Author Topic: Sharps carbines  (Read 996 times)

Offline LongWalker

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Sharps carbines
« on: December 31, 2021, 02:12:47 PM »
How are the Sharps carbines--paper cartridge converted to 50-70 after the Late Unpleasantness--are they worth considering for GAF and similar matches, hunting, general plinking, etc?

I've been browsing Gunbroker on the search for a trapdoor and keep running across the converted Sharps.  I'm just not sure if they would be a viable option for what I want to do.

In my book a pioneer is a man who turned all the grass upside down, strung bob-wire over the dust that was left, poisoned the water, cut down the trees, killed the Indian who owned the land and called it progress.  Charles M. Russell

Offline Drydock

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2021, 03:35:00 PM »
Shot several GAF match's with one (50-70 repro).  Won a few, always competitive, had a lot of fun.  Got a new one on order from Shiloh.  Highly recommended.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Galloway

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2021, 03:41:16 PM »
How was the poa poi with factory sights just curious? I have bad luck with carbines.

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #3 on: Today at 08:08:18 AM »

Offline Drydock

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2021, 03:50:30 PM »
Mine was pretty much dead on once I put together a govt duplication load.  I did file the front sight down just a bit.  For hunting , well Mike Venturino killed a one ton Bison Bull with a single shot from a 50-70.

The Chiappa .50-70 carbines have a rather tall brass blade front sight, held on with two tiny roll pins.  Very flexible for load adjustment.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Tascosa Joe

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2022, 11:59:12 AM »
Blackpowder Burn has been messing with an original conversion for several years, may be he will chime in.
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Offline Trailrider

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2022, 12:01:03 PM »
Most of the U.S. military rifles and carbines were sighted to hit a man on horseback, or the horse itself at about 325 yards. The result is that they will hit 12-15 inches high at 100 yds. The cartridge conversion Sharps carbines have a front sight blade that is pinned to the base, so the front sight can be replaced with a taller blade to bring the point of impact down.

While the M1869 Conversions (using 1858 and 1863 percussion carbines) are a relatively strong action, keep in mind that they are 164 years old. Even one with a nearly pristine barrel (and they seldom are) could have intergranular corrosion somewhere in the metal. I had one that had some historical provinance that I used to shoot, but have retired it out of respect to its history.

My suggestion would be to buy one of the modern reproductions in .45-70 or, if available, .50-70.
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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2022, 07:47:53 PM »
Years ago, I had a Cimarron "Texas Ranger" 50-70 Sharps carbine for a 2005 Cowboy Chronicle article.  It was a great shooter. 450 grain lead SPG lubed bullet over about 67 grains (volume) of FFG Triple 7, was dead nuts on with the battle sight at 60 yards.  I really hated to give it back, but times were tight!
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Offline Niederlander

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2022, 09:11:19 PM »
I've used an original to shoot a couple of local matches, and it was a lot of fun.  Trapdoors are faster to use, if that matters to you.
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline LongWalker

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2022, 01:25:00 PM »
Thanks guys!  I tend to prefer guns such as were used on the frontier here in Nebraska, so I've spent a lot of time with trapdoors.  The Sharps conversions were here, but I never seem to run across one with potential as a shooter.  Seeing so many on Gunbroker turned my head! 

I hadn't thought about the trapdoor being faster to shoot.  Good point!  For me at least, I can fire/reload/aim/fire a trapdoor faster than any of the other military single shots I've played with.  On the bright side, even a Sharps is faster than some people's Spencers.....

I'm probably roadtripping tomorrow AM to do some shopping; if no luck I might go crazy and get one of the conversions.  (Part of me would still rather have a '66 trapdoor sporter, but no luck finding a good candidate for that so far. )

In my book a pioneer is a man who turned all the grass upside down, strung bob-wire over the dust that was left, poisoned the water, cut down the trees, killed the Indian who owned the land and called it progress.  Charles M. Russell

Offline Drydock

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Re: Sharps carbines
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2022, 08:43:02 PM »
Good luck!
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

 

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