Question for sharps shooters

timothy75 · April 25, 2011, 05:56 PM

My local shop has a 45-70 pedersoli sharps in stock and i was curious to those of you who shoot such rifles, what sized groups i could expect at 100 and 200 yards using the stock ladder rear sight and blade front sight. I could add a soule rear sight later but was curious about the factory sights. Thanks

NoSecondBest · April 25, 2011, 06:11 PM

It depends on how well you can shoot. The gun with those sights is very capable of shooting 2" groups with the ladder sight and a vernier peep can bring it down to 1-1.5" groups. It also depends on the load your shooting. These guns are remarkably accurate and these groups I'm describing are actually common for the experienced Sharps shooters who dedicate the time to finding the right load for their gun.

Rachen · April 25, 2011, 06:19 PM

In black powder shooting, there is a folk saying: "It is the shooter, not the gun, who decides where the bullet is going to hit"

If you are well practiced with your weapon, alert, and determined, you will achieve groups at far longer range which will be worthy of an invitation to a Shuetzen shooting contest.

Keep in mind that your Sharps rifle was built with accuracy in mind and the professional hide-hunters of the 19th century have documented clean, one-shot buffalo kills out to 600 yards with both the .45-70 Govt and the .50-70 cartridges.

Jbar4Ranch · April 26, 2011, 12:03 AM

I have a Uberti .45-70 Sharps that has turned out to be perhaps the most accurate rifle I've ever owned. With Swiss 1 1/2, a 530 grain Postell bullet, and a Lee Shaver deluxe long range Soule sight with a front spirit level globe sight, it will consistently shoot sub 10" groups at 500 yards on a cool calm day, and usually closer to 8". My two best 500 yard groups are 6 shots into 6 7/8" and a three shot group earlier the same day that measured only 3 3/8", center to center. My Shiloh, which cost a LOT more than the Uberti, hasn't matched this... yet anyway.

The stock ladder and blade are certainly capable of 2 or 3 MOA if the rifle is, but a decent tang sight set will work wonders. A spirit level front sight is a must for long ranges - you would be amazed at how easy it is to cant the rifle one way or the other without one.

oilcan72 · April 26, 2011, 07:36 AM

Hello,

I have a Pedersoli Sharps, I've been working on a load and so far I have 70 grains FFF elephant powder, with a 500 grain Lee bullet. I'm shooting a 2 1/4 inch group at 100 yards. From what I've been reading on other group sites if I were to cast a bullet from a better mold, use a drop tube when loading, magnum primers, etc. The group can get way better, some are claiming 1 inch groups. I am looking to get a soule sight and see just how tight I can get mine

oilcan72

April 25, 2011, 05:56 PM	#1
timothy75 Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,146	Question for sharps shooters My local shop has a 45-70 pedersoli sharps in stock and i was curious to those of you who shoot such rifles, what sized groups i could expect at 100 and 200 yards using the stock ladder rear sight and blade front sight. I could add a soule rear sight later but was curious about the factory sights. Thanks

April 26, 2011, 12:03 AM	#4
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	I have a Uberti .45-70 Sharps that has turned out to be perhaps the most accurate rifle I've ever owned. With Swiss 1 1/2, a 530 grain Postell bullet, and a Lee Shaver deluxe long range Soule sight with a front spirit level globe sight, it will consistently shoot sub 10" groups at 500 yards on a cool calm day, and usually closer to 8". My two best 500 yard groups are 6 shots into 6 7/8" and a three shot group earlier the same day that measured only 3 3/8", center to center. My Shiloh, which cost a LOT more than the Uberti, hasn't matched this... yet anyway. The stock ladder and blade are certainly capable of 2 or 3 MOA if the rifle is, but a decent tang sight set will work wonders. A spirit level front sight is a must for long ranges - you would be amazed at how easy it is to cant the rifle one way or the other without one. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

April 25, 2011, 06:11 PM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	It depends on how well you can shoot. The gun with those sights is very capable of shooting 2" groups with the ladder sight and a vernier peep can bring it down to 1-1.5" groups. It also depends on the load your shooting. These guns are remarkably accurate and these groups I'm describing are actually common for the experienced Sharps shooters who dedicate the time to finding the right load for their gun.

April 25, 2011, 06:19 PM	#3
Rachen Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Weekend cowboy Posts: 542	In black powder shooting, there is a folk saying: "It is the shooter, not the gun, who decides where the bullet is going to hit" If you are well practiced with your weapon, alert, and determined, you will achieve groups at far longer range which will be worthy of an invitation to a Shuetzen shooting contest. Keep in mind that your Sharps rifle was built with accuracy in mind and the professional hide-hunters of the 19th century have documented clean, one-shot buffalo kills out to 600 yards with both the .45-70 Govt and the .50-70 cartridges.

April 26, 2011, 07:36 AM	#5
oilcan72 Member Join Date: August 28, 2009 Location: NorthWest Indiana Posts: 47	Hello, I have a Pedersoli Sharps, I've been working on a load and so far I have 70 grains FFF elephant powder, with a 500 grain Lee bullet. I'm shooting a 2 1/4 inch group at 100 yards. From what I've been reading on other group sites if I were to cast a bullet from a better mold, use a drop tube when loading, magnum primers, etc. The group can get way better, some are claiming 1 inch groups. I am looking to get a soule sight and see just how tight I can get mine oilcan72