It all depends.  That's the easy answer.

How much money do you really want to spend?  What looks like a mortgage to one person is something else to another.

That said, the Pedersoli Sharps and their soon to be born highwall are good rifles (or likely to be in the case of the Hwall). Ubertis are fine and used CSharps or Shilohs are not outrageous by some standards.   

For cases, I know you can shoot smokeless in just about any cartridge you want.  But I suppose the .45-70s are easiest, along with .38-55s on the smaller size.  Maybe a better issue to consider is what you want to do with it, and how much recoil do you need to get done what needs doin'.

FWIW, my first single-shot, my first reloadable centerfire of any kind was one .45-90 shiloh #3 standard grade.  It was a great rifle, and I still use it more often than almost any other rifle for everything from 1000 yd target competition to hunting elk and deer - although it was rebarreled along the way for various reasons.   

Brent

Brent

Delivery on Shilohs can be less than you think but $1500 is hard to get under, even used.  

So, between Pederoli and Uberti, I vote for the former - even if you have to go used.  

What are you going to shoot at and how far and how often? Etc etc.  

You could get a good quality original trapdoor for that sort of money I think.  What do you think of that?  Again, what are you going to shoot?

Sights?  What are your druthers?  Good ones cost money and they are worth every single penny.

I forgot to add the New Winchester 1885 bpcr or the slightly older Browing 1885 BPCR are both fine rifles in about that price range and should come with servicable sights.

Brent

If you have time take a look at CPA's website (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) they have some specials that come in various calibers with unfinished stocks of your choice (minor shaping, sanding, finishing required) I know these are not High Walls or Sharps but very nice New custom rifles that very close to your price range...
MIKE-T

That would be a good rifle with better out-of-the-box sights than any of the others.  Is is overkill in the cartridge for your use.  But not a bad choice anyway. Ask him if he can get you one in .45-70.  I don't know if they make it in .40-65 or smaller but they might.  Surfing the net might tell you too, if no one here does soon.

But for what you are describing a .38-55 Uberti highwall might work very well, but expect to spend money on some sort of sights I think.

hmm, I see David is thinking along the same lines as I typed this in.
Brent

Zipdog,
Welcome aboard!
I can attest for MY pedersoli rolling block. I have the older 45-70 longerange version with a heavey 34" barrel and solid shotgun style stock. It wasn't offered in double set trigger at the time. When they came out with the John Bodine model mine seemed to disapear. I also got it from Cabela's when they were on sale and it cost me around 900.00 shipped. You can probably find a used Pedersoli for under a grand, but new they are more. I have shot it out to 600 yds in a midrange match with not so good loads and still got a couple X's at that range. As with any BP or smokeless round, once you find that load that works, stick with it! I just didn't have the money for a lonestar roller which is what I wanted. At first I felt like I "settled" but took to the Pedersoli quickly. The factory trigger breaks clean and it has never failed me. Mine has a nice barrel.
I finaly settled on my load this spring when in testing at 200 I shot 4 of 5 rounds in just at 2 3/4 inches, the 5th I jerked and it went where it should have. I know some can do better, but that is my best. I shot many more good groups with that load, one good group doesn't really tell the tale!
Brent does have a good point about the Trapdoors. A very nice original can still be had for under a grand. Well under from some people. They may be a bit more finicky to load but never discount one for accuracy!
Plus, you get a neat old original classic rifle that will most likely INCREASE in value. WHen I started messing with them about 15 years ago, I could pick up a nice original for about 400 and a very nice one for 500. Now the ones in that range that I see seem to be put together parts guns. But if you want a shooter, who cares!
My cousin wanted into the BP cartridge game and like so many of us was strapped for cash. I had bought a beat up 7mm roller at a flea market for 125.00 just for the action. Well, it sat and did nothing for a couple years. He had a Grenner martini sitting doing nothing and that would not qualify for NRA rules BPCR, so we traded, I didn't have a martini and had a couple rollers. He had a Hoyt barrel made and installed. He has less that 500.00 in the whole gun, including the price he paid for the martini he traded to me! He still needs sights though. Point being, An original Roller action can still be had at a fair price and a barrel installed by one of the many great smiths out there. You can pay for it in bits if you want, choose your wood, caliber, etc. You have to be careful of many things in the action you choose, lock up of block and hammer, slop in the pins, right extractor for what you want, etc. Also, if you want to shoot smkeless loads in a roller most will tell you to get one of the ones that were original made for smokeless such as a 7mm mauser. I think they were called the model 5, but don't quote me.
It is easier and quicker to jusy buy a complete gun, but a little satisfying seeing one put together the way you want it. I've done both and enjoy both.
The only uberti rifle I have is a revolving carbine, and it misfired right out of the box! So I got an R&D .45 colt cylinder for it years ago and love it! But that's not a single shot, so it doesn't count! That one was a wedding gift from my wife.
I have rambled way more than I should have.
Merwin

OK... so this is what happens when I reply from the "Recent Posts" page, rather than read the whole thread...

I've just repeated a lot of what others have already said, LOL!


Paul F.

