Educational
Zone #14 - The Shiloh Sharps .45-70 Long
Range Express - Page 1
I
could hardly wait for the opening of "Quigley
Down Under", back in 1990. I had seen
the previews and it looked like a great movie.
I was not disappointed.
But, while watching the movie, I fell in love
with his rifle. I just had to have one.
At
the end of the movie, as the other folks were
filing out of the theater, I was watching
the credits to find what I needed to know.
Sure enough, it finally said, "Shiloh
Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, Big Timber,
Montana, For the Creation of Quigley's Rifle".
I left the theater determined to get one of
those rifles.
I discovered that there was a 2+ year waiting
period for a rifle. I later found that there
had been only one exception to getting in
line …… Quigley's rifle. Oh well,
good things come to those that wait. I placed
my order.
A little over 2 years later, I got a letter
that said mine was coming up for production
and did I want to make any changes to my order.
I did not.
I wanted an 1874 Long Range Express in .45-70,
with extra fancy wood, and an extra long barrel
at 34 inches. I wanted a shotgun style butt
stock, with vernier long range sights and
changeable front aperture sights. It would
have a double set trigger. I wanted a spirit
level front sight with windage adjustments.
And, I wanted it now.
I got it a few months later and it was well
worth the wait. It was beautiful.
This
is it.
It weighs about 13 pounds, a little heavy
for competition, but I wasn't going to use
it in competition.
And the extra weight made it more pleasant
to shoot.
The
action is simple, but stout. It is a lever
action, dropping block.
When
that block comes up behind the base of the
cartridge, it shuts like a bank vault.
Here's
the rear sights.
It is a Long Range Vernier Aperture Sight.
Here's
the front sight with spirit level.
This helps the shooter make sure that you
don't "cant" the rifle, which
will effect impact at long ranges.
