Which Sharps?

[dev_null]

With tax refund time coming soon, I think I'm ready to find that Sharps I've been wanting for, well, since the one that took Greenie Stik-M-Caps when I was 8.

I can't afford a Shiloh or C Sharps. I'm looking for blue / casehardened, with double (set) trigger, octagonal barrel, and (probably?) not a carbine length. It should take 45-70 metallic cartridges (not ready for percussion at this time). Who should I be looking at? EMF? IAB? Navy Arms? None of the above?

Any help most gratefully received. (If you have one that fits my description for sale, please shoot me an email with pix and price.)

Thanks!

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[iamkris]

I've looked into this issue a little as I'd like one to shoot side matches at Cowboy shoots as well as a future buffalo hunt someday. Like you, C Sharps and Shiloh are a dream rifle but a bit rich for my blood for a rifle that will only have a couple of hundred rounds through it a year. People will flame you that "you get what you pay for" but the price and 5 year wait just aren't worth it for those rifles for my situation.

From what I've read, the repro manufacturers that seem to have the best following in the "mid-tier" price range are Pietta and Pedersoli (both Italian manufacturers). Take a look at the CAS website forums -- www.sassnet.com --for lots of good info. The Pedersoli seems to get the nod as slightly better quality, fit and finish, accuracy. There are many who claim good results with the Pietta as well. I've read a fair number of problems with IAB.

I'm going from memory but I believe that Pedersoli supplies Dixie Gun Works, Navy Arms and Cabela's. EMF's are made by Pietta. Pedersoli makes a really wide range, from "Business rifles" to the fancy Quigley and Target models.

Check out the latest FAC catalog. They have a Pedersoli (they dont list the manufacturer but that's who it is) for $795 with a tang sight, heavy barrel and silver forearm cap. Cabela's sells the Quigely which is very similar for >$1200.

When I buy one it will likely be a Pedersoli.

 

[dev_null]

Thanks!

"FAC"...?

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[iamkris]

Federal Arms Corp

www.gunsnstuff.net

 

[telewinz]

CDNN's flyer has two models for under $500 with the features you mention.

 

[Jim Watson]

I would be careful about a sub $500 Sharps repro, the last such I saw was pretty sad. Listing "features" does not guarantee their quality.

I have seen it said that Dixie Gun Works gets the pick of the Pedersolis, and they will occasionally run one version or another on sale for about a hundred dollars off. Maybe Pietta has improved, but Pedersoli is know good and supports the sport. Back when Shiloh had a four year backlog, there were shooters competing with Pedersolis while waiting for their Shilohs. The wait is now about ten months, C. Sharps is a couple of months with some guns in stock.

Do get a .45-70. Data, components and factory ammo are far more available than for any other traditional caliber. It is all you need until well past 600 yards or for any game that you ought to be shooting at with a single shot in the first place.

Get the best sights you can. Some people shoot well with the buckhorn barrel sight at reasonable ranges. Target shooters universally go with vernier tang sights. Get the best you can't afford, a cheap sight is worthless. I have one of the Italian sights reworked by Lee Shaver. It cost $150 (Actually $170 for the long base version for my Winchester Single Shot.) and is the very least that will get the job done at the 200 - 500 meters of metallic silhouette. There is a line of decent sights coming in from the Ukraine for about $300. Good American made sights cost from $400 up. Way up. A Buffalo Arms catalog will be very interesting.

 

[ed dixon]

Check out Cabela's before you put down your cash. I recently saw the Pedersoli rolling block I paid $850 for (two years ago) selling for $700 in their shooter's catalog. My wife actually bought it as a present, but seeing that still smarted some. Luckily I really like that gun.

 

[Detritus]

stick with Pedersoli and Armi-Sport (NOT to be confused with Armi San Marcos)

Pedersoli has a larger following, is more well known etc etc.

Armi-Sport, is lesser know has a name easily confused with a true DOG of an italian gunmaker (armi-San Marcos), but according to serveral independent sources i've found is on par with pedersoli on just about all counts but price. these guns are mainly imported by Taylor's and Co., but also sold as a price point gun by Cimarron firearms (one of the best of the importer companies to deal with) for most of the Versions of the 1874 Sharps (billy Dixon, Quigley, Silhouette, etc) that Cimarron sells they have pedersoli and an Armi-sport produced copies of each, supposedly the only difference that cimarron claims, is that the Pedersoli's cost THEM more, so therefore they are higher priced on OUR end as well.


stay away from anything labeled IAB, Pedretti (& sons), and there are a few others as well. basicly if you must go with an italian clone get a pedersoli or one of the Armi-sports. everything else is a crap shoot on quality. as Jim said don't trust a sharps Repro that costs $500 or less , many times not only are they BAD on fit, finish, and mechanical quality, but many are nothing short of a Grenade on a rifle stock!!!

you don't have to pay what C. sharps or Shiloh charge (though i think they ARE worth it if [or when] you can afford them) but many "CHEAP(as opposed to simply less expensive) sharps repros" are worth less than the borderline pot metal they're made from.