Shiloh Rifle

[Oregon Bill]

So you can afford but one Shiloh, and first off you want to be able to hunt with it so it can't weigh 15 pounds. But you'd also appreciate a rifle that would qualify for use in silhouette and other target pursuits should you get that itch. You like the .45-110 because it seems the most versatile of the Sharps chamberings -- flattest trajectory with maximum punch, yet a reputation for accuracy out to 1,000 yards. Which rifle model, barrel and stock configuration would you choose to do it all?

[RMulhern]

Hmmmm......unless you're this guy http://www.7171.org/b3ta/strongman.jpg I doesn't believe you're gonna want to shoot a .45/110 in 'sillywet'! Fine maybe for LR and gong events but you'd do better to think of owning TWO RIFLES; maybe trade the wife in fer one!!

[Brant Selb]

[quote="Oregon Bill"]So you can afford but one Shiloh, and first off you want to be able to hunt with it so it can't weigh 15 pounds. But you'd also appreciate a rifle that would qualify for use in silhouette and other target pursuits should you get that itch. You like the .45-110 because it seems the most versatile of the Sharps chamberings -- flattest trajectory with maximum punch, yet a reputation for accuracy out to 1,000 yards. Which rifle model, barrel and stock configuration would you choose to do it all?[/quote]

Oregon Bill,

That's easy---it wouldn't be a 45-110!!! Why? you ask; because a 110 light enough to shoot silhouette is gonna kick you into next week! In my somewhat limited experience I have found it to be a cartridge that likes to be loaded up, not down. Again, since you ask, a 45-90 in a 12 pound rifle is a much more practical choice for the "all around" rifle you seek. I went through the same questions myself not all that long ago and here is what I ended up with: Shiloh LRE w. 32" heavy/half barrel, 45-90 cal. MVA 23' scope, Baldwin LR soule tang sight and Lee Shaver front sight. You are going to have to watch certain "extras" such as pewter forend and wood quality to stay under the 12lb2oz limit if you go the 32" heavy/half route.
I have a 11 pound 45-110 for a hunting rifle and for that it is hard to beat, but it will flat wear you out and take the fun out of shooting if you are shooting a long string of shots in match conditions. Get a rifle that is fun to shoot alot, that will far outweigh any ballistic advantage you may get from a 110. There are plenty of shooters with hot 45-70's who you would have a hard time explaining why a 45-70 is not the best choice going--they win at 1000yds and kill plenty of game, it is one cartridge that can be loaded up or down.

Brant
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Just hit the next one!

[Headhunter]

I was ZACTLY where you are at one time in my life. I got myself a Long Range Express with a STANDARD Full Octagon barrel in 45-110. I LOVE THAT RIFLE! It weighs in at 11 pounds. I pack that thing all over creation. Mainly my hunting rifle, and would not hesitate to shoot Silhouette with it. See, I can hang with the 45-110 for as much silhouette I would shoot with it. If I got head over heels with Shilhouette, I would get a smaller cartridge. But for now, My Shiloh likes being in the woods.

Shot a Doozer 9 pointer with it last Monday and a Doe today. Got 3 unfilled doe tags yet and I am ready to go!

Headhunter.
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�I hunt Trophy Whitetails from the ground, and I hunt with a Shiloh Sharps".

[don marable]

Oregon Bill:

I started black powder with a Shiloh Quigley about 2 two and one-half years ago. Man, I was enthused with velocity and flatness of trajectory. That had been my passion using white powder for the previous four decades. The truth of the matter is, it really doesn't make much difference using black powder and large bullets. For instance, I shoot a 530 grain Postell bullet out of my Shiloh 45-70 at 1,220 fps and I shoot the same bullet out of my Shiloh 110 at 1,337 fps. At 200 yards the 45-70 has dropped about 38 inches and at 300 yards it has dropped 99 inches. The flat shooting 110 at the same respective ranges has only dropped 30 inches and 83 inches. My point being that these bullets fall off the table past 150 yards. You can set your sights four or so inches high at 100 yards (that will make you about six inches high between 60 and 75 yards) and shoot to 150 or maybe 175 yards using a little Kentucky windage, but not many of our shooters are capable of shooting game past 175 yards. Those that do are very good shots, possess a good range finder, and have very detailed sight settings.

The 110 is much more difficult to load. You really have to pay attention to detail. The 45-70 is a much more forgiving cartridge. It also uses about 40 to 50 percent less powder. I don't know about the 45-90s, as I have zero experience with them. From what I have read the 90 is a real good tweener, that shoots well to 1,000 yards and beyond. Many of our shooters are shooting to 1,000 yards with the lowly 45-70.

All that being said, the cool factor on the 110 is off the page. You said you were only going to purchase one rifle, so make some matches and visit some shooters and give it some thougt, and buy what you want.

Don

[Smokin]

Oregon Bill,

While I'm not the most informed member of this august forum, I am perhaps the most opinionated and in my opinion Don Marable's insights are right on. The .45-70 is extremely versatile and physically easy to shoot and seemingly quite forgiving to load for. Several of my fellow shooters here on the tundra use it for long range work, some to great effect. For mid range gong shoots and events like the Quigley shoot, it simply can't be beat.

The .45-90 seems to be a favorite of many long range shooters, myself among them. The .45-100 for me has been a problem child. It has shot extremely well upon occasion and extremely un-well at other times. That, however is likely my fault at the trigger: that old butt-nut problem. Regardless, our undependable partnership has relegated that cartridge and rifle to a wait in the wings. I should also mention that at the end of a long range 45 shot record round with maybe another 30 shots for fouling and sighter shots, I'm ready to stop shooting that relativley heavy recoiling rifle (13-3/4 lb)/cartridge combo.

