Documenti di Didattica
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Published by
Manufacturers of A WORLD FAMOUS SERIES of Classic Metallic Cartridge Rifles and Classic Sights
P.O. Box 885, Big Timber, MT 59011 Phone: 406-932-4353 Fax: 406-932-4443
2016
www.csharpsarms.com * info@csharpsarms.com
2016
THE AMERICAN
SHARPS SHOOTERS
Publisher: C. Sharps Arms Co. Inc., John R. Schoffstall President
Mike Nesbitt - - - Editor (miken54@aol.com)
Allen Cunniff --- Field Contributor (tpigskin@comcast.net)
Bob GietzField Contributor (duckfreak@q.com)
Dangerous Don McDowell - - Field Contributor (ranch13@hotmail.com)
Table of contents:
Page
Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason,Mark Twain
drawback to this rifle is it has a 34 inch, #1- 1/2 heavy Badger barrel, and that made it too heavy for me if an
offhand shot was necessary. My beautiful C. Sharps Arms rifle is definitely a buffalo gun if X-stick are used
and very accurate but my strength just wasnt there to carry it on this hunt. My gun of choice was equipped
with standard barrel sights, modified by some grinding and filing.
For a bullet, my selection
was a KAL .442 hollow base paper
patch which throws a 550 grains
using a soft alloy and wrapped to
.449. Although I have purchased
one of the KAL .442 molds, for this
hunt I was still using bullets from a
generous supply Bob Watts had
given me to try previously. My
1/8th lube cookie was a mixture of
jojoba oil and beeswax, 3-1 as
recommended by Bob. The load I
used will sound like an echo from
Dick Savage, which it actually is,
using 102.5 grains of KIK 1.5Fg
with no compression and a .025
wad. CCIs BR2 are always my
primers of choice and Normas basic
brass completes and contains my
load.
Ricks rifle and one of its .45-110 cartridges
This combination will shoot
consistent 1 MOA groups or better off of X-sticks in hunting conditions out to about 400 yards using a blow
tube or just a couple of breaths down the breech which allows subsequent shots to be taken without wiping the
bore. The first shot from a cold barrel hits in the same place as the rest. My C. Sharps .45-110 will also shoot
same impact from a cold barrel. Both of those rifles are at home with paper patched bullets and both have
chambers with the gentle leades in them.
Emphasizing how rifles are all individuals, my .45-90 using grease groove bullets does not shoot to the
same point of impact from a cold barrel.
Let me sound like a hunting guide for just a few moments, I highly recommend the semi-buckhorn rear
sight with fold up ladder when used with a brass colored blade for a front sight. I use mine with the ladder
down for 100-175 yards and I use the ladder standing up with the slide moved completely to the top, aiming
with the V filed at the bottom base of the ladder for my 200 yard setting. Then with the slide on the ladder
completely down, I use the V notch for my 300 yard setting. And for my 400 yard setting and up, I have
elevations for the V marked with Kurt Altenburgs pocket knife on the ladders staff. That works better than
anything else I have tried.
Barrel sights are simple and when hunting simple is always better. They are also faster to operate and
work better in a variety of lighting conditions than other sights. Likewise, a blade front sight is best for hunting.
I have seen guys lose their front apertures when carrying rifles with globe front sights. With practice you can
shoot as well to 400 yards with barrel sights as with most any other sights. Most of the original buffalo hunting
rifles I have seen had just barrel sights and, of course, scopes were costly back then too.
Shooting with X-sticks works better than trying to shoot from the prone position while hunting because
vegetation and topography usually impede view if your eyes get down that low. Occasionally I will use a set of
homemade standing sticks for hunts as well.
Getting back to the hunt, I finally spotted Brutus and he was over mile away and he had spotted me.
He took off and went into a fast mule deer bounce for 50 yards or so and then broke into a full gallop. The sight
rejoiced.
Those were some of the emotions I knew I would miss, but the memories will remain forever. For me
the shot itself was anti-climactic even though the shot was very true. To me the greater significance was the
ending of an era where I had made and greeted old and new friends from around the country. We have built
many lifelong relationships that we hope to continue as our life begins another phase.
