Added a Pistol Grip to one of the Sharps Today

[Jeff Higgins]

Most Model 1874 Sharps rifles were delivered with straight grip stocks. Even the early "Creedmoor" rifles had straight grips. I have examples with and without pistol grips, and have found the pistol grip makes them far easier to control.

Unfortunately, over 20 years ago when I ordered my dedicated "long range" match rifle, I got all traditional and ordered a straight grip, in addition to one of the rarest of the original calibers, the .45-2.6", aka the .45-100. The combination has proven difficult to shoot well enough to be competitive, so I never really shot matches with it, sticking to my pistol gripped .45-2.1" (aka .45-70).

I finally decided to really go after the .45-2.6", and give it a good effort once again. It's sat in the safe for far too long. First, though, I felt I had to do something to help me control the rifle a little better. Shooting 540 and 550 grain bullets with almost half again the powder of its little brother, it not only generates a bit of recoil, it also torques pretty significantly against the bullet rotation. So here is the "solution" to that:




This is actually ver "period correct", being in widespread use in the late 1800's. Most were fashioned from ebony, but I wanted something a little different. This one is made from screw bean mesquite. So, while not as effective as a proper pistol grip, I'm hoping it helps at least a little bit. It does give me something to pull back on to help seat the butt into my shoulder, and it should help keep it from twisting as much when fired. We'll see...

[herr_oberst]

That's cool! The shape reminds me of 1/2 of a fleur dé-lis. I wonder if those are hand carved?
I'm assuming it's let into the stock with a mortise and tenon?

(I read WAY too many pulp westerns - of course the hero often is expert with the Sharps. I don't recall ever reading about a pistol gripped version, but maybe I just glossed over that detail if it ever came up)

[Jeff Higgins]

This one was hand carved. By the same guy who built my Hawken for me last year...

There is a really long trigger plate that also serves as the bottom tang. It goes all the way back to the nose of the comb, on the bottom side. The upper tang is just as long. The upper and lower tangs are through bolted to one another to reinforce the wrist of the stock. The base of the peep sight is held to the upper tang by two holes drilled and tapped into the tang. The pistol grip is held to the trigger bar by two screws as well, two flat head wood screws from the back side of the trigger bar, which is countersunk to accept them.

[John Rogers]

I did something similar back in 2012 to a Sharps I assembled with a scope and such. I added the check piece of walnut so my eye would line up better and the "pistol" grip made shooting much easier!

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Based on this photo - I'd say most of us would be naturals at having a solid grip on this new addition. Feels "familiar"

(Joking aside, I'd live to try a few rounds with that one)

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

and it should help keep it from twisting as much when fired. We'll see...

I have a similar issue with the 1903 30-06. Not severe but still tempted me to commit the thumb hole stock sin.

[Aurel]

This is a lot more elegant than an AR15 pistol with an arm brace…

[herr_oberst]

Ahh. I see it now. Solid like a rock.

(Gus shore didn't need a Sharps; he had it all taken care of with his Henry 44 Yellowboy). (Gosh, I wish they hadn't put that stupid music on the end of this scene)

[Arizona_928]

put a bump stock on it and turn it into a machine gun!...

[Rot 911]

I’ve never shot a Sharps rifle in any caliber. What is the recoil like say in comparison to an M1?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

I’ve never shot a Sharps rifle in any caliber. What is the recoil like say in comparison to an M1?

That's kind of a loaded question... (sorry... )

Sharps rifles were (and still are) made in a pretty broad variety of calibers, barrel lengths, and barrel cross sections. They can weigh anywhere from about ten pounds on the light end to well over twenty on the heavy end. NRA silhouette rifles are restricted to some really odd weight, something like 12 pounds two ounces. Somewhere around there. NRA target rifle rules allow 15 pound rifles. I think it would be fair to say the "typical" Sharps is going to be in that weight range.

By far the most popular caliber is the .45-70, which is also known as the .45-2.1". Using black powder, this will start a 540 grain bullet (about the average weight of today's long range match bullets) at maybe 1,200 FPS. So, not a lot of velocity, but a pretty heavy bullet by today's standards.

The combination of that kind of rifle weight with that low velocity, even with such a heavy bullet, adds up to pretty easily managed recoil. I shoot an M1A quite a lot, and it seems to me the recoil is about the same, with no real way to measure it.

The two day matches I used to shoot required we shoot anywhere from 100 to 150 rounds over the course of those two days. Shooting anything with any kind of substantial recoil would render that very difficult. Nobody I ever shot with or against ever had any trouble completing the match. Our rifle weights and calibers were chosen in a large part to make that possible.

There are, of course, configurations and calibers that will generate considerable recoil. A ten pound hunting rifle in the old "Big 50", the .50-2.5" or .50-100, shooting a 750 grain bullet over 100 grains of black powder will absolutely get your attention. Not quite .458 Winchester Magnum recoil, but close enough that most won't notice the difference. No real reason to go there, however. A 12-13 pound example in .45-70 is great good fun to shoot, and absolutely will not beat you up.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

..

Mama said .... "If you don't have anything ni ...."

