Just Ordered a Rifle

[Jeff Higgins]

Should be ready in May. Of 2020. *sigh*

I guess that's better than the last one I ordered out of Big Timber, MT. That one took six years. The big "rush" on these is long since over, but these manufacturers remain small, family run operations, filling a decidedly small niche market.

This one will be from Shilo Manufacturing, where my last few were from C. Sharps Arms, right across the street. This will be another Model 1874 Sharps, this time in a (relatively) "light weight" hunting configuration. I ordered a #3 Sporter, with a standard weight half round 26" barrel in .45-2.4" (otherwise known as .45-90) caliber. Straight grip, standard wood, buckhorn rear and blade front sights. Should come in right at 10 pounds, or maybe a bit less.

The .45-2.4" is a great hunting caliber. A little more poop than the .45-70, but the fouling remains manageable without cleaning or blow-tubing for enough rounds that you could get a follow-up shot or two in before accuracy goes to hell. We're talking black powder and cast bullets, of course.

Here is my one remaining '74 Sharps, from C. Sharps Arms. This is a long range match rifle, sporting a 34" heavy octagon barrel chambered in .45-2.6" (aka .45-100). At over 14 pounds, and with its heavy powder charge, it's not really suitable for hunting. Too heavy, too much cleaning. Just try to picture this rifle with an 8" shorter barrel, half round (from the end of the forearm forward", and of lighter contour, and that's what I'll be taking delivery of next year.



Closeup showing the action and a loaded round, featuring a 540 grain "Creedmoor" bullet from a Paul Jones mold. The big vernier sight is from MVA, called their "Buffalo Soule", and is strictly a match sight. The new rifle won't have one, just the barrel sights.



I'm excited. Something to look forward to. I already load for an original Remington Hepburn in .45-2.4", so I'll have ammo waiting.

[KFC911]

Oh my...I have nuthin' to say.

...but Tabby will soon .....cool!

[Jeff Higgins]

Here is a bit of a size comparison of various .45's for which I load. From left to right, we have the 540 grain "Creedmoor" bullet I use for long range competition. Notice it is bigger than the entire loaded .45 ACP round right next to it. Next is a .45 Colt, loaded per original Frankford Arsenal specs with a 250 grain bullet and 40 grains of FFFg. Next is a match load for the .45-2.1" (.45-70) with the Creedmoor bullet. Next up is a modern smokeless powder .45-70 load reserved for my Marlin and Winchester lever guns, featuring the 400 grain RCBS gas check bullet at over 1,900 fps (ouch...). Then comes the .45-2.4" (.45-90), the caliber in which I ordered the new rifle. It's loaded with the 400 grain Lyman bullet over 85 grains of Swiss 1.5 Fg for about 1,300 fps. Next up is the same .45-2.6" (.45-100) shown above, with the Creedmoor bullet over 90 grains of Swiss 1.5 Fg for about 1,300 fps. Last is the mighty .458 Winchester Magnum, with the 500 grain Hornady soft point getting about 2,150 fps (double ouch...). The .458 looks weird because I seat the bullets out long for use in my Ruger #1, which has a very long throat. Since it's a single shot, I don't have to crimp - that's why the cannelure is so far out. This allows me to approach .458 Lott ballistics with the shorter case.



So, the .45-2.4" is a good, happy medium in the black powder cartridge world. It hits about the ideal capacity/bore ratio for a .45 caliber with black powder.

[Gretch]

fascinating.

[red-beard]

That's purty!

[KFC911]

You got freakin bullets taller than my damn screen....how the hell am I gonna remember all that and scroll forward to the pic?

I don't have the IQ I once had...beer probably...mebbe ?

[flatbutt]

I am absolutely certain that I could not safely handle that weapon unless I were prone. Dang that looks to be a beast.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I am absolutely certain that I could not safely handle that weapon unless I were prone. Dang that looks to be a beast.

These things are really relative pussycats to shoot. They are quite heavy, with NRA silhouette rifles restricted to about 12.5 pounds and long range rifles held to 15 pounds. All of that weight helps absorb the recoil. Remember, these are match rifles, meant to shoot long strings without beating up the shooter.

We use two predominant positions in matches. NRA silhouette and long range are shot prone, with cross sticks supporting the rifle (one set of targets, the chickens at 200 meters, are shot offhand).



Some of our local mid range (out to 600 yards) matches are shot seated with cross sticks. This position helps with recoil, being more comfortable in that regard than prone.



You will probably notice that these guys are committing one of the most grievous of shooting "errors" - they are resting the barrel, not the forearm, on the sticks. This is actually the preferred method with these rifles, believe it or not.

We rest them on what is known as the "harmonic dead spot" on the barrel, essentially the center of vibration, where it moves the least. This is found by hanging the rifle vertically by the action and rapping on the barrel with a soft mallet. The barrel will ring like a tuning fork everywhere but this dead spot, where it will simply "thunk". I mark this spot with a wrap of electrical tape, and then make sure the sticks are on this part of the barrel.

[John Rogers]

When I had my Sharps and also my long range 45 caliber muzzle loaders to find or get close to the "sweet spot" I would oil the barrel very well and then shoot. Since the had straight sides you could look down the barrel and actually see the sine wave from the shot. I would measure the wave then experiment where to rest the barrel. Strangely enough none of the rifles have the same measurement!

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

When I had my Sharps and also my long range 45 caliber muzzle loaders to find or get close to the "sweet spot" I would oil the barrel very well and then shoot. Since the had straight sides you could look down the barrel and actually see the sine wave from the shot. I would measure the wave then experiment where to rest the barrel. Strangely enough none of the rifles have the same measurement!

Some guys put baby powder on them and hold them horizontal then give them a good rap with a soft mallet. Same idea, just different approaches.

Interestingly, all three of my match rifles are exactly one foot back from the muzzle. My big '74 shown above, my silhouette legal weight '75 in .45-70, and my original Ballard Pacific, also in .45-70. All have heavy octagon barrels, the two Sharps are 34" and the Ballard is 30".

[flipper35]

Sometime, when you old timey rifle (not old timey people) have time, I need to start a thread on a Pedorsoli Sharps paper cartridge carbine so I can get properly setup to shoot it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Sometime, when you old timey rifle (not old timey people) have time, I need to start a thread on a Pedorsoli Sharps paper cartridge carbine so I can get properly setup to shoot it.

Yes, you should. That's a whole 'nother ballgame. All of the stuff you need is still readily available, like the nitrided paper, proper bullet mold, percussion caps, etc., so it's really not much trouble to get those things shooting.

A few of us here would be glad to help, like myself, John, Tabby, and maybe one or two others. Oh, and never overlook kach as a resource - word has it he's quite the expert on this.

[expatriot98]

That's a work of art!

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

You will probably notice that these guys are committing one of the most grievous of shooting "errors" - they are resting the barrel, not the forearm, on the sticks. This is actually the preferred method with these rifles, believe it or not.

We rest them on what is known as the "harmonic dead spot" on the barrel, essentially the center of vibration, where it moves the least. This is found by hanging the rifle vertically by the action and rapping on the barrel with a soft mallet. The barrel will ring like a tuning fork everywhere but this dead spot, where it will simply "thunk". I mark this spot with a wrap of electrical tape, and then make sure the sticks are on this part of the barrel.

That's a beeyoutifullllll long spoon you have there, Jeff. And it never ceases to amaze me how much I learn about relatively esoteric -- but damned interesting -- topics here on PPOT.

Please follow up w/pics of your new spoon once it arrives!

[targa911S]

beautiful!