I'm looking at purchasing either a C. Sharps or Shiloh Sharps rifle in the next few months and would greatly appreciate any advice regarding which firm to go with. Over the years I've heard solid reports from C. Sharps and Shiloh owners and understand an accuracy issue Shiloh had years' back was resolved when they began making their own barrels.

My biggest question is that when you look at Gun List & other sale publications it appears that there are about 7 Shiloh's to 1 C. Sharps which made me wonder the reason for the discrepancy.

I'm a longtime ASSRA member but new to the website and love it, great job all around....

Mr.Bloom,  I agree with Glenn on his choice.  I own a Shiloh in 45-90 that I received about 2 yrs ago and it is one of the finest built firearms you can find.  Being a custom built rifle made in the U.S.; the fit and finish are impeccable and well worth the money when compared to other custom built firearms.  I have not owned a C. Sharps but have handled and carefully looked at them in their display tent at the Quigley Buffalo Shoot in Forsyth Montana.  They are also well built but I give the edge to the Shiloh.  I have heard people talk about the accuracy issues between the two and C. Sharps does use the highly respected Badger barrels.  However, I had no problems getting good accuracy from my Shiloh which is around 2 moa.  Some people talk about getting better accuracy than that but for some reason, you never see there names near the top of the list.  Those that consistantly do well, are those that understand there rifle and how to load for it.  It takes some time but that's what makes it so enjoyable.   If you are going to buy used, I would stay away from the Farmingdales, not that they were poorly built, but I have seen a couple that were throated so the bullets can be seated farther out and as I understand, are a little harder to get to shoot.

sbloom;
Don't know if your question was answered to your satisfaction or not, but I will second 
glenn's remarks. I have handled both makes but have no personal experience with c. Sharps rifles. I do own a Shiloh (Bryan production) and will say without hesitstion that factory support is second to none in my experience. The fit and finish is what I would expect for a rifle costing what these do (and I expected perfection). Accuracy has been better than I am capable on most days; 1 1/2 to 2 moa with an occasional 1 moa group. The main thing is , the Bryans stand by what they build and they build them well!

Don

Naw, that's with my bigger guns. Like maybe the Snider.

Gentlemen,
   I must weigh in here as I own two C. Sharps rifles; a 45/70 Hi-Wall with their target iron peep sites( See what I mean Borton!)  and a 45-120 with a Melcom replica scope on it. I have done a little load developement with the 45/70 and a LOT with bthe 45/120. The latter now shoots, on demand(as a recent artical phrased it) into 1-3/8"groups. To do this get a flash hole swedger, a 30" powder loading tube and some Rem. 2-1/5 primers to go with your Swiss 1F powder and a good Paul Jones mould). That big Sharps realy makes those 300 to 1000 yd. silouwets go BONG compared to the rest of the guys on the range.
   C. Sharps uses Badger Barrels, so how good can you buy now that Harry Pope is gone?!
   The wood on these two rifles is great as is the wood to metal fit. Shilo Sharps is in the same town. C. Sharps does all it's casting. forging and heatreating in house, as well as wood curing and stocking fitting. They are a family owned business that produces very good rifles.
   Best Regards To All,
      CRK

Also, what speaks volumes to me is the case of the owner of C Sharps trying to sell some of Sergio's PU sights as his own. Yes, he was caught red-handed at one of the National meets a few years ago, by one of my buds who happened to be one of the victims. My friend (the Coydog, if it matters) chanced to go into Sergio's area just after purchasing the supposedly-C-Sharps-made sight from John, and spotted the resemblance. After close comparison, he confronted the C Sharps owner who eventually reluctantly admitted the deception and refunded the money. Sergio was not a part of this & was just as surprised as my friend.

Yes, this speaks volumes to me. I will never do business with such a person.
But good luck to those of you who do (you may need it), Joe

I own both rifles. I have a custom Shiloh (waited 4 years for it) and a C. Sharps that I bought from existing inventory.

The Shiloh is better in the fit and finish.   

Customer Service: Because I purchased both guns from the manufacturer, I dealt with their staff.  The staff at Shiloh was always courteous and helpful.  My experience with the guy (owner?)at C. Sharps, can't remember his name, was that he was usually a bit touchy and a grouch.  I had the impression that once the gun was sold, he didn't want to hear from you.

Hardening of falling block: Both rifles had a characteristic that you may want to keep in mind. The falling blocks on the Shiloh and the C. Sharps were not hardened.  As a result some shoters were experiencing a problem where primers that were being blown back against the block face causing a pitting around the area of the firing pin hole.  I never experienced this problem with either gun.  A fix was developed for it by inserting a case hardened piece of metal where the primer blew back against the falling block.

As I remember it, guns made by Ballard did not have this problem because the blocks were hardened. 

I don't know if this problem has been rectified by Shiloh or C. Sharps. 

Based on my customer service experience and finish, I'd go with the Shiloh.

The accuracy of the rifles depends very much on your abilities as a handloader to do VERY consistent bullet casting and loading.  I use foundry lead, weigh each powder charge and use powder and primers from the same lot, etc. etc. etc.   I get good results, particularly with Swiss black powder. 

From a competition standpoint, your shooting technique must always be consistent as well. A good spotter who can dope the wind is worth his weight in gold!

And also I understand Ken donated the engraving that rifle.

Kurt

I have a rifle from C. Sharps and a carbine from Shiloh and both are excellent products.  C. Sharps has the advantage of delivering more quickly.  I ordered a "Boss Gun" in .45-70 with Grade I engraving and it arrived four months and four days after I placed the phone order.  As others have said, it can take years to received a Shiloh.  I have another Shiloh on order and it's been two years and counting.  I'm not saying this as a complaint, just to demonstrate one of the differences between the companies.

If you want more information about C. Sharps, call them and ask for a catalog, their web site is woefully out of date.  Their phone number is (406) 932-4353.

As I understand it, the two companies were once part of a single enterprise.  Shiloh made the guns and C. Sharps marketed them.  The partners had a falling out and C. Sharps went its own way.  I've always been interested in knowing more details about this, especially since both companies are at opposite ends of the same street in the small town of Big Timber, Montana.  At least, that's the version I heard.  The bottom line is, it's none of my business and the quality of their rifles is first class.

Mike

fwiw     i bought a Shiloh Long Range Express in 1987 but did not get to shoot it in a match until 2003. long story
when i did put 150 rounds through it I found the brass was bulging on one side. I showed it to Kirk Bryan and he immediately knew the problem. seems the previous owners liked to hand lap the chambers and "jugged" mine. Long story short Shiloh replaced the barrel and even made it octagon to round and would not take a penny. Kirk said it is his name on the product and when it says lifetime warranty, that's what it means. For my money it is Shiloh or golf.