Asking about a heavy single shot rifle...

N

Nightcrawler

New member
...Along the lines of a Trapdoor Sprinfield, in .45-70. You know, for when you feel like playing "Quigley Down Under"? I'd like the whole classic setup; tang sights, heavy octagon barrel, etc. Cabela's has a whole list of Italian made replicas of old single shots, and they're all quite expensive.

But can they handle the pressure of modern .45-70 loads, like Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore? Can the Browning High Wall?
 
The only ones I know of that can handle the Class A loads (i.e., Buffalo Bore and hot handloads) are Ruger No. 1's, converted Mausers and Browning B78's. Modern Marlin 1895's might also be included on this list. Cabela's Kodiak might be able to cope, but I don't know for sure. If properly designed, those double guns can handle elephant-gun pressures with ease. The drawback of a double rifle is pretty lame long-range shooting, since IIRC the bullets are supposed to cross at fifty yards or so.

Replica single-shots, like replica SAA's, are not likely to have the amount of high-grade steel for those kinds of pressures (50,000+ CUP vs. Class C's 18,000 max). If you're willing to limit yourself to cowboy loads and BP loads, they would be fine.

OTOH, you can pick up a first-rate Ruger No. 1 for half the price of that "Quigley Sharps." Or, if you want to spend that kind of money, you could go with a fancy Browning.
 
Ditto

You wanna run stuff like Garrett Hammerheads, stick with either the Ruger #1 or Siamese Mauser conversions. Although the Pedersoli replicas are made of more modern steels, the design was never intended for ammo that borders on the .458 Winchester Magnum in power levels. (Which is what you're doing when you go for the hot .45-70 loads that get their own Ruger/Siamese Mauser listing in the handloading manuals...) ;)
 
Those heavy loads are no fun at all.

I shoot a 415 gr at 1300 fps from a Trapdoor Springfield. It doesn't slap you silly but you surely know a gun went off. This level is the most fun and that big a bullet really moves inanimate objects when you are just plinking. Lots of fun.
 
look at the Browning

i play quigley with the Browning falling block--they will shoot anything yu can put to your shoulder--comes with the tang sight and spirit level front sight--i shoot bullets up to 535 grains with smokeless powder and also black powder in mine.....

As for strength--i read an article once upon a time where the author went to some ammo factory and the action they used for proof loads was the winchester high wall that the Browning duplicated--they went on to say that the action will handle anything (and more) than you would want to put to your shoulder..

to me a great day at the range is one with me shooting the long range rams with my shooting sticks and my 45-70....

Good shooting----"Dick Down Under"
 
The Pedersoli Sharps 1874 replicas are nicely made. I have the standard model and added a custom made vernier tang sight. So far I've only shot factory loads and exclusively Remington 405 grainers. According to Pedersoli, the Sharps are rated at a maximum pressure of 25,000 copper pressure units (cpu). The Remington ammo rates around 23,000.

If you think $900 for a Pedersoli is steep, check out the American-made replicas that start somewhere around $2500 and have a 2-3 year waiting list!
 
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