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New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 2:50 am
by sakodude

- IMG_1975.jpeg (4.03 MiB) Viewed 1376 times
New to me, this is Pedersoli’s take on the Quigley rifle just in 45-70. Was my dad’s side match rifle that ended up with my brother who never shoots it. So now on semi permanent loan. Can’t wait to get some lead down range!
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 2:55 am
by Zee
Nice.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 4:30 am
by Diver43
That's really nice. Looks great for 150 years old
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 5:23 am
by Wambli Ska
Great! Now let’s go find some buffalo

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:51 am
by Chiro1989
Can you sling Trex loads or do you need to stick to period loads?
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 12:59 pm
by Elk Creek
Well isn’t that just awesome!! I have some 500 grain bullets for ya!

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:01 pm
by Elk Creek
Chiro1989 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:51 am
Can you sling Trex loads or do you need to stick to period loads?
There are 500 grain loads going 1300fps……that should take care of anything on the planet!
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 5:09 pm
by Wambli Ska
Chiro1989 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:51 am
Can you sling Trex loads or do you need to stick to period loads?
The Sharps action made of modern steel is capable of handling just about anything within the legit spectrum of 45-70 loads you can throw at it.
That being said the 45-70 shooting large slugs at reasonable velocities has been putting down NA big and dangerous game with authority for well over a century now. Even its little brother the 45-60 when it came out in the 1876 Centennial was labeled, marketed, sold and used as a dangerous game round.
You only “need” teeth rattling loads in a stainless lever action if you are in charge of Security and Training in a Jurassic Park venue
And I’ll add that if you go past a certain velocity point in the Sharps it starts shooting like crap anyway…
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 6:20 pm
by Zee
Always wanted a Sharps styled rifle. Still do. But, the fact of the matter is……..don’t know what the Hell I’d do with it. Alas…..I’ve not taken the plunge.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:14 pm
by sakodude
I've shot 500gr loads out of other 45-70's and they were down right abusive! This rifle is so heavy I'm not sure you would even notice

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:17 pm
by Wambli Ska
sakodude wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:14 pm
I've shot 500gr loads out of other 45-70's and they were down right abusive! This rifle is so heavy I'm not sure you would even notice
You will pop the first one, open your eyes and go “That’s it?!?!?”

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:29 pm
by Wambli Ska
Zee wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 6:20 pm
Always wanted a Sharps styled rifle. Still do. But, the fact of the matter is……..don’t know what the Hell I’d do with it. Alas…..I’ve not taken the plunge.
I managed to score an actual Shiloh Sharps in exactly the same configuration as the one above including their tall tang sight with lines well past 1,200 yards. It was a magnificent firearm worth every dollar they charge for them. A guy special ordered it and never picked it up so gun store manager (my buddy) said pay the balance and it’s yours. No brainer purchase…
I LOVED the gun and fondled it until I probably wore some of the finish on it and it got rusted spots from drool.
Shot it a few times and giggled like a 12 year old girl on a first date. Lots of folks at the range came over to fondle and drool too.
Then it sat in my safe for a few years and when I rediscovered it I asked myself the same questions you have. Li big in the east coast the gun had capabilities I could never use. Put it on GB for an obscene amount of money and some dude that actually competes in single shot LR comps out west scarfed it up on the first round of bidding. A while later he emailed me to say he was sweeping up trophies with the gun. I’m glad it went to the right guy.
I miss owning the gun especially now when 1,000 yard shooting areas are everywhere around me. But I don’t really miss shooting it. Its a rifle that requires a substantial time investment to get it right and I have so many other priorities nowadays…
But I’m sure Sako, with Elk creek cheering him on, will have a blast with it!
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 8:33 pm
by Wambli Ska
And if we want to be technically correct, it’s an 1874 “Sniper Rifle”

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:04 pm
by sakodude
I do hope to learn it's ways and how to shoot it well. me and Andy spend a lot of time with single shots these days. Part of the reason I got my brother to let it go for a while is a consideration to attend the Quigley Shoot up in Montana one of these years. I have never been nor had any desire to be a competitive shooter but that event just looks like fun.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:22 pm
by Wambli Ska
We need to get you the right hat

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:31 pm
by sakodude
Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:22 pm
We need to get you the right hat
You sound like Andy, I think it embarrasses him when we venture up to the Snowies and I just wear a ball cap

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:39 pm
by Elk Creek
sakodude wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:31 pm
Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:22 pm
We need to get you the right hat
You sound like Andy, I think it embarrasses him when we venture up to the Snowies and I just wear a ball cap
Never! I just like shade on my ears!

Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:39 pm
by Elk Creek
sakodude wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:04 pm
I do hope to learn it's ways and how to shoot it well. me and Andy spend a lot of time with single shots these days. Part of the reason I got my brother to let it go for a while is a consideration to attend the Quigley Shoot up in Montana one of these years. I have never been nor had any desire to be a competitive shooter but that event just looks like fun.
Yeah buddy!! That would be a ton of fun!
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 12:56 am
by Wambli Ska
sakodude wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:31 pm
Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:22 pm
We need to get you the right hat
You sound like Andy, I think it embarrasses him when we venture up to the Snowies and I just wear a ball cap
A conversation between my buddy, who was a top horse trainer and a top hand at a ranch in Wyoming, with a female visitor to the ranch. To put it in context, he's not used to (or want's to) being on the "dealing with the public" side of the operation.
Her: Hi, nice Cowboy Hat.
My friend: Sorry m'am that's a redundant term.
Her: What do you mean isn't that what they are called?
My friend: No ma'm, It's just a hat.
Her: I don't understand.
Him: "Sigh"- Any F$#king hat I wear is a Cowboy hat...
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 3:17 am
by Gila
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:23 pm
by JunkCollector
Another nice one.
How's the 25-35 doing ?
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:44 pm
by sakodude
JunkCollector wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2024 8:23 pm
Another nice one.
How's the 25-35 doing ?
It is showing a lot of promise with the 117gr RN you sent me. Just got a notice they are available at midway again. They also have some cast 120's I'm thinking about trying.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 9:53 pm
by Gene L
I had one but got rid of it. I question using modern full bore loads. The steel is fine but the actions and mechanics give me pause. I'm not saying the gun won't stand up to modern 45-70 US factory loads, but I never went above that in smokeless powder. They are beautiful rifles, since Quiggly Down Under gave me the urge. BP only is my solution.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 10:32 pm
by sakodude
This won't see full bore loads, I have a Browning model 78 for those. This will see loads appropriate for use at the Quigley Shoot whatever that may be.
I haven't researched that yet but if only BP is allowed, then that is what I will load develop with.
Re: New assault rifle circa 1874
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:38 pm
by Wambli Ska
I think the BP only specification for this gun has more to do with bore/twist and accuracy than strength of the action. The manufacturer probably doesn't really want folks all over the internet saying the gun shoots like hell while trying to push 350gr JHP Marlin loads through it. But I agree with Sako that this gun will do perfectly well with anything Quigley would have used to shoot some dude out of their boots in the outback at 1,000 yards.