CSharps Arms Blog

C. SHARPS GUNSMITHING SERVICE

Thu, 14 Mar, 2013 00:00:00 MST

At C. Sharps we can do repairs and restorations, as well as re-barreling on vintage breech loading single shot rifles. Work is quoted per job basis. We schedule repair work as time permits as our number 1 responsibility is the production of premium quality single shot rifles. Pete Beal mgr. CSA

2013 PRICING UPDATE

Tue, 13 Nov, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Well the elections are over, needless to say we were more than a little disappointed. �We were planning on adding some personnel but will hold off and see what transpires. �We won't be doing a Holiday promo this year. � With economic changes in the wind, we will probably have to increase our prices in 2013. �We have not had a price increase since 2009 and have tried to hold the line even as our costs have increased. �We will guarantee 2009 pricing on all orders placed prior to January 1. �We appreciate your support. �Preston (Pete) Beal, mgr. �CSA

2012-2 Edition of American Sharps Shooters

Tue, 09 Oct, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Our latest edition of The American Sharps Shooters is now available. Click here to read the 2012-2 edition .

MONTANA COMBAT VETS

Mon, 27 Aug, 2012 00:00:00 MST

We were privlidged to get a visit from a couple of Montana's finest, �Combat Vets. �Michael Emch and Michael Kelley parked their Harley's �at the plant in Big Timber on Friday August 24. � We salute our vets. �Anyone interested in more information on the Combat Vets organization can find it at: �combatvet.org � �We are going to make their visit an annual event and try to get more involved in their fine cause. �Pete CSA

Gerri Stallmans Red Deer

Tue, 07 Aug, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Gerri Stallman of Badger Barrels sent us this picture of a red deer she harvested on a July 2012 hunt in New Zeland. Gerri is one of our Sharps Shooters and a good one. She indicated she didn't use her Sharps, but I think she was just kidding. Congrats Gerri John@C. Sharps Arms

Don Jenson Buffalo

Fri, 03 Aug, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Nice buffalo Don. The bull was shot twice at 155 yards with a C. Sharps 45-90 1874. Don used a 535 grain postal lead bullet with 88 grains of ffg. Both bullets went through the heart, and exited on the far side of the bull. Bull scored 75 Boone and Crockett. Again, nice buffalo. Pete CSA

Taylor Swogger wins the Quigley 2012 1875 C Sharps Rifle

Thu, 28 Jun, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Congratulations to Taylor Swogger of Miles City Montana. Taylor is the 2012 winner of the 1875 Sharps Rifle donated by C. Sharps Arms. Taylor is shown receiving the rifle with Pete Beal, mgr C. Sharps.

2012 Junior winners at the Quigley in Forsyth Montana

Thu, 28 Jun, 2012 00:00:00 MST

2012 Junior Winners at the Quigley. �Left to right: �1st place Kelsey Nichols, Coralville Iowa. �2nd place Dustin Irgens, Baker Montana, and 3rd place, Kelly Leibers, Whitehall Montana.

Allan Jensen Mule Deer

Mon, 27 Feb, 2012 00:00:00 MST

Allan Jensen with a great mule deer buck. Buck was taken at 264 yards with Allan's 1874 C. Sharps Rifle in 45-100. Allan used a 500 grain Oregon Trails Bullet over 90 grains of Swiss 1 1/2. Great buck Allan. Pete CSA

John Schoffstall Scottish Red Deer

Mon, 27 Feb, 2012 00:00:00 MST

John Schoffstall with his guide Howart Stewert. They were hunting in the Highlands of Scotland and able to down a nice red deer. John was using a C. Sharps Highwall Sporting rifle in 38-55 Winchester chambering. Good job boss. Pete CSA

2011

Tue, 24 Jan, 2012 00:00:00 MST

We want to thank our customers for a relatively successful 2011. Times are tough and extra dollars are hard to come by. We are commited to building the finest reproduction rifles available today. With rising costs, John has not raised our prices since 2009 and we will try to maintain pricing at this level as long as we can. 2011 brought many challenges to the company in terms of production , and material procurement. Our rifles are still made one-at-a-time and built with 100% American made materials. Thanks again for your support. Get out there with your friends, and enjoy our products. You are our best sales force. If you have a local dealer have him contact us concerning our dealer program. Lets all have a great 2012. Many thanks, Preston (Pete) Beal, C Sharps Arms