How the hell is Ed doing these daze ?

[jyl]

I don't know anything about Sharps rifles other than watching "Quigley Down Under" but that is an attractive, purposeful piece.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by jyl

I don't know anything about Sharps rifles other than watching "Quigley Down Under" but that is an attractive, purposeful piece.

Then you know more than me . It's like a scope on a Marlin (yeah .... mine had one 4 decades ago ) .... had a purpose and simply did nothing for it's looks either imo...

I'm just giving Higgins a hard time .... hope I didn't hurt his feelings too much .

[flipper35]

Jeff, I was almost worried when I saw the title. Then I thought, nah he hasn't lost it yet and clicked. Glad I did.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

I wore out my chain saw blade cutting the 100+ yr old screw bean tree @ my AZ house.
The beans go good with beer just as their getting ripe.
Got some 5-6" diameter logs drying out.

[Rusty Heap]

Jeff, you just like tickling man balls, admit it.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

That's kind of a loaded question... (sorry... )

Sharps rifles were (and still are) made in a pretty broad variety of calibers, barrel lengths, and barrel cross sections. They can weigh anywhere from about ten pounds on the light end to well over twenty on the heavy end. NRA silhouette rifles are restricted to some really odd weight, something like 12 pounds two ounces. Somewhere around there. NRA target rifle rules allow 15 pound rifles. I think it would be fair to say the "typical" Sharps is going to be in that weight range.

By far the most popular caliber is the .45-70, which is also known as the .45-2.1". Using black powder, this will start a 540 grain bullet (about the average weight of today's long range match bullets) at maybe 1,200 FPS. So, not a lot of velocity, but a pretty heavy bullet by today's standards.

The combination of that kind of rifle weight with that low velocity, even with such a heavy bullet, adds up to pretty easily managed recoil. I shoot an M1A quite a lot, and it seems to me the recoil is about the same, with no real way to measure it.

The two day matches I used to shoot required we shoot anywhere from 100 to 150 rounds over the course of those two days. Shooting anything with any kind of substantial recoil would render that very difficult. Nobody I ever shot with or against ever had any trouble completing the match. Our rifle weights and calibers were chosen in a large part to make that possible.

There are, of course, configurations and calibers that will generate considerable recoil. A ten pound hunting rifle in the old "Big 50", the .50-2.5" or .50-100, shooting a 750 grain bullet over 100 grains of black powder will absolutely get your attention. Not quite .458 Winchester Magnum recoil, but close enough that most won't notice the difference. No real reason to go there, however. A 12-13 pound example in .45-70 is great good fun to shoot, and absolutely will not beat you up.

The " Big Fifty" was the 50/70.. Ammo was plentiful and cheap as it was military surplus along with the Springfield Allin conversion Trapdoors which were replaced by the 45/70 Trapdoors. So it more than any other rifle was used to decimate the Buff herds..

The famous Big 50 at the Last Stand defensive fight was a 50/70 Springfield..belonging to Captain French.. French was cashiered from the army several years later for Alcoholism

If ya wana talk about having the fear of God instilled in you, after the Big Horn most of the surviving officers of the 7th bought gallons of whiskey and drank themselves blotto . I believe Reno bought 9 gallons..and he drank it down..

[tabs]

You can pull the trigger once on a 50/140 with out flinching...before you pull the trigger.

The 50/90 has a very stout recoil..which was uncomfortable enough for me to sell the rifle after shooting it once..

I have a 45/100 LR Borchardt..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Most Model 1874 Sharps rifles were delivered with straight grip stocks. Even the early "Creedmoor" rifles had straight grips. I have examples with and without pistol grips, and have found the pistol grip makes them far easier to control.

Unfortunately, over 20 years ago when I ordered my dedicated "long range" match rifle, I got all traditional and ordered a straight grip, in addition to one of the rarest of the original calibers, the .45-2.6", aka the .45-100. The combination has proven difficult to shoot well enough to be competitive, so I never really shot matches with it, sticking to my pistol gripped .45-2.1" (aka .45-70).

I finally decided to really go after the .45-2.6", and give it a good effort once again. It's sat in the safe for far too long. First, though, I felt I had to do something to help me control the rifle a little better. Shooting 540 and 550 grain bullets with almost half again the powder of its little brother, it not only generates a bit of recoil, it also torques pretty significantly against the bullet rotation. So here is the "solution" to that:




This is actually ver "period correct", being in widespread use in the late 1800's. Most were fashioned from ebony, but I wanted something a little different. This one is made from screw bean mesquite. So, while not as effective as a proper pistol grip, I'm hoping it helps at least a little bit. It does give me something to pull back on to help seat the butt into my shoulder, and it should help keep it from twisting as much when fired. We'll see...

That's really cool, Jeff! In my mind I was thinking "don't stocks usually have that already?" And then I imagined one of those forward mounted pistol grips like you see on the black plastic spoons, and was thinking "I clearly have no idea what he's talking about, because that CAN'T be it.

¡Muy interesante! I don't think I've ever seen a rifle with a stock like that. I like the add-on's appearance, and the fact that it's "period correct" too.