Thinking about getting a single shot rifle and need opinions!!

[Doe]

Well first off  i would like to get a Big bore, 45-70 and up, I'm leaning toward a 45-110 cause i already have a 45-70 lever action marlin...love the gun!! anyhow, I e-mail SHILOH and there a 2-year back log!!!! so I figure a min.. of 3year Wait or more . So i'm thinking a (cimarron or uberti or even a pedersoli) any of u guys own  any, how do u like them and how does it shoot? I'm going to use this gun for mainly punching paper and maybe might take it out to tag a deer or two. I know that many of you guys will say get a SHILOH!!! I'll be worth the Wait...but i don't no if i can so... please of those three what would u chose and if you have one in a single action give your pro and cons please. Thank guys!!

[Rangr44]

I don't shoot Sharp's pattern rifle as well as my Ruger #1 .45-70, due to the Sharp's longer lock time & heavier hammer fall disturbing my aim/concentration.  YMMV, of course.

If I did want a Shiloh, I'd put a deposit on what I wanted, buy a clone to shoot in the meantime - then sell the clone when the Shiloh is delivered.
There's probably a profit to be made on the clone during the time it was kept - provided it was kept in excellent condition.

[Graybeard]

To me nothing is more beautiful than the Winchester High or Low Wall single shots and nothing is more traditional than a Sharps. The imports can shoot quite well and with upgraded sights have been known to win in the NRA BPCR competition even so they are a viable option for you.

Unless you just gotta order it to your exact specifications why not buy one someone else has already waited the time for? There are plenty of them out there new in box waiting to be bought. Dealers and others order many each year just to hold in stock ready to deliver to folks not wanting to wait. In fact I think that's why there is such a back log. If the only folks ordering them were the folks who were gonna use them not resale them then the delay to get one would drop to six months to a year. There are that many being ordered just to resale.

They are readily available however if you will take what someone else ordered rather than having to have it exactly your way. The cost likely will be some higher but they can be had without the wait.

[Lurker]

To me nothing is more beautiful than the Winchester High or Low Wall single shots and nothing is more traditional than a Sharps.

<snip>

I have eight of the reissued 1885 Winchester rifles. Three are Low Walls and five are High Walls. I'm looking for at least two more, a Low Wall in .357 Magnum, and another High Wall in .45-90.

I have a Shiloh Sharps, 1874 Sharps Hartford model in .45-70.

So, I must agree with your assessment of the 1885 Winchesters and the 1874 Sharps...

Bill

[HEAD0001]

I have a couple of High Walls, and they are great rifles.  I always wanted a Sharp's so I bought one.  I shopped a good bit before I bought one.  I ended up with the Pedersoli in 45-70.  I looked at a few Shiloh's, and quite a few other model's.  I thought the Shiloh's were great, but I just could not justfy the price difference.

I spend alot of time shooting my Sharp's, and I really like it.  Is it a Shiloh?? No.  Would I have wanted one??  Yes.  But not for the price difference.  Tom.



 

[oldrifter]

I found a Falling block Works action a few years ago and last year made a 45-70 to use in Mississippi primitive weapon season .  It took it's 2nd deer today 8pt , at about 80yd.   It is a copy of Win. highwall .

Good Hunting
oldrifter
<><

[Doe]

Hey...Tom I like Pedersoli 45-70 in fact i saw one at cabela's looks like your shooting paperpatch  how does she handle and can you show off some your targets!!    I've seen it in Cabela's catalog for $1399.99 is that the one you have?

[caverun]

Don't hesitate to buy the Pedersoli 1874 Sharps. I have had one in 40-65 for several years and it is one of my favorites to shoot and just to look at. Also take a look at the rifles offered by C. Sharps Arms in Big Timber, MT. I have the 1875 and it is a great rifle. They have an 1874 Sharps, 1875 Sharps, 1885 Winchester, and an 1877 Sharps (very expensive but fancy). All have Badger barrels and are known to be very accurate. C. Sharps has a website with completed rifles listed for sale and if you order a custom, I don't think the wait is as long as Shiloh.

[cochise]

How strong/ reliable are the high wall rifles? I love the look of them but i wonder about the lockwork has it been modernized?  I am pretty ignorant about the design.

[Doesniper]

Dakota makes a few different ones.

[guzzijohn]

The highwall design is very strong and very reliable regardless of when it was produced. I have an original action highwall with double set triggers set up as a varmint rifle in .219 Donaldson-Wasp. You have to feel the action smoothness to believe it. Highwalls were chambered for over 50 different calibers over their production run not counting wildcats.
GuzziJohn

[rk4570]

If you really want a SHILOH go to : www.goodmanguns.com

He has them on order all the time & you can get anything you want for $100 over cost with little waiting. He also has a very good selection of older rifles & pistols for sale.  

[rk4570]

I have bought 2 Shilohs from him & he is very good to deal with and you just might find he has an original Highwall also. He has two sites for his rifles. Hope this helps!

[jmkell33]

I have .45-70 and .45-120 Sharps (replicas;one Shiloh and one Pedersoli).  I much prefer the .45-70 for any extended shooting, because of lighter recoil.  The .45-110 and .45-120 are IMHO a bit much for the silhouette game, tending to beat you up over a long day at the range.  For limited use (hunting, etc.), it should be OK, except for carry weight.

Regards, Jack

[LRB]

  My Shiloh #3 Sporting Rifle will shoot sub MOA using the sporting tang sight, and younger eyes than mine. 45-70, 47 gr. IMR 3031, CCI mag primers, .405 Rem. bullet, tight crimp, and minimal resize. Anyone making excuses of lock time, are fooling themselves.

[NickSS]

I am really gun poor I have two Shiloh's one in 45-70 and one in 40-65 win I also have three C. Sharps 1875 Sharps rifle two in 45-70 and one in 38-56.  Add to those I have a C. Sharps 1874 in 50-70 and two C Sharps 1885 High walls in 38-55 and 40-65.  I also have two Pedersoli's a 1874 Infantry Rifle and an 1874 Sproter both in 45-70.  You may well ask why so many 45-70s and the answer is simple different sights different weights and different barrel lengths for different purposes.  I have also owned Sharps rifles in 45-90, 45-100, 45-110 and 45-120.  The only one I wish I kept was the 45-90 but a buddy talked me out of it.  I also had a 50-90 and a 50-140 Sharps.  They may be a good hunting cartridge but kicked way to much for me.

Personally if this is your first single shot get a 45-70.  It the cheapest to feed and easiest to find components for loading.  As to what rifle any good single shot will do.  Pedersoli makes a fine product as does Uberti from Italy.  If you can afford them get either a Shiloh or a C. Sharps.  By the Way the 1875 model C. Sharps actually sells in the basic rifle for around what you buy a New Pedersoli for and they had first class barrels on them.  Also C. Sharps usually has a couple dozen rifles of all three models they make in stock ready to go out the door.

[shooter6br]

I have a Pedersoli RB in 45-70. It is a Sporting #1 style. I love the rolling block design . I would like a Ruger but they have a very short( no) throat I am told. My RB shooting Ranch Dog 350g bullets. The throat is good for up to a 405 grainer I like using a .460 bullet. It has a .460 throat with a tight grove diameter of  about .457