Hello Ladies and Gentlemen . I'm new to the forum , however not new to guns and hunting . 45 years ago my Dad gave me my first shotgun and it's been a lifetime love affair . Someone joked that guns and hunting ruined his life . Well, they made mine , along with bird dogs .

Anyway , I've become interested in heavy buffalo rifle type single shots , but really don't know anyone at my gun clubs who shoots sillouettes/long range or the like . I've looked at Winchester/Browning Hi Walls , lever guns in 45-70, Ubertis and Pedersolis including Remington Rolling Block replicas . Finally Shiloh Sharps 1874 rifles and Axtell 1877s have flipped my switch . I understand that these rifles currently being made might be the highest quality of the type ever produced .

My question is , cost aside , which company makes the pinnacle of the old single shot designs? Not necessarily the most authentic , but rather the highest quality available is my quest . I've narrowed it down to ordering from Shiloh Sharps or Axtell Rifle Co.in 45-70. Which is the best or is it personal preferrence ? Should I be considering any others ?

Finally , it's nice to have found this forum. Seems to be a lot of extremely well informed folks here...Tom

I have originals Rem/Rol/Blks ,a Shiloh, Friends Uberti Sharps, never saw the 1877, my 40/90 Shiloh is by far the most perfectly made I own ! My uberti 45/70 Win Falling Blk 1885 is full of mistakes , The dealer even gave me a super discount to buy it as is ! shoots good but not a perfect rifle for a show piece , I rebuilt 1 of the rolling blocks to 40/65 I have picture of figure 8 at 190 yds super shooter but again not a show rifle , Shiloh is the one .

Tom,

There are several American companies that turn out very high quality rifles, made to your specifications. You've already found two of the best, Shiloh and Axtell (for Sharps rifles). Ballard Rifle Company in Cody, Wyoming, can give you rifles of the same quality in two more designs, the Winchester 1885, and the Ballard. Lone Star in Texas turns out made to order Remington rolling blocks, of the highest quality. Just depends on what type of action "trips your trigger".

Where in Michigan are you...there's a club in Alma that shoots monthly BPCR matches the second weekend of the month from April to September...nicer, more knowledgeable folks would be hard to find.

Greg

Thanks for the info fellas.

Greg, I'm in the Metro Detroit area . I know Alma . Too bad April's a long way off. I appreciate the info about Lone Star and Ballard. Gotta have a look at their rifles too ...Tom

tpdtom,
I have a Shiloh Sharps #1 sporter for sale if your intrested. Bought new from Shiloh last spring, has hvy bbl , semi-fancy wood . Probably the best looking gun I have ever seen and only fired 7 rounds through it to deer hunt with . I am going on Safari next year and have have decided to sell a few guns. This gun is brand new and in great shape
Stan Bennett
770-983-1522 home
770-983-1310 office

I have a Creedmore #2 taget rifle. Got from Navy Arms great gun but I dont need it really need to clean out the vault to put new stuff in. Look on there website it has a long ass barrel octagon with tang sites. If your intrested let me know.

quote:

I've narrowed it down to ordering from Shiloh Sharps or Axtell Rifle Co.in 45-70. Which is the best or is it personal preferrence ? Should I be considering any others ?

That's like asking if a quarter is worth more heads-up or tails-up. You pretty much have a no loose proposition there. I have a Shiloh 74.

Whatever you do, BUY THE BEST SIGHTS MADE. Lots of good choices there, too, but spend the money - a lot of it. Good irons will run you at least $400 for front and rear. MVA, Hoke, Baldwin, among others are given good raves. I like the MVAs on the rear. Lefties lean to the Hoke.

Up front, things might change a bit. A competition sight with windage may not be a good choice for you. I use a modified Lyman 17A. But there are many others.

I've not heard any one bragging on Axtell's sights, so consider buying sights elsewhere.

If hunting is your #1 motivation, watch the weight. Real easy to get these rifles in 12# units and up. Mine is 10.6#.

Do some research on Shiloh's forum website and you will get lots of ideas about configuration.

Brent

Go with the shiloh......best value for the buck....I've had/have highwalls, rollers and trapdoors...originals and replicas. And unless you're going to be mainly shooting targets with it or your eyesight is bad, there's no need to spend a lot of money on sights. The factory sights work surprisingly well for hunting.....even in low light. In fact, I might take mine hunting this evening. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Tom:
I think the guys recommending a Shiloh are on the money. My only issue is that Shiloh is 16 months backordered, and their prices do not include the 11 percent federal excise tax. I have had a couple of the Pedersolis and a C.Sharps. The latter was a very well built gun with Badger barrel, but I got jacked around quite a bit on when it would be ready.
To do it over, I would get in line for $250 with Shiloh, then go with an off-the-rack Pedersoli for the value (they make a very accurate barrel) and shoot the heck out of it while I was waiting for my Shiloh, and sell the Pedersoli just before the Shiloh was ready. Don't sell the Pedersoli short: they're not the crap that the IAB and other Italian guns are. They'll teach you a lot about BPC loading and shooting, and if you take one hunting and drop it, you won't kick youself like you will with your new Shiloh.

Thanks very much fellas. The general concensus seems to be Shiloh , and I was leaning that way anyway. I'm inclined to order a Montana Roughrider with just about every option , way upgraded wood and the AAA finish, checkered , octagon, Hartford collar, pewter tip, full buckhorn, checkered shotgun steel buttplate.

Not one person has spoken directly about Axtell Rifles , and I'm not going to gamble.

Tomorrow I'm going to look at a Pedersoli , just because I haven't seen one yet and I found some new ones.

Bill , I don't know about BPC reloading . I shot clay targets for years , had several reloaders , but I never found the time to load . I always bought ammo by the case. I'm going to go with 45-70 just for that reason or I would probably choose 45-90.

I really appreciate all the info...Tom

A 74 Sharps with every option will be very weighty. The buckhorn, if you are really going to use it is fine, but it has a tendency to be exactly at the point you want to grip the rifle for balance and can dig holes in your hands.

The Axtell is simply more beautiful than an 74 can be. 77s are the Ferraris of Sharps.

At least one world class competitor shoots one. But not so many can afford them.

But you will not regret a Shiloh either. It's a no loose situation.

Brent