MONTANA SCHUETZEN SCHEDULE

Tue, 10 Jan, 2012 00:00:00 MST

BUTTE: � MARCH 12TH

LIVINGSTON: JUNE 11TH

FORT PECK: �AUGUST 13TH

HAMILTON: AUGUST 28TH

THE MATCH:

50 ROUNDS OFF HAND

WSU RULES (OPEN CLASS, EXCEPT BUTTE WHICH IS BLACK POWDER ONLY)

RIDGEWAY RIFLE CLUB BPCR SILHOUETTE MATCH SEPTEMBER 2011

Tue, 06 Dec, 2011 00:00:00 MST

C Sharps Arms wishes to congratulate Brian Scott Chilson, from Nelson Pennsylvania, as the Gold Medal Winner of the 2011 Eastern Regional Silhouette Championship held in Ridgeway Pa. on September 24th and 25th. Brian won gold in both the Scope, and Iron sight division. The combined scores also garnered Brian the Iron Man Gold Medal Award. We at C Sharps are especially pleased because Brian shoots a C Sharps Arms 1885 Highwall in 45-90.

C. SHARPS ARMS HOLIDAY SALE

Thu, 03 Nov, 2011 00:00:00 MST

C. Sharps Arms is having a Holiday sale. Get 10% off on orders of 1 rifle, or 15% off on orders of 2 or more. This sale applies to in stock rifles, custom rifles, and new rifle orders. Don't miss your chance to purchase an "old reliable". Sale ends January 1, 2012

LEFT HANDED 1879 HEPBURN TARGET AND SPORTING RIFLE

Tue, 20 Sep, 2011 00:00:00 MST

Just in time for black powder silhouette, long-range, and schuetzen matches, C Sharps Arms has come up with an exciting new product. Now a left-handed model of the 1879 Hepburn midrange target and sporting rifle is available. In our continuing quest to make the best better we created a south-paw version of the fine Remington #3 Hepburn rifle. The gun will be priced at the same level as the right hand model. Standard options are semi-fancy american walnut stock, 30 inch tapered octagon barrel, pistol grip, ebony nose cap, double set triggers, case-hardened action and hardware, with a variety of sight options available. Other options are available as a sporting rifle, long range creedmore, schuetzen models.

HEPBURN IN RIFLE MAGAZINE

Mon, 01 Aug, 2011 00:00:00 MST

C Sharps Arms is proud to announce that our NEW MODEL 1879 HEPBURN SPORTING RIFLE will be featured on the cover and in an article by Dave Scovill in the September-October Rifle magazine. Check out the article (www.riflemagazine.com) and let us know what you think of the gun. Pete CSA

TRADITIONS PASSED THROUGH GENERATIONS

Tue, 22 Feb, 2011 00:00:00 MST

Back in October of 2009, John Schoffstall, owner of C. Sharps Arms, and Zach, his son, paid a visit to Ken, Tammie and Brad Walters at Mountain View Elk Ranch in Riggins, Idaho. Mountain View Elk Ranch is an exceptional outfit that offers fantastic hunting on some truly amazing elk. Over the course of a long weekend Brad was able to guide John and Zach onto two exceptional bull elk. Both John and Zach were shooting C Sharps Arms new model 1877 Sharps rifles chambered in 40-70 sharps. Please enjoy some of the pictures attached below of the hunt plus a couple of nice pictures of the rifles themselves. There are few manufactures in the world that can match C Sharps Arms for the build quality of their Sharps, Highwall, Lowall, and Hepburn rifles and these rifles are but two fine examples of that statement.

If you’re a hunter and would cherish the opportunity to take a shot at a magnificent elk, give Ken, Tammie or Brad a call (208-628-3803) or check out Mount View Elk Ranch’s website http://www.mountainviewelk.com and schedule your next adventure.

