1859 Sharps original load

Originally Posted by wt_jimbos

Green? Did I say something newbie? I am new with regard to black powder shooting.

I do believe that Ole was speaking justly that the green was for jealousy. Not for inexperience.

[johan_steele]

Jimbos... if you got your paws on an 1863 Shiloh Sharps Carbine for that kind of money... God is smiling at you. I haven't seen one at a Gunshow for lss than $3000 US in at least two years. Congrats

[wt_jimbos]

Oh I see, I thought only the 1859 was the expensive one as i thought it wasn't in production any more. This is the site I have always looked at in regard to getting one (but getting tax, post and custom broker charges would be about $900AU about $700US) so I couldn't afford it (or should I say my girlfriend wouldn't let me spend that much as we share our money) thats why this was a good deal. As on this site the model I have is $1547US new, i think this is their offical site. www.shilohrifle.com
And the one I got came with all the bits I need to start. I thought it was good deal, there also some good tips on the forum on the site.
Jimbos.

[wt_jimbos]

BTW I was reading through my book "civil war breech loaders" and it only mentions .52 cal and .56 cal Sharps rifles and carbines. Why then would Shiloh produce .50 cal and .54 cal? I had a quick skim through "Civil War Guns" and I only saw .52 cal in the christian sharps chapter.
And pedersoli are .54 cal too. Hmmmm

[johan_steele]

I'm missing a lot of details in posts lately... I missed that you were talking about an M1863... still a pretty good deal. Especially as it is the only repop (other than an old Parker Hale) that will increase in value.

THe.50's that Shiloh produces are repros of the later centerfire Sharps "Buffalo rifles" .50-70 & .50-110 were common and well appreciated, they were also produced in .45-70.

THere were a host of Sharps made for the civilian market prior to the War in both .52 & .54 and they were a popular buy by soldiers going to war. The Sharps was a very popular and well known weapon prior to the War. I think the Sharps is the only weapon other than the Spencer or Henry I have read of private purchase being used & supplied in the field by the govt.

[8thvacav]

Hi, guys,
My cousin had a 45\70 Pedersoli Sharps and it was a real shooter. I was hitting a 2' disc at 200'. The sight was a the ladder type with peep. With the heavy bullets it sure kicked like a old mule. The 305 gr. wasn't bad.

[johan_steele]

For what it's worth the Italian and the original 45-70's and other big bore Sharps are most accurate w/ black powder loads and heavy bullets. My Sharps Italian was most accurate w/ 405 grain bullets. I could cover 5 round groups w/ a half dollar at 200 yards and a dollar at 400 yards. However, the Italian style set trigger was driving me nuts and I swapped it away for a Romanian SVD. Mistake? Probably.

[8thvacav]

Shane, Your kidding, Right?? Those groups whould be good with a modern day varmint rifle with a high powered scope. I'm not calling you a lier but I would have to see it.

[johan_steele]

Not kidding at all... IT was an early IAB import Sharps in .45-70. The first 8 rounds out were eye popping. At 200 yards first round off to the right, second high and to the left, third to the left, 4,5,6,7 & 8 were touching. It had a first rate soule site w/ a spirit level front set. What was driving me batty was that I had to set the set trigger prior to pulling back the hammer and w/ a trigger pull that you could trigger w/ a fly breaking wind... I was never quite comfortable w/ it, even when firing from a bench rest.

I had the best results w/ heavy 405 grain bullets pushed by IIRC 80 grains FFFG Goex. Recoil wasn't as bad as I had expected. There was a significant difference in group size when I used black powder over smokeless. In all honesty accuracy was not spectacular until I started using heavier bullets and black powder.

[ronmcc4]

Just green with envy Jimbos. Or maybe green as in Sharpshooter uniforms.