Sharps .45-70

[Driftwood Johnson]

I said this before.

I don't see the sense of buying a heavy caliber rifle with a crescent shaped butt plate, then using a recoil pad to prevent the points of a crescent shaped butt plate from digging into the flesh of the meaty part of the shoulder. That is why I bought my Pedersoli Sharps with a flat, shotgun style butt plate. Recoil from my Black Powder 45-70 loads is stout, but it does not hurt. Just a firm shove.

 

[Jim Watson]

My genuwine Windchester sangle shooter over a hunnert years old with one of them crescent moon butts was a hard kicker even in little old .38-55. Pads just interfered with a uniform position. I bought an inexpensive shotgun butt replacement stock and became a much happier shooter.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I said this before.

I don't see the sense of buying a heavy caliber rifle with a crescent shaped butt plate, then using a recoil pad to prevent the points of a crescent shaped butt plate from digging into the flesh of the meaty part of the shoulder. That is why I bought my Pedersoli Sharps with a flat, shotgun style butt plate. Recoil from my Black Powder 45-70 loads is stout, but it does not hurt. Just a firm shove.

Not arguing with you, sir. Just offering a suggestion for those of us who already have the crescent shaped buttplate like my Pedersoli.

 

[Armored farmer]

AF, I purchased many years ago, a Past Magnum recoil pad. It fits under a jacket, vest or hoodie, is light and easy to slip on and off. It's allowed me to shoot magnum loads in my CF rifles as well as my BP loads in the Sharps...highly recommended.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100251390?pid=367156

Yup, I have one of those. They work great. I bought it shortly after I hurt my shoulder.

 

[tallpaul]

Man, that's a Beautiful rifle!

I created a thread with picts of both of mine for you to see... in this forum

 

[Armored farmer]

Yet another rainy day in SE Illinois has harvest work delayed. We are getting late in the season and praying for Indian Summer...
I've been daydreaming about the Sharps again. I stopped by my lgs to discuss this with my dealer(pusher).
He says that I want a Pedersoli. It is a quality piece. ....
I'm looking at the Buffalo Special. It comes with the tang mounted sight. 30inch barrel. Shotgun stock. Pistol grip.
https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/storage/app/uploads/public/5f6/8c4/225/5f68c4225a08c390183369.jpeg
I have zero experience with the tang sight...
Is this what I want for long range gong ringing and possibly hunting?

 

[MEHavey]

The Pedersoli is a "Best Value" in the Sharps game.
Tang sight is normal... just a "more competent" aperture.
https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/tang-sight-and-thumb.570143/post-7623933

The rifle is by design heavy.
- How much?
- What kind of hunting? and
- What distances gongs ?

 

[Armored farmer]

I'm a true 'old school' hunter and shooter. I enjoy the challenge of black powder shooting. I hunt deer here at home with a Hawken. 54., and compete and hunt with a flintlock. I can seemyself playing with loads, casting bullets, and shooting 400-500yds outbehind the shop. I have a shooting bench and ¾mile of property behind it.

I would also like to take it hog hunting with me to TX, and possibly antelope out west.
I'm still hoping that Illinois will allow straight wall cartridges for deer hunting...but not holding my breath for that!

 

[Captain*kirk]

The stock Pedersoli sight should do fine for starters. If you run out of adjustment you might look at the Lee Shaver sights but they can be pricey. I'm ringing gongs with mine out to 130 yards (that's all my BP range allows) and plenty of adjustment left (see pic) shooting 535gr Postells.



Lee Shaver website:

https://stores.leeshavergunsmithing.com/

 

[Captain*kirk]

Oh, and case nobody tells you...when opening the breech on a Sharps, put the hammer in half cock or you can damage the firing pin.

 

[Jim Watson]

Lee Shaver sells an economy model tang sight.
I THINK that it is an inexpensive staff with his Soule windage.
The one I had was fine in windage but the scale on the vernier elevation was uneven and the shank of the eyepiece was small and dark.
I would not do it again, I could have saved money overall by going to the Baldwin I ended up with or an MVA, full house Shaver, or Kelley.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Oh, and case nobody tells you...when opening the breech on a Sharps, put the hammer in half cock or you can damage the firing pin.

Yup

 

[dave951]

A big +1 for Lee Shaver sights. Here's a set on my original 1869 rolling block

 

[Jim Watson]

Right, I think the standard Shaver is as good as any.
And those spirit levels are a big help, the ones inside the globe are better than the ones hanging out the rear in varying light.
The first time I ever shot a rifle with spirit level, I had four consecutive hits on the gong, missed the fifth. The rifle's owner said "Took your eye off the level, didn't you?"

 

[tallpaul]

The stock Pedersoli sight should do fine for starters. If you run out of adjustment you might look at the Lee Shaver sights but they can be pricey. I'm ringing gongs with mine out to 130 yards (that's all my BP range allows) and plenty of adjustment left (see pic) shooting 535gr Postells.

View attachment 1034851

Lee Shaver website:

https://stores.leeshavergunsmithing.com/

I looked at the sight options and went with the MVA... great rep and the price to go with em... I just could not put cheap sights on the Shiloh to start...

 

[dave951]

I looked at the sight options and went with the MVA... great rep and the price to go with em... I just could not put cheap sights on the Shiloh to start...

While MVA are great sights, I would in no way take anything away from the Shaver sights. The only difference between them is "pretty" and price. The other sights like Pedersoli and some euro knockoffs have some issues in repeatability and quality.

 

[whughett]

I'm a true 'old school' hunter and shooter. I enjoy the challenge of black powder shooting. I hunt deer here at home with a Hawken. 54., and compete and hunt with a flintlock. I can seemyself playing with loads, casting bullets, and shooting 400-500yds outbehind the shop. I have a shooting bench and ¾mile of property behind it.

I would also like to take it hog hunting with me to TX, and possibly antelope out west.
I'm still hoping that Illinois will allow straight wall cartridges for deer hunting...but not holding my breath for that!

Ever consider a YouTube channel on your farming hunting shooting life. I guarantee you’ll build subscribers rapidly. At least the equal of CornStar.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Ever consider a YouTube channel on your farming hunting shooting life. I guarantee you’ll build subscribers rapidly. At least the equal of CornStar.

+1 on that!

 

[eastbank]

my pedersoli 74 loves big postell bullets, i pound rocks out to 500 yards if i do my part. and 1200-1300 fps seems to be the sweet spot for my rifle. i can,t believe how much they have gone up in price, i paid less than a thousand dollars for mine years ago.