The 50-70-1 ¾ Sharps

Tue, 23 Nov, 2010 00:00:00 MST

The 50-70-1 ¾ Sharps, more commonly known as the 50-70 Gov't, was one of the earliest Sharps cartridge rifle chamberings. Because of the standardization by the government as the first military cartridge in 1866, its popularity, widespread use, and availability were assured. Straight breech 54 caliber Model 1859 and Model 1863 percussion military rifles and carbines were converted to this caliber and sold as surplus to the public. The New Model 1869 (the first true cartridge Sharps) was chambered for this round.

Rifles chambered for this caliber were used extensively during the early years of buffalo hunting. From 1870 to 1875, sales records indicate it was one of the two most popular cartridges on the ranges (the other was the 44-75-2 ¼). Despite the fact that the "Big 50 Sharps" (the 50-100-2 ½) also came into prominence and was used during this same period, the practicality of using a rifle chambered for the readily available military cartridge could not be denied. Also, the added expense of the 2-1/2 inch case (as much as 50 percent for commercial cases) over the 1-3/4 inch 50-70 case provided an additional incentive. In a business where outfitting expenses at the beginning of the winter season very nearly matched the income received when all the winter's robes were sold, costs were important.

The 50-70 maintained its popularity until 1876. It was discontinued as a standard chambering in that year, although it was still available on a special order basis. This move was in large part tue to the standardization by the government of the 45-70 in 1873, and the subsequent growth in commercial popularity of rifles chambered in 45 caliber.

The Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. Catalog of 1869 lists two available loading for the 50-70. One with a 457 grain grooved bullet, the other with a 500 grain patched bullet. These loadings were subsequently standardized to 425 grain grooved and 473 paper patched bullets. Both were loaded with over 70 grains of powder. After 1876, Sharps discontinued manufacture of 50-70 ammunition, except on special order.

The 50-70 Gov't case is 1.750 inches long. Brass is available from C. Sharps Arms Co. or Dixie Gun Works. It may also be formed from 50 basic brass with the use of a file trim die.

The variety of bullets available for the 40 and 45 caliber Sharps rifles was not available for the 50 caliber rifles. Although today there is a wide selection, ranging in weight from 330 express grooved bullet to a monster 700 grain paper patched slug, testing was limited to bullets of approximate traditional weights. Grooved bullets were cast from Lymon No. 2 alloy. A softer alloy works better for paper patched bullets, so an alloy of one part tin to 25 parts lead was used.

All powder charges were of Fg grade black powder and measured volumetrically. One hard card wad and one lubricated felt wad were used between the powder and the bullet. All powder chagers were firmly compressed.

The 50-70-1 ¾ had as much or more to do with the buffalo hunting era as any of the other more widely known Sharps cartridges. For the New Sharps shooter wanting a "50 caliber buffalo Sharps" no choice of caliber could be better than the 50-70.

The 45-70-2 1/10 Sharps

Mon, 22 Nov, 2010 00:00:00 MST

By Chris Peterson for C. Sharps Arms Inc.

The 45-70 Government cartridge was adopted by the United State Military in 1873. The standard service load for the infantry rifle was 70 grains of black powder and a 500 grain bullet. Shortly after this round was accepted by the Army, a second service load was introduced for the carbine. The reason for this second loading was that the issue rifle round recoiled heavily in the light cavalry carbines. This second loading contained 55 grains of black powder and a 405 grain bullet.

Not surprisingly, the Sharps Rifle Co. began chambering their Model 1874 rifles for this round shortly after its introduction. As they did with all the other calibers they offered, they began offering ammunition in this case length for their rifles. They christened their "new" round the 45-70 Sharps. It was also known as the 45-70 Sharps, but it was dimensionally identical to the military round. Sources indicate the Sharps Rifle Company offered a variety of bullets in this caliber, including a 293 grain express, a 400 grain grooved bullet and paper patched bullets in 400, 420, 500 and 550 grains. In fact, there were at least three different designs of 550 grain bullet available. A large amount of ammunition was loaded for the 45-70-400 grooved bullets also.

After the addition of this chambering to the Sharps Rifle line, it gained rapid popularity on the frontier, owing in part to the ready availability of military ammunition. By the time manufacture of the Sharps Rifles ceased, more cartridge rifles had been sold in 45-70 than any other caliber. This popularity continues today in the New Model Sharps rifles.

