As a Sharps lover myself, you will find that OVERALL you will not be able to successfully compete in the Schuetzen game against those shooting Stevens 44 1/2 (original or CPA) High Wall Winchesters, Ballards etc. let alone Millers and other more modern actions. A side hammer Sharps is just not accurate enough, regardless of caliber. 
Now if you are considering a model '78 Borchardt, that's a whole 'nuther ball game. You could build up a first-rate Schuetzen rifle on that Sharps action. I'd recommend (as you lean traditional) chambering for .32-40 rather than a .40 if you want to be competitive.
Just my not so humble opinion.

My dream has been to build a 74' Sharps' Offhand rifle. In the interum I put a .22 liner in one to try it out. Off the bench it is sufficiently accurate. Offhand it is worse than a side cocking air rifle for lock time. If you have a steady hold and perfect follow through on every shot it is fairly good. Any mis ques or non perfect form will astound you with how far the error is on the target. I am giving up on my dream and concentrating on a Ballard.

CHarles

Although some have used a .40 caliber of various types, it's not a great choice. Mainly due to shooter fatigue from the heavier recoil of most .40's. I have a couple original Rigby Ballards in .40-63 Ballard cartridge, and always wondered how shooters handled these for an entire match and didn't get worn out?
The .32-40 or .38-55 are much better choices. But if I was stuck on a .40 caliber for scheutzen I'd choose the .40-50SS as they are much easier on the shooter with a 300-315 grain bullet, and the brass is cheap and easy to make from .30-40 Krag or .303 British brass. I shoot a couple in .40-50SS and it's a fun, mild cartridge to shoot.
There's a good reason you see almost no Sharps 1874's as scheutzen rifles. That big sidehammer is not conducive to great offhand shooting. Pretty slow lock time.

Hello Smoke,
Thanks for your post.
Ken

Not totally germain but….

I have a CSA Model 74 chambered in 40-70 SS (barrel says CAL. 40   2 ½). I bought it in 2009, in .40-65, but realized it was not an original Sharps chambering,  so I sent it back to the factory in 2010 to be re-barreled in the 40-70 SS. Barrel is a 30” 1:16 twist Badger. It has never seen smokeless or a gas check. My favorite revolver round is .41 Mag., so I have a slight bias towards .40 caliber. 

I guess I’m also something of a “traditionalist”. 

It has a Hoke rear sight and a Baldwin front globe sight. It will never have a scope. 

The cases are Hornady 405 Winchester. The mold is a Paul Jones 416-grain “Money” type. I’m working my way through 25-pounds of Old E 1 ½.

In addition to entertaining myself at our club’s longest range of 200-meters, I shoot it twice a year @ a Scheutzen match, off the bench, 200-yards. And there have been (5) BPCR silhouette matches for me over the years. The old saying “you either are a winner or a learner”…I’ve been learning for years! I just enjoy shooting it and I know I’m a very poor offhand shooter, so don’t even try. 

I’m a victim, like many here, of the movie “Quigley Down Under”. It has been said that the gun in the movie is the real co-star, not Laura San G. And Mike V’s book also fed my addiction.

Tom

Overbaugh I think.

jhm wrote on Dec 1^st, 2024 at 7:37pm:


I bought it from another member here, I am uncertain what the grade of wood ordered was....