I haven't chimed in on this thread because I was a little unsure whether we were discussing real high-walls (from the old Winchester, or copied by Ballard Rifle, Meacham, or less well by a couple of others) or the Japanese High Walls which look like the former but only on the outside.   

     My love for the real high-walls is well documented and I won't go into all of the reasons here, but it should be mentioned at this point that Ballard Rifle is now making a faithful reproduction of the late (original) Winchester high-wall in TAKE-DOWN configuration.  Now we're talking!!        Everything that DWS just said can be duplicated in the new copy of the Winchester, and you will have a real high quality rifle.  As to the negative comments about difficulty loading, I would maintain that anyone with normal digital dexterity can easily load anything as long as a .25-20 SS or more.  I will admit that .22 short is difficult under a scope in a high-wall, but that's why we have low-walls!  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!   

Froggie

OK, let me chime in as well. As the person that originated this post, my question was not meant to be a difficult one. That is i was asking about the difference between high walls as a whole comapre to none high walls, as an examply but not the only examply would be my Shiloh Sharps...that is not a high wall. My actual statement was"I’ve never shot a high wall. Yet I’m wondering what is the benefit of the high wall or is there one? I own and shoot a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70. And yes, I know they don’t make any high walls. Just curious about the high wall. " I would appreciate that on this post that any conversations that have to do with anything other the my high wall question be taken off line. I do understand how a posting of one question can bring on a discussion of something else that is not true to the post as hand. 

DWS8130, reply #12,

                               Your reply to this post was on the money. In short, your reply was more in what I was looking for. It was educational, it gave me a much better understanding about high walls...something that I know nothing about. You broke it down for me, and all others to understand. Thank you for your reply, and taking the time to explain the high wall and much more in that reply. Well done, and kudos. 

                                

Repeat after me

Sharps are ugly
High walls are beautiful

Sharps are ugly
High walls are beautiful

Sharps are ugly
High walls are beautiful



Gary

Brent,

         Don’t get me wrong, a question on something else is not a bad thing…just perhaps another thread on that question could be started or would be more appropriate. I’ve seen way too many threads start out in one direction… then one person starts it in another direction that the post was not intended for. That’s all I was concerned about. 

     I’m still confused on how the lock time a hammer would make a difference on how a rifle shoots. If you and I were to be at the same range at 200 yards, you with you high wall and I with my Sharps shooting the same loads… and all we were going to compare was the accuracy between the two rifles…does the high walls fast lock time make your rifle more accurate? And lets just for argument take away the human error, and lets say the rifles were in fixed bench rest, that is lock into place. I know that this is not how it would have been done, but just to eliminate any argument of human error. 

     Now as for the hammers themselves, yes I do absolutely agree with you on how heavy the Sharps Hammers are. I take it that the high walls are not as heavy. I can pull my hammer back with my thumb, yet it is not easy. I would think that there would be some difference in the rotational torque between the two hammers. Yes, perhaps it is a small difference. 

     I would have to say that the side hammer, well the one that I have is not easy to cock, and that would have been nice if it was. That is an advantage in the high wall, yet like all things in life you work with and live with what you have. So I’ll just get better at making my rifle easier for me to cock the hammer back. I’ll have one heck of a strong right thumb. 
   
          As for not having a high wall to compare to all I can say is when it comes to how a rifle carries and fits and fits really depends on the person. a rifle may carry well and fit one person great, and it may also be an excellent rifle to shoot, yet it may not be the say for another person. As I’m sure you could have 2 high walls that you could say fits and feels great where the other does not, and they are the same rifle. Just a thought not an argument.

     I think when it comes to having a rifle that will cock your hammer back is something of a personal preference. I for one, don’t care to have my hammer cocked until I’m ready to shoot it, and not before…that is purely my own opinion. 

     I can see where the high wall would have an incredible advantage if your shoot is under the clock such in SASS competition. The BP shoots give you plenty of time to shoot your Paper Target or Silhouettes. 

     As you can see you gave me allot to think about, and ponder over. This gives me a better understanding of the high wall, and when it’s spoken about around me, I’ll have more to say or not to say about it. Perhaps more better well developed questions about the high walls among my friends and other shoots. 
   

Brent,

       Thanks for the honesty and not beating around the bush, that's refreshing. You have many great points, and thanks once again for sharing your knowldge with myself, and the others out there that are reading this thread.

38_Cal,

     When I shoot, I’m always using my set trigger. It’s only at 15 oz. It’s just right for me. When I bench shoot, I’m using the Caldwell front and rear bench rest…the best one that they have. They are much better then standard sand bags. I’ve shot using sandbags for years, not as good. I just don’t think a faster lock time is that important to me or for my shooting. If I’m wrong, well I guess I’m the one that will pay the price. 

     Yes, you are correct on how fragile the firing pin is on the Sharps. 

               Well that's it for tonight, I'm casting bullets tomorrow morning and shooting with a friend and his son on Friday. This month is his sons first pig shoot. Were going up on the ranch up in the local hills to get in some shoot off of shooting sticks at 100 yards and some free hand shoot for the kid. It's nice seeing a young hunter and shooter taking to what we all have been having fun doing for years. 

PPS... don't listen to that guy from belgium. plug your ears. if you don't, you will end up with an arm load of martinies..

tt.g.

A while back I got a NIB Uberti Highwall carbine in a gun-trade deal. It's a 45/70 with a heavy 28" round barrel and very plain sights. But it does have a shot-gun buttstock. As of today, I haven't put any decent sights on it, so no shots have been fired thru the new barrel. Lookin' forward to makin' some smoke with it in the near future    .