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45-110 Quigley 1874 Buffalo Rifle - Tom Selleck - Down Under

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#1 ·
45-110 Quigley 1874 Buffalo Rifle - Tom Selleck - Down Under

Based on an article on Wikipedia olease see the rest at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quigley_Down_Under

“Quigley Sharps rifle Tom Selleck plays Matthew Quigley,…
Quigley's weapon of choice is an 1874 Sharps Buffalo Rifle.

It’s a lever-action, breech loader. Usual barrel length’s thirty inches. This one has an extra four. It’s converted to use a special forty-five caliber, hundred and ten grain metal cartridge, with a five-hundred and forty grain paper-patched bullet. It’s fitted with double set triggers, and a Vernier sight. It’s marked up to twelve-hundred yards. This one shoots a mite further.
—Matthew Quigley – Tom Selleck

Three fully functional .45-110 rifles—matching the above description—were built for the film in 1989 by the Shiloh Rifle Co. of Big Timber, Montana. They also had a 15 1⁄4 inch length of pull to fit Sellek's tall frame, a full octagon heavy barrel with a blue finish, and weighed 13 1⁄2 pounds. Due to the weight, one of the rifles was sent back to Shiloh to be refitted with an aluminum barrel so it could be swung faster (as a club) in fight scenes. After the filming concluded, Selleck kept all three rifles, and had two of them reconditioned by Shiloh Rifle Co.[7]

There is an annual Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match in Forsyth, Montana (180 miles from Big Timber) on Father's Day weekend. The shoot is the largest of its kind in America, attended by around 600 shooters, with targets out to 800 yards.[11]

7. ^ Venturino, Mike (November, 2005). "The Quigley rifle: now, for the rest of the story". Guns Magazine. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_11_51/ai_n15402263/.

11. ^ "Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match". Montana Office of Tourism. 2010. http://www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=11203&siteid=1.

This was originally going to be a post on the below thread but I could not find it:

I would like to hear from those that really know, the major pro's & con's between the 45/110 caliber and the 45/120 caliber. I have heard that the 45/120 is a real bear at getting bullets to group down range and the brass is more expensive and harder to get etc.

My son is thinking about purchasing one of these Sharps Look A Like rifles and asked me, so I am trying to get the correct answers on this forum for his sake. Thanks for any information gentlemen. Tracer :) ;)
45-110 or a 45-120? If it is just to have a piece of the old west in a powerful package I would suggest the 45 -110. It was used on buffalo far more as the 45 -120 was used. The 45 -120 was only produced at the tail end of the great buffalo herds, say around 1885 (is this right ChrisL? Vs 1870’s). But if it is to be a hunting gun and target gun – I might go with the 45 -70 due to of less recoil and good functioning at most hunting ranges. Plus there is a lot of the reloading data and ammo available. But my choice would still be the 45-110 due to the Down Under movie and the extra power - smiles.

Plus as mentioned you might be able to have a gunsmith make a 45-70 into a 45-110. But not the other way around unless you wanted to send a bullet a long ways before it hit rifling - 45-70 in a 45 -110 - or if you may be able to find a safe powder to make a safe reduced load – reducing loads are not always safe ask Hodgdon about Trail Boss powder - if that would even be safe with your gun.
 
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#2 ·
kev7

Ive got a Pedersoli 1874 Sharp's Repro in .45-70. full length octagon bbl, spirit level globe front sight and LR tang sight, double set triggers, gorgeous walnut and german silver fore end cap. This thing shoots. Ive tried factory 350 grain jacketed ammo and its okay but where it really shines is with 405 and especially 500 grain lead bullets.

Im loading smokeless powder and recoil isnt an issue even with top end 500 grain bulet loads. Did I mention it was accurate?

Also, were you aware that the US military was testing penetration of the 45-70-500 round at 1000 yards and it was penetrating 15 one inch pine boards?

I figure, inside 300 yards, a 500 grain hard cast lead bullet will penetrate well enough for any NA game animal when started out at 1600 fps.
 
#17 ·
kev7

Ive got a Pedersoli 1874 Sharp's Repro in .45-70. full length octagon bbl, spirit level globe front sight and LR tang sight, double set triggers, gorgeous walnut and german silver fore end cap. This thing shoots. Ive tried factory 350 grain jacketed ammo and its okay but where it really shines is with 405 and especially 500 grain lead bullets.

Im loading smokeless powder and recoil isnt an issue even with top end 500 grain bulet loads. Did I mention it was accurate?

Also, were you aware that the US military was testing penetration of the 45-70-500 round at 1000 yards and it was penetrating 15 one inch pine boards?

