.45-120 SILE Sharps

[Pritcher]

Hello all, today I got in my new SILE Sharps rifle in 45-120. While it is probably the better part of 60 years old, it has likely never been fired, and came in its original box with receipt. When I got the rifle I was immediately taken aback by its proportions. It's tiny. The weapon has but a 26" barrel and weighs just shy of 8 lbs. Compare this to any of its Pedersoli counterparts and it's frankly diminutive. In the back of my mind grows a feeling that my first range day with it will be a rather painful one for old righty. I came by the rifle at a good price, so no regrets there, but my question is, are rifles of this make any good? I have never seen one, but then again I do not typically take much interest in sharps rifles. Anyone here have any experience with them?

Cheers,
Jack

 

[AZDAVE]

Yea a 7lbs sharps in 45/120 and a steel butt plate would make sure I shot it off sticks for the first couple shots and not the bench. Recoil should be a but sporty and invigorating.

 

[Joker12]

Should be fun!

 

[TennesseeHunter]

Looks nice. I have only handled pedersolis.

Speaking to guys that shoot shilohs, I’ve been told the pedersolis are behind on fit but as good or better when it comes to trigger and barrel. And that your rifle is still pretty good. Although once you get into it might just really feel the need to get something like a Shiloh. So I’ve been told

At about <8 pounds and a shorter barrel, attempts at long distance shooting will hardly be worthwhile.
If you hunt, it would be great. Using my ~13 pound 34” 45-120 for a lot of hunting season this year was very manageable but not necessary.
Of course if your intention is just to look at it, it’s probably the best choice out of all sharps replicas.

As an aside, I see that Norma brass on gunbroker has climbed pretty high so far. Any other luck on the brass?

 

[Pritcher]

I managed to get a handful of cases to get me started yeah, thanks to the guys here.

Having handled a Pedersoli Quigley sharps, I would say the fit and finish of this rifle is nicer. The wood has less of a "modern" sheen to it, and the case colors on this rifle are just lovely. I cannot say much about the way it shoots given I haven't shot it yet, but the action/trigger feels fairly smooth for a repro gun which has never seen use.

Unfortunately, I do concur with your judgement. Even though the rifle is plenty long for moderate distances, I bought this rifle for long range BP target shooting. I want it to be able to do what a 45-70 from my trapdoor cannot, and I don't believe the 120 in this rifle will. So hence my degree of disappointment. Although, I bet if you loaded this thing up to the gills with 3f, and put a light bullet in there, it would make one hell of an express rifle. That said, I still want a longer gun, and if there is anyone with one of those long pedersoli rifles that wants to swap for a much handier piece, let me know haha.

 

[TennesseeHunter]

I’m glad you got proper cases.
And I’m sure it’ll sling bullets faster than any 45-70 even if it’s slower than if it had a 30-34” barrel. Nothing a bit more elevation on the sight could fix. But full power loads might get taxing from the weight.

To shoot long distance reliably you’d probably need a better tang sight but have you priced them? Probably as much as you paid for the rifle!

 

[Pritcher]

Yeah, and it seems like all the good tang sights are used with a diopter front, which is also expensive it seems. If I end up getting satisfactory performance out of the rifle, honestly I may just end up grabbing a rifle telescope. I'll have to make the mounts of course, but both front and folding rear sight are dovetailed, so I can use those to fairly easy mount the bracketry.