Favorite 45-70? I need to pick only one

[2tall4economy]

I came into some money and have enough to get one of two 45-70s that I've been wanting for a while, either a Shiloh Sharps "Quigley" in 45-70 or a Winchester 1886 made in late 1800s / early 1900s.

Curious which you would choose? If neither, then let me know what else would be a great choice and why. Thanks!

[mete]

I started out a single shot man and still am .For deer I'm now using a browning 1885 , great gun !! I don't know the details of the Quigley but I would lean in that direction !

[Jim Watson]

The specific Quigley Sharps was designed as a movie prop.
A No 1 Sporting Rifle will be a better shooter.

[NoSecondBest]

The Quigley will simply be too heavy for toting around, but it will shoot very well. If you want it for competition the Quigley is too heavy for class also. If you're looking for something for hunting the 1886 would fill the bill nicely and if it shoots like the one I had accuracy for hunting will be very good. My personal all around preference is a Browing/Winchester Miroku which will shoot very, very well and can be used in competition in the BPCR model or be a great hunter in the standard model. This cartridge is chambered in a variety of guns used for several purposes. I guess you need to decide what you're going to do with your new toy and then decide.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

This would meet your needs. I know it would meet mine.

https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sch...bodine-30.html

[eastbank]

for a original 1886 in 45-70 in good shooting condition you will need big bucks. eastbank.

[Hawg]

I'd go with the Quigly but then I'm fond of Sharp's and the 86 Winchester does nothing for me.

[T. O'Heir]

To do what with? If I was spending over 3 grand on a big kid's toy from Shiloh, it'd be their Creedmoor Target. Custom order stuff, so it is.
A Winchester 1886 made in late 1800s/early 1900s is a collector's piece. Not for shooting.

[105kw]

Browning 1886 carbine with a Providence Tool copy of a Laymen receiver sight. I've had it for a long time, since new.
It's my favorite .45-70, and arguably the last rifle I'd sell. I've got an original 1886 made in the early 1890s, it's still fun to shoot, but I would hesitate to hunt with it
My vote original 1886.

[Tony Z]

For me? My Ruger #1, with a 1-1/2 power Leupold (30 years old now!).

[kraigwy]

I have a couple, but my 1868 version of the '73 Trapdoor Springfield is my favorite.

[eastbank]

I shoot a 1886 made in 1893 in 40-82 with a 325gr cast bullet at 1400fps and have killed deer with it, I have 50 new cases for it and have only used 20 cases so far for hunting. after sighting it in for 75 yards,i only shoot one at a foot bulls eye pre season to make sure its on at 75 yards and so far the sights have not changed and I have only needed one shot per deer so far. if I had one in 45-70 I would shoot-hunt with it. eastbank.

[mavracer]

If I was going to spend that much money I'd get a Browning 1886 and an Italian Sharps and prolly have some left over. Which is pretty much what I did except the Browning is a model 71 in 348 and the leftover was spent on a Marlin 1895 45/70

[ocharry]

just some thoughts

the quigley will more than likely have a 34" heavy barrel,,my guess is it will weigh in the 11.5-12lb. range,,,lot of gun to carry around in the woods hunting,,and lot of muzzle weight for off hand shooting,,,at the bench you will like the weight in the woods you will hate it

i just sold a 45-70, 74 shiloh long range express,,,beauty,,32" heavy,,,it weighed in at 12lb with sights

i have a 45-70 pedrasoli 74 taget with 30" barrel,,,with sights,,it goes just under 11lbs....but manageable in the woods,,still at the end of the day,,your arms will feel longer,,lol,,this gun has 2 bison under its belt 1 elk,,,several deer,,,the last bison was a 300+ yrd shot on one knee,,bullet 485gr flat point 20-1 gas check,,,,i got to recover it on the off side of this 900+lb animal just under the skin,,,it was about 7/8 dia. worked nicely,,,she fell where she stood

i have some other singles,,,most are all are in the 10-12lb range,,,,i also have a browning traditional hunter in 45-70,,,fits like a glove,,,i think i could shoot and hit with it without sights,,,it is a perfect hunting gun for me,,bout 9-9.5 lbs,,i like hunting with it

i also have a few 45-70 lever guns,,,my favorite is a marlin LTD cowboy,,, it has a 24" octagon barrel,,goes about 8.5-9lbs,,made for marlin by Davidsons,,,it too shoots and kills deer like a laser and i like hunting with it also

i like the pistol grip stocks on my rifles like this,,,the quigley does not have that feature,,it will be heavy to pack around,,,,but you could change the gun to a different model,,,30" barrel in a lighter configuration,,that would help with the weight,,,they are fine rifles

i never was a 86 guy,,i prefered the marlin,,,they make a cowboy with 26" octagon barrel,,i think they still do anyway,,,but they are out there

ultimately the choice will be yours,,,i just thought i would toss out some things for you to consider before making your choice,,,,what you are going to do with it is a BIG factor

out of the two you mentioned i would have to go with the shiloh but not in quigley clothes,,,different model,,,maybe a 74 sporter or montana rough rider with standard weight barrel for hunting,,,or a heavy for bench, cross sticks and a little hunting,,,i like the 30" heavy,,it hangs nice for me but it will get real weighty at the end of the day if hunting

lol,,,why not both??

my .02
ocharry

[NoSecondBest]

Just get one of these, a Winchester/Miroku 45-70. Shoots sub 1MOA with a lot of different loads, not so heavy you can't hunt with it all day, and with lighter loads you can have a whole fun day at the bench punching one big ragged hole at 100 yards. It's also affordable. You can even take it to someone like Turnbull and get the CCH finish....even the rings if you like. Looks great and shoots even greater.

