Sharps vs. BC

[Chas.]

I'm new and confused.  I recently bought a BC which I haven't even shot yet. 

I looked at Shiloh Sharps, but, like most, decided it was prohibitively expensive. 

I'm confused about what the Sharps does that the BC does not do.  Or what does it does $1500-$2000 better. 

Is it truly more accurate than the BC, say, at 200 yrds; or is it merely a social status firearm.

If it is truly more accurate, why?

Any comments?

[Singleshotsam]

I do not own either gun, nor have I shot one.  I would say the BC will match the Sharps in performance out to 200 yrds.  The BC I believe cost around $350.00 as to the $1500.00 mark of the Sharps.  Why so many people fawn over the sharps is the falling block action.  Probably one of the strongest actions on the market, Next to the Mauser style.  The cost to mill or forge a f.b. action is significant, thus the price.  There isn't anything that I can see wrong w/ the B.C. and for all I know it may match the Sharps out to ranges exceeding 200 yds.

[PHATINJUN]

I have heard several stories of the BC being banned from some of the competitions that it would be used for side by side with the sharps and others. I have no knowledge why but those who have told the stories say the only practical reason is the price. Those who paid 1000's of dollars for accuracy have a very hard time in being bested or equaled by a gun that cost less than a thousand and thats with $500 worth of sights on it... Some times the green status ego gets burned.I am sure there are those who can explain why the others are so accurate for thousands of dollars... you have to be able to explain it if you can afford it! But then a proficiant BC shooter steps to the line shoots and the others just walk away scratching thier heads. Kurt

[quickdtoo]

More money doesn't necessarily mean more accuracy. 

Tim

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/feb97money.html

[coyotejoe]

There is no comparison. In black powder cartridge competition the Shilo Sharps rules along with the Winchester falling block replicas, most generally with a match grade barrel replacing the Italian barrel. The NEF barrels are shallow groove and while that works OK with smokeless powder and jacketed bullets it is not so good for black powder and lead bullets. Getting long range accuracy with black powder is an art which requires attention to many separate but related details and to start with anything but the very best rifle is pretty much an exercise in frustration. Now it you don't intend to shoot black powder competition you can have a lot of fun with a buffalo classic.

[kevinsmith5]

A big thing about the Shiloh is the craftsmanship. When you hold one it feels like artwork.  I have a old friend that has their Quigley gun and it makes my BC look like a garage sale pick-up. Of course inside normal hunting ranges (about 300 yds for us) you can't tell much difference.  Now if you were to compare a BC to say a Armisport Sharps then that's another story.  The BC will shoot rings around them, but they are around $750 I think.

[Tencubed]

I have a BC and enjoy shooting it.  The rifle is just right for hunting and target shooting with a wide variety of bullets and loads.  I have yet to take this rifle on a hunt for anything bigger than coyotes but this fall intend to use it some.  This is a rifle that will reach out farther than my old eyes will and is more than adequate for any game I will be hunting.  It's also a rifle that I will not have a stroke if I loose my balance and land on top of it in a pile of rocks.

I'm fortunate to also have an original Sharps in 50-70.  This is the rifle you take to the range and when folks come to look at it they stay to talk a bit.  Most are thrilled to shoot a rifle that fought in the Civil War and came west with the Cavalry.  It's a bit of history and when it goes hunting I'm quit careful about keeping it dry and avoiding doing any damage to it.  I suspect a person with a new Sharps would be inclined to be just as careful about doing damage to a fairly expensive rifle.

Cost wise the Sharps rifles are not really all that costly.  Look at any of the high end rifles and many, if not most, will cost more than the Sharps. 

I'm not implying the BC is a throw away gun but let's face it, the cost is low enough to get another one without rupturing the bank account if you really mess up.  It's also low enough to allow the purchase of rifles in additional calibers from time to time as the urge becomes irresistible.

Mike

[Jimbo47]

My nephew has a Sharps, and when you hold it and admire the craftsmanship and shoot it, you understand the difference!

Just like any modern high dollar gun, as compared to the low end guns of comparable caliber.

In the right hands, and right loads, the low end guns can get the same end result as the high end gun, but the big difference is all the in between stuff being like comparing apples to oranges, trying to get the same result.

Kinda like a plain Jane cheap car will take you to the same location an expensive car with all the bells and whistles will, so its all about how the ride was getting there!

