the dark side...black powder. As I did not have any coins to use as a reference point I used a 22 mag bullet. This gun is a really a joy to shoot that it makes me giggle in ways I did not know my voice could go there.

 

[Jimster]

Awesome! Looks like my old Quigley model.

 

[eastbank]

I shoot a pedersoli target sharps 74 repo with the 525 postel cast bullet and it shoots better than I can. we shoot(shoot at) 5 gallon cans at 500 yards. no we don,t hit them every shot but we are so close you would not want to sit there. eastbank.

 

[ms6852]

I shoot a pedersoli target sharps 74 repo with the 525 postel cast bullet and it shoots better than I can. we shoot(shoot at) 5 gallon cans at 500 yards. no we don,t hit them every shot but we are so close you would not want to sit there. eastbank.

She's a beaut, what front sight do you use on yours? Five hundred yards is impressive.

 

[LoonWulf]

beautiful guns guys....this is one itch i havent scratched yet

 

[Ks5shooter]

"Just when I was out you pull me back in" Damn I need one.

 

[Jimster]

Eastbank, that’s a spittin’ image of my EMF Pedersoli rifle. Is that a medium wght 32” barrel?
Beautiful rifle nonetheless.

 

[someguy2800]

Wow that pretty cool. I'm going to have to get one of these someday.

 

[eastbank]

my 74 pedersoli target has a 32" medium barrel in 45-70. I have only shot lead thru it, no jacketed bullets yet. the shotgun butt plate and pistol grip help with recoil. the front sight is a redfield globe that takes inserts that is mounted on a unertl base the slides into the dove tail on the barrel, a lot like the lyman 17 sight. eastbank.

 

[bannockburn]

Some very sweet looking rifles! Would be fun to try one out some day!

 

[highlander 5]

I have a Shiloh Sharps Long Range Express 34 inch barrel with a 6 power Malcolm sight,I'm not the greatest rifle shot but a friend is absolutely deadly with it. Down side the rifle weighs 14 lbs.

 

[Don McDowell]

You'll probably find your rifle will do it's best work with a 480- 530 gr bullet,with a diameter of .459-460. That 18 twist may or may not treat lighter bullets well. Keep the velocity between 1200 and 1250 fps and it should shoot nice tight groups to 1000 yards.

 

[Armored farmer]

...Maybe someday Illinois will open deer season to straight walled cartridge.

 

[ms6852]

Some very sweet looking rifles! Would be fun to try one out some day!

If you live in the San Antonio or surrounding area within an hour call me, you can shoot mine all day. We can set up on a day you are off.

 

[ms6852]

I have a Shiloh Sharps Long Range Express 34 inch barrel with a 6 power Malcolm sight

I originally wanted to buy a Shiloh Sharps but did not realize the wait time was so long. I did not want to gamble on being alive a year and a half from now.

 

[BigBore44]

You'll probably find your rifle will do it's best work with a 480- 530 gr bullet,with a diameter of .459-460. That 18 twist may or may not treat lighter bullets well. Keep the velocity between 1200 and 1250 fps and it should shoot nice tight groups to 1000 yards.

Ok Don, school me. Why does a slower twist benefit heavier bullets in a Sharps, but a slower twist benefits lighter bullets in a centerfire? Is it the velocity? Ex: My .223 has a 1/12 twist and shoots 55gr bullets very sub MOA. But stepping up to 75gr is no bueno.

 

[MEHavey]

Big/heavy 535gr 45 caliber bullets look like stubby 55-gallon drums compared to "heavy" 75gr 22's.

The heavier a small-caliber bullet gets, the more it looks like a long spindly pencil in comparison -- and the faster it needs to spin to maintain gyroscopic stability

 

[bannockburn]

ms6852

If you live in the San Antonio or surrounding area within an hour call me, you can shoot mine all day. We can set up on a day you are off.

Thanks for the kind offer but it might be awhile before I get back that way again. I was just in San Antonio last year as my wife wanted to go visit Waco (big fan of the Fixer Upper HGTV show!), and I wanted her to see the River Walk in San Antonio. Was just back in The Woodlands earlier this year for a family wedding. Love to visit family and friends in Texas every chance I get!

 

[BigBore44]

Big/heavy 535gr 45 caliber bullets look like stubby 55-gallon drums compared to "heavy" 75gr 22's.

The heavier a small-caliber bullet gets, the more it looks like a long spindly pencil in comparison -- and the faster it needs to spin to maintain gyroscopic stability

I understand gyroscopic stability. What I don’t understand is why the slow twist will potentially not work with a lighter (405gr) boolit. It still seems to be opposite of other centerfire rifles. Slow twist = stability with light bullets. Fist twist = stability with heavier bullets. But for the Sharps (and others) Slow twist = stability with heavy bullets. Fast twist = stability light bullets. Is it just the design of the bullet that causes this? Does velocity play a factor?

FYI, I don’t mean to hijack this thread. I have a Pedersoli Sharps in 45-70 and want the best information for the OP as well as myself.

 

[MEHavey]

If there's a problem with the shorter/lighter 405, it's not the twist
Try moving the 405 out further to engage the rifling faster -- as
does the 535 at it's nominal OAL.

The OTHER factor is that the big 535 is a different design -- a long-nose bore rider -- which is particular stable from the git go.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Love that poured pewter forend! BEUT!!!

I might get a Sharps someday. If'n you don't so much mind, how much did this'n sale for?

 

[ms6852]

Out the door to include taxes, adding long range rear sights and front sight total a little over $2800 but under $2900.

 

[ms6852]

You'll probably find your rifle will do it's best work with a 480- 530 gr bullet,with a diameter of .459-460. That 18 twist may or may not treat lighter bullets well. Keep the velocity between 1200 and 1250 fps and it should shoot nice tight groups to 1000 yards.

Don, Pedersoli's manual recommends I shoot .458 diameter bullets. Since I am not familiar with shooting cast bullets, would shooting the .459-.460 bullets increase the pressure to beyond Saami Specs? Since this is a replica the max pressure rating for this rifle is 29000. I was told at the range by another gentlemen that I could use .459 as well and that I would not have to size the cast bullets.

Since I am knew to this caliber and cast bullets I for the moment am playing it safe until I have concluded with all my research. Thanks for the information. This is very interesting.

 

[eastbank]

not to hi-jack this thread, but I own six rifles in 45-70 and here are two of the rifles in 45-70 that I shoot heavy loads in for hunting. a Winchester high wall and a ruger # 3 that are scoped, I shoot a load using 300-350 gr hornady bullets and a healthy dose of imr-4198, both are proven deer killers. but for just shooting enjoyment I shoot my 74 pedersoli sharps. eastbank.

 

[someguy2800]

I understand gyroscopic stability. What I don’t understand is why the slow twist will potentially not work with a lighter (405gr) boolit. It still seems to be opposite of other centerfire rifles. Slow twist = stability with light bullets. Fist twist = stability with heavier bullets. But for the Sharps (and others) Slow twist = stability with heavy bullets. Fast twist = stability light bullets. Is it just the design of the bullet that causes this? Does velocity play a factor?

FYI, I don’t mean to hijack this thread. I have a Pedersoli Sharps in 45-70 and want the best information for the OP as well as myself.

1:18 IS a fast twist in a 45-70. They are usually between 1:16 and 1:22, with 1:20 being most common. I've heard of them as slow as 1:38"