Then my mind,
aim, and concentration
came back to the shot at
hand. With a slight
squeeze of the set trigger,
my .45-110 Sharps roared
and Brutus was hit with
the only shot that was
needed. The 550 grain
paper patched, hollowbased bullet, passed
through the top of the
heart and continued on
through to be buried itself
forever in the shifting
sands. Perhaps, years
from now, it will be
picked up by someone
and theyll wonder if it
had been used to hunt
buffalo.
This, I can only
expect, was my last buffalo
Moments after Brutus fell, Doris took this picture of Ricks last buffalo hunt
hunt. I can feel accomplished and carry no regrets because no mistakes were made and things went very well.
Brutus had lived quite a good life, free in the Sandhills as did his ancestors, and it was a good death, as the
Native Americans say. We all can only hope for the same.
For what it is worth, let me continue here with some of my recommendations for hunting buffalo with a BPCR:
Use non-adjustable X-sticks (adjustable sticks need adjusting at the wrong times)
Use barrel sights
If using globe sights be sure to tape over aperture spring to keep from losing the aperture
Know where your first shot from a cold barrel impacts in relation to consequent shots
Use blow tubes or blowing down breech for fouling control
I always recommended heart shots for most shooters. The heart is lower than a lot of people realize.
I have used both soft and hard alloys and believe that shooter accuracy is of a more paramount issue
Eyes rolling in a bull means you had better be somewhere else
Tail up like a flag means severe agitation and/or a charge
Get up to 130 yards from a buffalo and they will show head-shakes as first sign of aggression
100-130 yards is a caution zone
Closer than 100 yards is the danger zone
Cows with young calves will charge
Bulls may charge at any time but more so during the rut or if cornered or wounded
It is ill advised to underestimate the danger of a buffalo! A buffalo rancher of 60 plus years told me that when I
first got started. His name was Todd and he told me never to go near a buffalo without at least a .44 Magnum
on my hip. If you havent seen a dangerous buffalo you havent been around them long enough. Good advice
to live by, he told me
Authors note: I would like to take this opportunity to give a very special thanks to Dick Savage for all his
help, friendship, and patience for mentoring me over the years in Sharps rifles. I would also like to thank Kurt
Altenburg for all the help he has given me on same. Between these two guys, there has never been a question of
mine about rifles or cartridges they couldnt answer. I couldnt ask for better friends than Dick and Kurt!
Also thanks to Bob Watts for all his help with the tight chambered Shiloh rifles as well as the loan of the
paper patched bullets. Bob is also a very good friend.
And last, a special thanks goes to all the many clients from around the country who have hunted with us.
We truly enjoy calling you all friends now!
Heres hopin to see all of you at some shoots in the future! BPCR people are the best!
Old West
Centerfires
By Bob Gietz
This was the final match of our 2016 Old West Centerfire season (the
2017 season gets an early start this coming November) and we had a very good
match, in nice enough weather with seven shooters participating. It is my
pleasure being range-master for these shoots. Our course of fire included 20
rounds, with 10 shots being taken at 50 yards and the other 10 taken at 100 yards using bullseye targets. In
addition to having those seven shooters, Dave Dolliver was on hand to help with the target scoring.
Our match also included awarding those shooters with the seasons
aggregate, shooters attending this particular match were each
awarded two prizes, from the prize blanket which held several
items, mostly donated by C. Sharps Arms. Instead of talking about
this match and then the aggregate standings, well talk about them at
the same time. Because of that, well talk about the man who took
2nd place first.
That shooter was Jim Dickerman and we mention him first because
he took 1st place in this individual match. Hes done that before, a
very good shooter. Jim uses his Shiloh Sharps in .45/70 very well
although I dont have any inside information about his loads. It
was on the aggregate standings that Jim took 2nd and the prize he
selected was a set of prone X-sticks from Buffalo Arms Company.
In 2nd place for this shoot was Allen Cunniff, shooting his very
favored .45/70 1874 Sharps from C. Sharps Arms. Allen is one of
our top shooters and he was tied with Jim for points but just a bit
behind on Xs. If his 100 yard group had been a bit more centered
he would have gotten those Xs. His target had a good group for
those 10 shots, with a score of 86, but those hits were all to the left
of the X.
Jim Dickerman
One of
the fine aggregate prizes donated by C. Sharps Arms
was a very brightly polished gold colored belt buckle.
When Allens name was called for 1st place in the
aggregate he stepped forward saying, Ive got to
have that
buckle,
and none
of us
could
disagree
with him.
That was
certainly
the pick
of the
prizes.
