new 1876

[hammer1]

Hello everyone, my first post since finding the forum. My wife recently presented me a Uberti 1876, in 4560, for my birthday. I havent even had a chance to shoot it, yet. What a beautiful rifle, but it has had the side effect of, now I want a shiloh sharps.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Welcome Hammer
You will love shooting your 45-60 , they are a real sweetheart to shoot .

[Roosterman]

I have the '76 in 45-60 and several Shilo sharps. The fun never stops here.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Oh yes, you have to be careful.  A Shiloh addiction (or even just BPCR single shots in general) can spiral out of control in a hurry.

Ask me how I know.   

[hammer1]

Short knife, is the Shiloh everything I percieve it to be? Or are the cold sweats just me getting old? Been thinking about the #3 sporter.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Well, I lusted after one for a few years.  Near had the catalog memorized while squirreling money away for one.   A phone call from a friend one night put me on to a used  (like new) rifle not too far away that was more or less what I wanted.  Long story short, the rifle is a #1 Sporter in a .45-90 made 1997 and we settled on $3000.  Included was everything I needed to make it go bang.

Never having spent that kind of cash on a rifle before took some getting used to.  I was almost sick at that, but I took it to the friend's place who gave me the heads-up where we burned up the live rounds I got in the deal.  Got home later on, cleaned the rifle thoroughly, and I recall right then and there wanting another.  The cycle began anew and when I had the funds come the next spring, I ordered a fancy little Hartford.  The rifle showed up last July and it is everything I expected and more.

However, in the interim of waiting for Shiloh #2 a few other single shots snuck in the door - a Whitney Phoenix, a Ballard #5 Pacific, an Uberti Rolling Block in .22 Hornet and a few more since.  And best of all, the folks at Shiloh are just great people making a great product.  Worst part is, I already have designs on another.

[hammer1]

Thanks, Short knife, I know what I want, already customized it on their website. With permission from the "boss", Im gonna make it happen. I used to be into ultra long range rifles, so , a few of them will be leaving. Ive been listening to the blued steel and walnut siren call.

[Short Knife Johnson]

What do you have in mind, and what would you like to do with it?

I should post some pictures of my 1874's but that would be hijacking this thead completely.

[hammer1]

Honestly Short knife, I have always wanted a 45-110, I would like to try some long range shooting with it. BUT, I want it purty at the same time. Im tired of looking at the fiberglass stocked, observatory scoped long range rifles. Its hard to explain, I realized that they dont have any heart. I guess is the easiest way for me to put it. I have several of em, and have shot out to 1780 yards with them. The rifles are accurate, scary accurate, its just that there's nothing to look at. I want something that has some warmth, that folks OOH and AHH over, when you uncase it. I want to try it at 7 or 8 hundred yards, maybe further, and get back to becoming one with the rifle, like its an old friend. And knowing that anything this side of a click, you can own it. Proof of a rifleman, not a computer, telling you to put a firing solution in your scope.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Haha... we might get moderated over to the BROW section if we aren't careful.

The .45-110 (2 7/8") is a fine long distance round.  The fellow who runs the Boulder River Foundry - Shiloh's in-house foundry where the actions are made - uses a .45-10 with a 25 lb bull barrel to shoot the Mile Match hosted by Ken Wasserburger.  I would not suggest going that big for your introduction to BPCRs.  They are finicky to load for and beat the crap out of you in a normal weight gun.  The one I fired produced a really sharp recoil and I didn't find it fun to shoot in a 13 pound gun.  For what you have in mind, I would recommend perhaps a Creedmore or Long Range Express in .45-90.  Figure out which options you want in each one and then do a price comparison.  I routinely shoot mine out to 800 yards and would easily do 1000 with the Postell bullet.  The typical starting point is the .45-70 but I had pretty good luck starting with the 90.  The beauty part is that you can phone the folks at Shiloh and talk to Lucinda or Kirk to get some guidance.

Reminds me of this one time I was in the shop there.  A fellow from Kanas was there picking up his rifle.  Bought one of off the rack while he was driving there.  He says to me "I had my heart set on the .45-110, but the closer I got each time I phoned, she (Lucinda) kept talking me down in calibre."  I asked him what he wanted to use it for, and he wanted it for plinking and a bit of Silhouette.  He wound up buying a .40-65 because that's what he needed, and they aren't going to upsell you something you regret if they can AT ALL help it. 

And yes... you can pretty them up... you can pretty them up real nice.

[Grizzly Adams]

Haha... we might get moderated over to the BROW section if we aren't careful.

.......I like my Shiloh too.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Oh what the hell.  We've gotten this far.  I don't have pics of my .50-95 Chapparal 1876, or my .40-82 Shiloh, but here is my .45-90.

[hammer1]

A darn fine looking rifle there, sir. My  self control is dwindling.

[Short Knife Johnson]

Thanks.  Not that I'm bragging, but if a pic of my Hartford in .40-82 was to be posted, you would be on the horn Monday morn at 0800 hrs Mountain Time.

  A friend once quipped that a guy like me doesn't deserve to own a gun that pretty.

[hammer1]

Short Knife, I thought you might be a man of honor, but now you go makin threats