[PHATINJUN]

I don't think anyone will disagree that a high dollar gun Sharps or what ever is prettier than the BC and has better quality assemble ,blueing ,fit feel every thing... it better have for the price but does that make it more accurate? I think not. Black powder as said will shoot better but I don't think the BC is rifled so much for the black powder . As was said My Ranger will get me there just the same as my Lamborgini. OH wait I don't have a Lamborgini or a Sharps so what do I know. Kurt

[tykempster]

I agree with Jimbo.  The Sharps looks better, quality of build is better, and I'd expect it to shoot better.  I'm not saying it's worth 5x the money, but if I had 5x the money I would buy a Sharps for low pressure loads, then a nice custom 458 Win Mag to do more than even the most powerful 45-70 loads.

Until I get rich though, Buffalo Classic reamed out it is...

[kevinsmith5]

I'm not so sure the 458 does anythign more than the 45-70.  I mean deads dead, right?  If I shoot something on this planet with a 550 gr bullet with a meplat of .38" that leaves the barrel at 1700 FPS and it doens't die.....I'll just leave it alone.  I'm pretty sure anything that won't drop is extinct.  But I guess maybe T. Rex is hiding out west somewhere and I just haven't seen him.

[John Boy]

Any comments?

Chas ... Yes and Tim is correct

More money doesn't necessarily mean more accuracy.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,119506
And the bullet used was not even a 'proven' long range bullet.  Am sure if I had used the Postell or the Paul Jones Creedmoor ... many more hits

[petemi]

My friend, Wayne Garber bought a Shiloh a few years back and returned it because he felt the wood to metal fit and finish was poor for the price.  I talked to him this mornig and he said he had just found a Harrington Wesson .45-70 in new condition and he's eager to shoot it.  Wayne builds custom side-hammers, cap and flint, that are a work of art, often taking a year or more to finish.  So, Yeah, he's fussy.

[NFG]

There is really no comparison...like a Yugo to a Bently...in quality and price...I like my BC but if I had the money guess which one I would have. 

Accuracy is more a function of the quality of the ammo, the ability of the shooter and the tuning of the rifle no matter the rifle make...and some people just won't be satisfied no matter what...I've never seen a perfect rifle or anthing else for that matter. 

I've checked out every Sharps style rifle that I've come across for over 10 years and I wouldn't give any one of them back had I bought one.  Of course some were better than others in fit and finish, figure, and so forth...subjectively speaking.  If you expect to shoot it, it will acquire "character" in dings and such, and I would rather have a rifle with character than than a pretty rifle...so if you're not buying it to sell 20 years down the road and keeping it in a safe, "fit and finish" seems to be hot air more than anything else.  I wouldn't give up ANY of my "characterized" rifles for a brand new "pretty" one.     

[Natty Bumppo]

A big thing about the Shiloh is the craftsmanship. When you hold one it feels like artwork.  I have a old friend that has their Quigley gun and it makes my BC look like a garage sale pick-up. Of course inside normal hunting ranges (about 300 yds for us) you can't tell much difference.  Now if you were to compare a BC to say a Armisport Sharps then that's another story.  The BC will shoot rings around them, but they are around $750 I think.

I've got an 1859 model Armisport Berdan Sharps, .54 cal. paper cartridge, with a Hi-Lux Malcolm scope, and it shoots better than I can.  I've also got a BC in .45-70 and it shoots better than I can, as well.  I'd LOVE to have a Shiloh Sharps, though, just like I'd love to have a Ferrari, I just can't justify the cost to myself, much less my wife, lol.

[DC]

While I have not owned a NEF I would like to.  I have however owned a C Sharps and a Pedersoli both in 45.90 which shoot 45.70's as well. The C Sharps for lots of money shot like you would think it would for the money and was beautifully finished.  The Pedersoli was so over bored I couldn't hit a long range target...say 2.5'x2.5' at a 150 yards..  I sold both as life presented challenges and really miss the C Sharps.  I also had a 1869 rolling block which I had rebarreled to 50/100.  If anything was within 200 yards it was dead in an instant..If it was further out it took me a little longer to figure out how to sight it but it was wonderful.
The action was one of the the Huscvarna's that were made under Remmington license in Sweden.  I was told you could by literally a barrel of them many years ago for $150.  You got a wooden barrel filled with barrels and actions.  They were stamped with the year of manufacture in large numbers on the side.. Very cool rifle.. I really wish I still had that one.  Even with black powder, when you let loose of 670 grainer, you really knew something was going on!  Hell, the holes were so big you really didn't need a spotting scope.  You just saw the light through the holes in the target.

[petemi]

I'm sorry, I goofed!  The rifle Wayne returned was a Pedersoli, Not a Shiloh.