Zipdog,
I don't have any personal experience with the 40 cals, but several people on the board do. I have always read and heard very good things. In the mid to late 1990's, you saw a lot of guys shooting the 40-65 in BPCR, a lot still do but it is a very capable round. I was told by my smith who built my 50-45 rollingblock carbine ( just a project, not a comp rifle) that he like the 40-65 because it is accurate and has less recoil that a 45-70, though tooling up is a bit more pricey. 
As for the 38-55, when I got my 44.5 my train of thought was to build a BPCR rifle from it in 38-55. The action is NRA approved, (Thanks Boats!!), and the originals can handle the round, not to mention I was not shooting schuetzen yet. Several people told me the round was underpowered for 500. Not long after one, Matt Carter, won the National NRA championship with one! They will get it done if you do it right. You get less recoil, but trade off knock over power. I never got that far. I was dragged into schuetzen and fell in love with it! I realized I already had the basis for a schuetzen rifle in my 44.5 with it's 38-55 barrel. And I already had my Pedersoli roller for big bore stuff.
I don't know if you can go wrong with any of those rounds, It really does depend on what you intend to shoot, if it is BPCR or schuetzen, longrange, mid range, etc. 
Merwin

Quote:

There are several of these on AA.  Where would one have it re barreled?  Would this be something a run-of-the-mill local could do, or would I have to send it somewhere?

What dave said!

Brent

Zip, I have a 43 Spanish action with nice buttestock [military], Also have 2 new Green Mt. 45 barrels in 5 weight and sharps no 1 heavy. Also have new 40-65 barrel, 1 heavy, Will install any one with barrel sights , chamber and headspace, and sporter forend wood to match butte, barrel in the white for 1100. plus shipping. JS

Quote:


Any 'smith competant with barrel work can rebarrel a rolling block...
So any GOOD local gunsmith could do it.  OR there are a number of specialists that specialize in single shots that you could send it to.

Looks like that Uberti and you are a perfect match!  It's worth that money for EITHER the scope OR the sights with it... getting BOTH is practicially a STEAL!

Paul F.

Thanks for the tip!
Can't get to GA from work.. (work at a school, and "weapon" sites are filtered for the benefit of the children...some folks THINK it's a benefit, anyway).
I'll check it out when I get home!

Paul F.

Zipdog,

   I have for sale a Winchester 1885 High Wall custom that has been rebarreled by CC Johnson of Thackery O in a 22-3000 caliber.  It is a heavy varmit barrel about .810 dia x 18" long.  It's serial number dates it built in 1889.  The barrel and action job were pre 1947 as CC Johnson moved his shop in 1947.  It also has a nicely figured buttstock that was probably not factory.  According to the experts Johnson farmed out a lot of the stock work from his shop.  It is missing the buttplate, I missed one on e-bay for $47.  The action and trigger are very nice.   It has the job no. stamped on the barrel 3692 J.  I understand Johnson's grandson is a member of this forum and might have access to info on the job No.  The rifle is balanced well and I have never shot it but I'll bet it is a tack driver.  It also has scope blocks for Unertl or Lyman?  Spaced about 7.25 " apart.  No sights.  Price is $1500.  The bore is good the finish is mostly gone nearly in the white.  Forend is prob original, has ebony inlay in tip.   Buttstock is very nice, bottom is straight grained but top is figured and has fiddleback and feathered crotch type grain in excellent shape.  I would rate the wood X Fancy to XX Fancy by my eye.

reddog

I love the 1874 Sharps and shoot mine a lot, but you will probably have to replace fewer parts with a high wall. Extractors and firing pins will eventually break on the Sharps.  I also have a Uberti high wall, in 38-55, love the action, and accuracy is better than my Sharps by a considerable degree.  As for your original question , my first few loads with the 38-55 high wall were way better than anything I could get out of the 45-70 Sharps, and I have just about tried everything with the Sharps.  both of my Sharps rifles shoot quite well, but the 38-55  Uberti High wall definately shoots better. Hope this is helpful, and good luck! Joe S

zipdog, a good starting point on bullets is the Lyman/Ideal pattern they have made since the .38-55 was new, namely the 379248.  It runs about 250 gr+/- and is apparently just right for the Uberti.  My friend Gene was helping me test some of the new Starline brass (which, BTW, is most excellent!  ) and borrowed a couple of my .38 moulds.  I may have a real hard time getting that one back from him, 'cause he shot some REAL good 100 yd groups with his Uberti using plain old tang sights.

Froggie

PS  I think Gene may have been using 4227, but I have had equally good luck with 4759 as well.  GF

Joe-S

How is the Saeco tapered bullet shooting in your Uberti High Wall? The bore of mine is the same size. I've been shooting swaged paper patched without much sucess.  I'm getting 3"-4" groups (patterns ?) at 100 yards.

Bill

Long brass, and his Uberti's bore seems to like large diameter bullets, which this particular example of the 375248 that I loaned him casts.  AFAIK, Gene's only brass prep was to deburr the mouths and true them up, then load and shoot.  FWIW, he was using a liquid Alox lube, but plans to go to a more conventional pan lube ASAP.

Froggie

Joe. this is a little late (only 7 months!), but I finally slugged my Uberti and came up with a groove diameter of 0.378" and a bore of 0.372".  I shot it for the first time today with the Old West Moulds .378-270 gr boolit over 29 gr IMR 3031....nothing conclusive yet.

Joe_S wrote on Jan 31^st, 2008 at 9:19pm:

If you are looking to shoot in ASSRA type matches, the best idea may be to keep an eye on the "for Sale" section of this forum.

Quote:


That's OK Paul, you are a GREAT read.