My Pedersoli Sharps is the Creedmoor model that Cabela’s sold up to a few years back.  The previous owner rechambered it to .45-2.6”, cut a couple inches off the barrel, added MVA sights, and put a recoil pad on the stock.

I won the first local gong match I took it to, incidentally beating the previous owner in the process.  It’s too heavy for BPCR Silhouette, and rather heavy for offhand shooting, but the “hittability quotient” is right up there with my Shiloh Sharps rifles.  It might even be a little more user-friendly, since it has a modern target stock rather than the traditional type with all the drop in them.  They generally need a leather cheek riser for target shooting, for consistency.

What you get from the Shilohs is somewhat better fit and finish, a more traditional-looking forend, lots of original and not so original caliber choices, and a certain voluptuousness in operation.  Springs are just strong enough, the lever opens and shuts with just the right amount of effort, the half-cock is just far enough to release the firing pin, the inletting is water-tight and needs extra care in disassembly so you don’t chip the wood, etc.

But the Pedersoli Sharps is a fine gun, at least as well made as the original Sharps, and if the one you contemplate buying is as good as mine, you will be a long time shooting it before you feel it is holding you back in any way.

Thanks for the info guys. As long as nothing falls through with the deal I'm trying to make I'll probably get the business rifle. My local range is only 90ish yards and I normally shoot at 50, my dad has a 75 yard range on his property. That's all we can get before we're in the woods. So I don't need competition grade accuracy though it sounds like these are quite capable. It will probably eventually get a decent tang sight and front sight upgrade. I'll have to talk to a few local gunsmiths but I'd possibly like to get it reamed to .45-90. Not because I need it but because it would be fun to play around with. But that would be a future project.

JLouis wrote on Sep 28^th, 2020 at 6:24pm:


Generally it will be used for shooting at 50-100 yards. In the twenty years I’ve been shooting I can’t say I’ve ever shoot for groups. It’s just never been my thing. “How small of a target can I hit.” is more my thing. Or with some guns I’ve owned “Can I hit that target.”

The longer I’m into guns the more I’m turning into a collector and acquirer than a shooter. I love to shoot and won’t own something I can’t shoot. But it’s history and mechanical design that really interests me. 

The reason I mentioned a possible coversion to .45-90 is 1. I already have a nice Trapdoor in .45-70. 2. I have 100 pieces of Starline .45-90 brass as there's a near mint 1886 Winchester in the family that my great grandfather won in a poker game in the 1920's. 

I'll unfortunately never get that one as it will go to my cousin. But a few years ago everyone wanted to shoot it and I being the only one in the family who reloads or messes with antique guns I got the honor of making ammo. I had to buy 100 pieces of brass but I only loaded 30 and that's all we shot. So that brass is just collecting dust.

First thing you need to know is why is the seller parting with the rifle..

Hey Kyle M.

If you are "Turning into more of a collector than a shooter, but want to shoot what you collect"  as you stated,  consider getting an original Sharps.   Yes, they cost more, but they can also be an investment, yet a fun investment to shoot.  With diligent searching, originals with shootable bores can be had for about the same price as a new Shiloh.  A couple of years ago I found an original 40-70 SS Sharps 1874 for $3000.   Has a very good bore.   Military carbines can be found for considerably less and 3 or 4 years back I got an 1863 carbine with a good bore for less than a used Shiloh.  The originals will almost always be worth more if you hang onto them for a while.   Shiloh rifles hold their value pretty well too.   Don't really know how the imported ones will end up, but I don't really consider them "collectable."

George

George Babits wrote on Sep 29^th, 2020 at 10:53am:


Thanks, but as someone who’s never spent over $1500 on a gun I find $3000 to be way beyond my price range. Especially as tight as money is right now. I’m only able to get the Pedersoli because I’m selling a safe queen that I’m bored with to buy it. 

I guess maybe collector isn’t the right word as I’m not buying for investment so far as I’m buying stuff I always wanted and couldn’t afford when I was younger. 

JLouis wrote on Sep 29^th, 2020 at 4:53pm:


That’s pretty much how I’ve always felt about it. I mean sure I wish it was one of the fancier models but for what I’m paying I realize it’s not going to be. Plus I can always add the tang sight down the road if I feel the need. I don’t really need one but that doesn’t mean I won’t want one. 

There’s also the fact that if I were to take it out deer hunting it’s not one big piece of reflective wood and metal. I’d like to someday take a deer with a Sharps or my Trapdoor.