Allens new gold colored C. Sharps buckle
Rifle/Cartridge
1874 Shiloh Sharps .45/70
1874 C Sharps Arms .45/70
1874 C. Sharps Arms .45/70
1885 C Sharps Arms .44/40
1874 C Sharps Arms .45/90
1874 Shiloh Sharps .45/70
1874 Pedersoli Sharps, .45/70
50 yd.
94-2X
98-X
97-2X
94-3X
98-3X
89-X
92-2X
100 yd.
90-2X
86
86
88-2X
81
86
75
Total
184-4X
184-X
183-2X
182-5X
179-3X
175-X
167-2X
Aggregate
914-18X 2nd
933-20X 1st
446-2X 7th
888-13X 3rd
854-10X 6th
882-6X 4th
875-10X 5th
BWS ready for use in right pan with lubed buttons in left pan
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Arms
THE SWAN
My C. Sharps Arms New Model 1875
By Allen Cunniff
In addition to their fabled accuracy, part of the attraction of every serious
shooters favorite Sharps rifle is the elegance in its design and execution. The
preeminent rifle builders in the world (Im looking at you, Big Timber) turn out a
wide variety of models that remain faithful to their traditional roots, but are also
works of art. Buyers of modern rifles have many options in selecting components
and personalizing their orders. I am proud of every one of my 1874s, both in
appearance and in craftsmanship. The standard versions of Sharps are already eye-catchers on the range, but
sometimes you just want a little something extra.
Approximately 2 years ago I had the opportunity to purchase a used C. Sharps Arms New Model 1875
rifle chambered for the .45 2-1/10th inch cartridge from the Cabelas Gun Library. Compared to my 1874s, I
considered this particular 1875 as a low-budget alternative. This one was a Model 1875 Business Rifle built
in the mid-90s. It had a rather plain, straight-grained walnut stock with shotgun buttplate, straight grip,
Schnabel fore-end, casehardened receiver, and the round tapered 28 Badger barrel. It was not the equal in
appearance to my others, but it was in good shape and the price out the door was too good to pass up.
This shows the round top Model 1875 after the recent work was done
I was pleased to have happened upon this rifle, but my greatest surprise came about with my first
opportunity to fire the rifle on our local range. This sweet little number could shoot! Consistent with a variety
of loads, the rifle quickly gained my confidence as the most accurate of all my Sharps rifles. But like a prom
date with a good personality, it sometimes found itself waiting in the shadows while its more attractive sisters
made their way to the dance floor. Additionally, the straight grip, while more appealing to me aesthetically,
was not as pleasant to shoot offhand as the pistol grip of my other rifles. So, for several seasons, my 1875 was
relegated to the occasional range visit as I doted more attention on the other members of the harem. Yes, I am
that shallow and not altogether proud of it.
During my occasional musings, I
began to consider adding some features that
I felt the 1875 in its current form was
lacking. At a minimum, the little rifle
deserved some quality wood, equal in
appearance to its capabilities. I finally
decided to pull the trigger, so to speak, and
the 1875 was placed into the back of Mike
Nesbitts truck during our annual pilgrimage
to Forsyth, Montana for the Matthew
Quigley match. Naturally, a short layover in
Big Timber gave me an opportunity to
discuss my restock plans with the folks at C.
Take a look at the cheekpiece and that gorgeous wood
Sharps Arms and to select a blank from their assortment of fine lumber. My original plan was to have the wood
profiled and inlet at C. Sharps Arms and then then mailed back to me for finishing, but each visit to the mother
ship makes me appreciate more and more the skill and craftsmanship of the resident stock makers. After
talking with John Schoffstall, I decided to have the work done by C. Sharps Arms and added a cheekpiece,
pewter nose cap, and
pistol grip in the upgrade.
The easy part was over,
there was nothing left for
me to do but wait.
The eventual
arrival of the UPS truck
took the better part of a
century, but finally the box
With this picture you can see the very fine wood to metal fit
was in my hands. I will admit that I opened it slowly, with heightening anticipation, but I couldnt have been
more surprised at the transformation that had taken place to my ugly duckling. This COULDNT be the same
rifle that I had left in Big Timber. The transformation is astounding; new wood alive with color and figure, a
pistol grip that feels as though it were custom made for my hand, andas a complete surprise, new
If you want a real friend that you can trust in Washington, get a dog.
- Harry Truman