My opinion of the .45-110 is that the old timers cleaved unto it as the ne plus ultra of the era's hunting cartridges. It was the .xxx magnum of its day and also in its day was apparently not the target round of that time. Recoil takes it toll and can contribute to poorer shooter's performance on the target than a more softly recoiling round. I'm an unrepentant recoil pansy and prefer something which speaks to my shoulder in more dulcet tones. Those less recoil sensitive seem to shoot it to good effect once they have found a good load - this can be a challenge with the .45-110.

So, if you are convinced that the .45-110 is YOUR cartridge, drive on and best of shooting to you.

Good luck, good loading, good shooting
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Smokin

Member in tall standing of the Frozen Tundra Chapter, Flat Earth Society.

[Edward Malinowski]

Mr.Bill from O.....
The 45-110 is what dreams are made of.
I want one.
I'm 65 Years old and if I stop dreaming there isn't much worth living for.
(Well there really is ,my family,) but that doesn't sound cool on this venue.

I have fired many heavy recoiling rifles.
mostly off hand and a few from the bench.

I have never yet wanted to try the heavies prone.
Then of course you can develop a great sitting position.
First see if you can get someone to let you take a few shots with theirs, especially from the prone, if you think the recoil is not too bad..
For most shooters a 45/90 would straddle both worlds.
The 45-70 seems to be able to load to to almost 45.90 with Dan T MiniG bullet.
I would think that the 45-90 can be uploaded close to a 45-100 or 110 for
long distance work.
Off hand shooting and hunting the 45-70 will probably do anything you would want. I have a 34 " Quigley that is a horse rifle, you need a horse to carry you and it.
Of course I'm an old foggy and you may be built like Arnold Schwartzenwattiss.
Get a 45-70 or 45-90.
Or better yet buy 3 or 4 rifles.

Ed Malinowski

[deerhuntsheatmeup]

I dream of a Business Rifle in 110. Plain wood, 28 inch barrel, no options, just barrel sights! Of course, a copper penny front sight. Oh yeah, a hard rubber buttplate on shotgun butt, just so iffen I have to lean the rifle in rocks, it will gain character marks!

Best, Barvid Dayfield
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General Rustie
Oiling Director
FES Society

[rdnck]

Oregon Bill--I am not telling you that you don't want or deserve to own a 45-110 if that is your heart's desire. But you really do need to back up and decide what you want to do with your rifle. Go back and read Don Marable's post three times. He owns both a 45-110 and a 45-70. Do the same with Smokin's post. He owns rifles in both calibers as well.

I have quite a bit of experience with both the 45-110 and the 45-70, and two things are for sure and certain. If this is your first BPCR, you will have a lot steeper learning curve with the 45-110 than the 45-70. The other thing is that if you get a rifle that weighs less than 12 pounds, two ounces with sights and is thus silhouette legal in 45-110, you and the rifle will have a very short honeymoon. If you get a 45-110, you will like it a lot better if it weighs somewhere around 15 pounds.

I have a Business Rifle in 45-110, and it weighs about 11 1/2 pounds. It is a great hunting rifle, maybe the best. It is anything but a suitable target rifle. You not only need to go to a match and check these things out, you need to find someone who will let you shoot their 11 1/2 pound 45-110--about 150 rounds or so. This is not a caliber and configuration that walks very well in both worlds.

When you do that, you will look at the 45-70 in a different light if you are looking for a rifle that does a lot of things well. Don't let anybody kid you, a properly loaded 45-70 will handle any of the African plains game, and do it with black powder. So will a 45-110, but a silhouette gun, it ain't. Shoot straight, rdnck.
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Chairman, Phd
Caddo Lake Chapter
FES
Charter Member FBASS

Charter Member OGANT

[Kurt]

Some day I would like to shoot a 110 and see how it compares to my 12 3/4 pound .50-2.5-720.
There are times that I wonder why when it lets me know I screwed up
But I have never had a rifle of any black powder caliber that was easer to load for, and is more forgiving with what you cram into the case.
Maybe I will make it #6 before I turn 70

Kurt
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Anyone who is not a liberal in his youth has no heart. Anyone who remains so as he matures has no brain!"
-Sir Winston Churchill

Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.

[Jeff F]

Kurt my friend your memory must be slipping because here's a pic of you lying behind one of my 110's.


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"Those who would give up essential liberties for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" -Benjamin Franklin-

NRA Endowement Life Member

[Kurt]

Feff my friend, yes I forgot! it must not have hurt
Did I hit what I shot at

Kurt
_________________
Anyone who is not a liberal in his youth has no heart. Anyone who remains so as he matures has no brain!"
-Sir Winston Churchill

Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.

[Lloyd]

I have a heavier, 14 + pound, 45-110 that I just started shooting. I was worried about recoil, but found it is real nice to shoot. I love it. It kicks less than a 12 gauge slug gun.
lloyd

[don marable]

I want to elaborate on something Rdnck touched on in his last sentence. The larger .45 caliber cases are, to say the least, touchy to load with white powder. You can load the 45-70 with enough white powder to use it as an anti-tank weapon. You can readily buy these loads commercially. The old tried and true 45-70 is very versatile.

Don

[Oregon Bill]

Lots of sound advice here fellas, and I appreciate it. Maybe I ought to look more closely at the .45-90. I have a fair amount of experience with Trapdoors in .45-70 and Martini-Henrys in .577-450 (don't like that light barrel) as well as the odd Snider, M71 Mauser and so on. Just want to get the most bang for my buck on my first Shiloh. I'm more a hunter and fooler-around-with than a target shooter, but would like to get more serious at it.