Much has been written about loading for the 45-70 government. Volumes of loading data are available. But, almost without exception, this information has been developed in rifles of modern design and manufacture, sporting barrels seldom exceeding 24 inches. Also, the vast majoring of the available loading data is for smokeless powder.

Smokeless powder has its place and can be used quite successfully to load ammunition for the Model 1874 Sharps. But, first and foremost, the Sharps is a black powder cartridge rifle. It therefore seems fitting that data using black powder be made available.

Velocity data was obtained using new Sharps rifles with Sharps chamber dimensions. This included the long throat designed to accept paper patch bullets, accounting for cartridge lengths often in excess of recommended maximum from other sources.

All testing was done using CCI-200 primers, GOEX black powder and Winchester cases. All grooved bullets were cast from a Lyman No. 2 alloy made up from pure lead, 50:50 solder and stereotype. The bullet lubricant was commercially available and applied when the bullets were sized. A .457 inch bullet sizing die was used.

Only loads which produced nominal four inch or smaller five shot groups at 100 yards are tabulated. This standard of accuracy was selected because in many cases the rifles being used for testing were equipped with only the standard barrel sights.

As mentioned in one of the introductory articles, the key to acceptable and often exceptional accuracy was controlling the fouling in the barrel. For most of the tests, the best compromise of time and fouling control was either strictly brushing between each shot or blowing down the bore from the breech end and then wiping with a dry patch.

Accuracy with plain base bullet designs was almost always poor to non-existent unless some means of protecting the bullet base was used. For full case capacities of powder, a thin cardboard wad served this purpose. For powder charges slightly less than case capacity, felt wads did the trick.

All loads were measured by volume. Previous testing has shown that minor weight variations of black powder from shot to shot are insignificant. And, indeed, this testing sequence bore that out. Single digit standard deviations for a test lot of ammunition loaded in this manner became the norm.

Full charges (70 grains) of Fg powder would overflow when poured directly into the cartridge case. This necessitated the use of a two-foot drop tube. An alternate method of settling the powder is to set the case of the cartridge on a rapidly vibrating machine while pouring in the powder. A Turbo Tumbler case polisher works beautifully for this. Maximum charges can be settled to provide sufficient case neck for bullet seating and proper powder compression without destruction of the powder granules.

Not all loads were tested in all barrel lengths. Emphasis was placed on those barrel lengths of greatest popularity. Leading the list are the two models of sporting rifles with their 30 inch tapered octagon barrels, followed by the Long Rang Express with its 34 inch barrel. Limited testing was performed with a 28 inch Business rifle for comparison purposes.

One final note. Some shooters prefer plain base bullet designs over thos which accept gas checks. The RCBS 45-500-FN mould used for testing was modified by machining the top of the mould blocks to remove the gas check. This operation shortened the finished bullet slightly and reduced the cast weight to 465 grains. Modified as it was, this bullet performs very well.

13 year old harvests bison with Sharps black powder rifle

Mon, 22 Nov, 2010 00:00:00 MST

Hi John,

This is Ed Berkheimer's daughter emailing you. My dad, Ed Berkheimer, just returned from a buffalo hunt at the Spike Box Ranch near Mullen, Nebraska. He took his grandson, Tyler Long, out to shoot a buffalo. It was a successful hunt:

Used a 74 C. Sharps Arms 40/70 caliber rifle. 1 shot at 200 yards. 2nd shot at 180 yards.

Tyler Long is only 13 years old and is the youngest black powder shooter to kill a buffalo at the Spike Box Ranch. The guide is Dan Neal.

Thanks!
Chery

A note from Mark Grimm

Mon, 22 Nov, 2010 00:00:00 MST

John,

I wanted to drop you a picture of my buffalo hunt that we took the first week in November! This hunt was down on the Crow Reservation north of Ft. Smith along the Big Horn River and the Black Canyon. Our outfitter was Brad Edward from Billings, and in the picture are our two Crow guides. The Sharps 74 was a gem!! One shot from a 45-110 at 180 yards! This has been my third Buffalo hunt with it, and it just keeps shooting better and better!! Thanks for building an outstanding rifle!

-Mark Grimm

PS. Thanks also for the great tour! John and Steve were so impressed by the attention to detail... Steve is still interested in another rifle, and John wants to know when the 20 gauge becomes available...