looking at the Cimarron website i see they replicas of the Sharps used in ''Quigley Down Under'' made by Armi Sport and Pedersoli and come chambered in 45-120 among others. anyone here own one of these rifles or have any experience or knowledge about them? also what are your thoughts on the 45-120 cartridge? is it a good shooting cartridge and is it a good cartridge to reload? thanks.

My dad, son, and brother all shoot Pedersoli rifles. The quality is excellent for the money. I would stay away from the Armi Sport, there is a reason they are cheaper (emphasis on cheap). Rather than the .45-120, I suggest the .45-110, which is more common and thus easier to get brass for, and essentially the same cartridge. The long .45s are trickier to reload than the .45-70 and are best reloaded with black powder, but are capable of good accuracy. The downside is recoil if you plan to shoot a lot. It really depends on what you want to do with the gun. For casual shooting out to about 800 yards and hunting up to large deer, you would be better off with a .45-70. Also, if you are new to reloading black powder cartridges, the .45-70 is easier to get to shoot well. If you plan to hunt elk-sized and larger game or do a fair amount of shooting beyond about 800 yards the .45-110 gets the nod.

I have a .45-70 Pedersoli Dixon model which has an oil finish and a 32" barrel. Mine came with the Cimarron stamp on it. I think the finish of the Dixon stock is only surpassed by the high grade Pedersoli's. You can also see the finish reflected in the list price though I bought mine used.
The Quigley has the heavier 34" barrel, a slide bar and ring and the patch box. In my mind the Quigley is a movie prop that is neither fish nor fowl. It is too heavy for hunting and the rifle butt is uncomfortable of long strings in a match shooting. It it pretty heavy for casual off hand shooting.

I have examined Armi Sports both before and after getting my Pedersoli's. I do not consider them fit for anyone except a once a year shooter unaware of distinctions in workmanship.

The only cartridge worth considering is the 45-70 and if you have to have something bigger a .45-2.4".

hey guys, i appreciate the info so far! i've never been familiar with either company but it obviously sounds like i'll ned to stay away from the Armi Sport. i'm still wanting the 45-120 or maybe 45-110 though. I've already had a rifle in 45-70 and like the cartridge and probably will get another but in this rifle it has to at least be the 45-110. i also used to have a 45-90 chambered in a Winchester model 1886 but traded it in on another rifle and man i really regret that bigtime now. i do have a Winchester 1885 in 50-90 that i will definately always keep and in fact i hope to get at least one more model 1885 one day. a while back was considering an 1885 in .405 Winchester and it's still a possibility for future aquisition. Thanks again.

I think that C. Sharps still offers a Sharps 45-120. I have one of the early Shiloh rifles in that cal. that was made in Farmingdale N.Y. years ago. I have used only full charges of lightly compressed 2F B.P. in it with a 500 gr. bullet and have been well pleased with it. If you plan to use any smokeless powder loads, the smaller cases are better--just my opinion. Good luck

This is my 45/120 on a Ruger No.1 with 28" octagonal barrel.


Don't buy a Pedersoli, they are VERY addictive, you can't stop at just one!

quote:

This is my 45/120 on a Ruger No.1 with 28" octagonal barrel.

Coool!
I was allways thinking about a converted Ruger #1, chambered vor the .32-40, .38-55 or the German 8,15x46R. But the used #1 rilfes here, are too expensive for such ideals.

quote:

Don't buy a Pedersoli, they are VERY addictive, you can't stop at just one!

Yes, that´s true. Although I have only one Pedersoli Sharps rifle, but I´m always thinking about a second. Problem is, I don´t know what for a chambering. I have a few .45-70 rifles. So, I want a smaller one, like the .40-65, .40-70 or the .38-55. Pedersoli doesn´t offer this.
My greatest dream, since I was a young boy, was a Shiloh, but the prices are to high here in Germany. I know a very nice, new sporter #1 with 30" standard barrel and 38-55 chambering. But 3000.-€ without vernier sights is to expensive.


Martin

Martin--Pedersoli does in fact offer a 40-65. I own one, a Silhouette Rifle I originally bought for my wife. Since we have more or less given up active competition, I have begun to experiment and hunt with the rifle a bit.

With a 250 grain flatnosed cast bullet from a Lyman 403169 mold and 58 grains of KIK 2f powder, it is a pure hammer on hogs and deer. This is a no recoil load that gives 1482 fps and will shoot through and through a 5 inch diameter cedar tree.

I think that this is one of the most overlooked calibers available. By all means locate one and buy it. You will not be disappointed.

quote:

Pedersoli does in fact offer a 40-65.

Yes, I know, that there was a .40-65 offered in the last dixigunworks catalog. But this must be a special run for US-customers. Here´s the actually Pedersoli 1874-programm:

http://www.davide-pedersoli.co...74-sharps-rifle.html

Apart from the .22lr, the "smalles" is the .45-70.

Martin

quote:

Originally posted by Bad Ass Wallace:
This is my 45/120 on a Ruger No.1 with 28" octagonal barrel.


Don't buy a Pedersoli, they are VERY addictive, you can't stop at just one!

those are very nice rifles! i'm hoping i can get a Pedersoli sometime this year or at the very latest next year. i've got about 3 or 4 rather expensive rifles i want to get and hopefully i can 2 or 3 of them this year.

Big Bore Fan,
Have you considered a Pedersoli Hiwall in 38/55 with the 1:12" twist barrel. I shoot mine with a Paul Jones 374gn Creedmoor bullet

quote:

Have you considered a Pedersoli Hiwall in 38/55 with the 1:12" twist barrel

Yes, I know this chambering for the Pedersoli High Wall. But, I ´m owning two Browning High Walls. And the Pedersoli I don´t like.
I don´t know why. Is it the stock or the finish. Hmmm... It´s not a "High Wall" made by Browning or Winchester.
Maybe I'm biased here.

Martin