[reinert]

You could just get the Shiloh Hartford model, which is what the Quigley rifle basically is with embellishments. The money you would save would be more than enough to buy enough reloading components (if you don't already reload) to put together good, custom ammo for a fine rifle.

If you're serious about the 45/70, I believe that might be a good suggestion for you. A 30" (or even a 28") standard octagon barrel would be a whole lot easier to pack around than a 32 or 34" heavy octagon barreled beastie. Also, if it ain't a 45/110, it ain't a Quigley.

I have a Shiloh Hartford in 45/70 with a 30" standard octagon bbl., and love the thing. Using a cast 405 grain bullet, backed by 68 grains of 2fg powder, it shoots very well, indeed (my hunting load). If I remember right, it weighs right around 9 and a half lbs. The Quigley model will weigh substantially more that that.

[reinert]

If you haven't seen this, it's pretty cool. Sums up a lot about a very famous rifle. There were 3 made for the movie, and two of those from the movie were at the Quigley shoot a number of years ago. I got to see them, and had a great visit with Mr. Bryan as he told of the guns. He pointed out some of the "dings" on the two rifles that were made in certain scenes of the movie.

http://www.jamesdjulia.com/item/lot-...-shiloh-sharps

[Jim Watson]

The movie star Quigley rifle has two problems for the shooter.
The 34" barrel is long and heavy and subject to running out of bullet lube if everything is not JUST right. A friend has a 34" .40-65 that is a brilliant shooter but demands frequent cleaning.

The stock is the 1859 military with patchbox. The crooked stock makes it hard to get a cheekweld with the sight run up for even mid ranges and the narrow buttplate amplifies recoil.

A 30" barrel and a shotgun butt are going to be more fun to shoot.

I once owned a real 1886, although a late model in .33 WCF. A great hunting rifle, it was nothing to plink with and after I got out of CAS where it was, with cast bullets, a decent "long range lever action side match" rifle, I sold it off.

[mehavey]

Quite frankly -- unless the OP's just out to spend "bling" money -- the Pedersoli Sharps does just fine where it counts:

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=17

... with a lot of change left over.

[2tall4economy]

Originally Posted by mehavey

Quite frankly -- unless the OP's just out to spend "bling" money -- the Pedersoli Sharps does just fine where it counts:

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=17

... with a lot of change left over.

Not so much bling as indulging a guilty pleasure. But I still appreciate alternatives. Voters are leaning toward the quigley it looks like.

[44 AMP]

Curious which you would choose? If neither, then let me know what else would be a great choice and why. Thanks!

My choice would be neither. And the why is simple, I don't care much about original "period" appearance.

My first .45-70 was a Ruger No.3
With a good recoil pad added!!

Takes any load you want to shoot, from black powder up to real kickers that come close to the .458 Win Mag.

Light, short, and very handy. Accurate too. (though it is unusual to find a .45-70 that isn't)

After the Ruger, I got a Marlin 1895 (before they came out with the Guide Gun) and a Siamese Mauser conversion. Also a 14" Contender barrel.

have since gotten rid of the Mauser and the Marlin, as excess to need, though lately, I am missing the Marlin a little...

A friend of mine has 1886 Win and some Sharps repros. Fun guns to shoot, NOT fun to carry for miles afield. And neither comes with a sling!

My Ruger goes a fraction under 7lbs with an old Weaver 2.5x Post scope. Has a recoil pad and sling swivels (added), and if you don't shoot the heavy loads, recoil is not bad. Not as mild as shooting a gun weighing 2 or 3 pounds more, but not bad.

There's no free lunch, and I chose easier to carry over least recoil. Not "traditional" really, but I didn't buy it for its looks...

[Hanshi]

The one I've had and revered for 40 years is my early Marlin 1895. I've fired 5 shot, one hole groups of sub 1" with a scope attached. I don't hunt with a scope; but I've killed lots of deer with that good rifle and my handload of a Speer 400 grain sp at 1800 fps. It wears a fine Lyman receiver sight and kicks like a mule. I love it!

[Old Stony]

I still own two Shiloh's, and wouldn't buy another one. The guns are okay, it's just the company and their way of doing business I don't like. I'd go right down the street from Shiloh and get a C. Sharps rifle.
Good company and good products.

[Dufus]

I waited until Henry brought out something more that an 18" barrel.

I have the H010CC with the octagon 22" barrel and color cased receiver. It is purty and shoots very good.

I like the turn of the century '86 and Shiloh Sharps, but I wanted something more than what would be a wall hanger for me.

[darkgael]

For hunting, I have an 1873 Trapdoor carbine. Easy to carry and accurate. Great fun at the range.
I also have - my favorite - an 1885 Browning BPCR. A very nice rifle indeed but too heavy for walking in the woods. It'd be OK in a stand,