I figure, inside 300 yards, a 500 grain hard cast lead bullet will penetrate well enough for any NA game animal when started out at 1600 fps.
I have the same rifle and tang sight that puts a 405 grain swaged paper patched bullet with a bore wiping shoulder for black powder and use Triple 7 with a Federal Magnum primers in Winchester cases. So far I have been able to get the group down to just over 2" at the 200 yard range. Still haven't had a windless day to get the best group. The round goes down range just under 1700 fps.
I have been tempted to boar it out to 45-110 but keep slapping my hand. Pedersoli makes a great rifle.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the info!!!! People with the gun like you definately can provide the best info


I was doing some research using the links in my orignal post and found this

It is allso a 45-70

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/?tag=content;col1

“The perfect sharps hunting rifle; and it don't weigh a ton, neither”

Guns Magazine, April, 2005 by Mike Venturino

... It is the Military Rifle version. With its 30" barrel, and almost full-length stock with three barrelbands, a Sharps Military Rifle looks heavy. It is not. They weigh only 8 1/2 pounds. The barrel is round and rather lightweight. And the best part is they come from the factory with sling swivels.

The original Sharps Rifle Company produced such Military Rifles in the 1870s and many will factory letter to the western hunting grounds. …good news is that fine-quality modern replicas of Sharps Military Rifles are available again today from Shiloh Rifle Mfg. Co. of Big Timber, Montana.

…my thoughts on the perfect hunting Sharps… and …order one. He said (Clint Smith), "Make it two, but how about we get shotgun style buttstocks and double set triggers?" …Shiloh welcomes custom orders so we also asked for front sight dovetails and buckhorn style rear sights. (As standard a Shiloh Military Rifle has a front sight blade silver soldered to the barrel, and its rear sight is a rather small open notch.)
 
#6 ·
kev7, I just saw an 1873 Sharps saddle ring carbine for $3000 here in town and an original 1873 military rifle for less than that.

I dont recall any more detail than that because I was trying not to because it was very tempting but I do remember how light the rifle felt and how easy it pointed. My 74 Sharps is muzzle heavy because of the full octagon barrel and this one didnt feel anything like that.
 
#7 · (Edited)
You and I need to enter a pack to win the lottery!!!!! The one that wins buys the other 2 custom guns (cheap ones like only $3,500) smiles.

This thread was not for me to buy one especially after I saw the price. My focus is a Patched Round Ball (PRB) Underhammer Muzzleloder in 62 cal. Any pointers are welcomed.

I will have it built more like the military version of the Sharps. It will not be Quigley’s Granddads 6foot Kentucky long rifle - smiles. But instead it will be a club that does not need ammo – smiles. It will be for tradition muzzleloading with a long shot of 150yd instead of 1,000 yards. What will make it special is, it will be an UnderHammer instead of a Slidelock...

It will be 62 cal, the large caliber in order to increase the patched round ball to 325 gr. --- Cal/PRBgr = 45/128, 50/177, 54/230, 58/285, and 62/325. I do not want a squirrel gun but instead an elk gun, maybe Buffalo gun. It should be sorta like a 45- with 50 to 90 grains of powder and a light bullet or a 44 Mag. pistol. That will tie up my gun money for almost two years and it will be cheap like under $2000.

Mark at mark@fire-iron.biz My thread at: http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=71180
 
#8 ·
The 45 -120 was only produced at the tail end of the great buffalo herds, say around 1885 (is this right ChrisL? Vs 1870’s).
I'm far from being an expert. I just read a lot and shoot when I can :D . But according to Sellers book "Sharps Firearms", one of the best (if not the best) sources on the Sharps rifle, the Sharps was never factory chambered for a 3.25" case of any caliber. So the .45-110 (2 7/8th long case) is the authentic cartridge as far as biggest .45 cal goes. There are some stories I've read where buffalo hunters used 3.25" cases, but consensus seems to be that this would be the 2 7/8ths case just loaded with more powder.

I've heard others say that there might have been wildcats made in those days that used the 3.25" case and I've also heard some people say that in the early days there was no brass that long available anyways.

In John Campbell's book "The Winchester Single Shot" there is mention of the 3.25" cases being used in the Winchester 1885.

Chris.
 
#14 · (Edited)
http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?p=559088#post559088






I started this thread to gather the below information which was originally for a post on 2Bits thread on 45-110 versus 45 -120. But after concocting a response, I could not find 2Bits thread!

So I research the matter and posted a thread on the "Down Under" Movie version of a 45-110 with a 400 grain paper patched bullet that was said to be able to shoot " a mite past 1,200 yards" by Quigley (played by Tom Selleck).

So if 2Bits’s son is still interested in buying a 45-110 or 45-120
I have sent him a PM message to him.

In this thread, I gathered information and to me the this thread’s objectives were met. Thanks to the moderator and other posters input.

I did not mean that the Quigley 45 -90 was not interesting and I would love to see one. The 45-90 would also be a far more useful gun than the 45-110 for hunting use at hunting ranges (under 600 yd), instead of paper punching ranges approaching 1 mile.

As a result of this thread, I think, I am right to state the following:


1) Sharps never made a gun for the 45-120 --- the 45-110 was the longest 45 chambeing in the 1874 Sharps.

2) The earliest known 45-120 was first chambered in a production gun - around 1885 – but not in a Sharps.

3) By the time that the 45-120 was available, the enormous buffalo (Bison) herds had allready been annihilated from most of their original range.

4) So in the day of the enormous Buffalo herds, the 45 -110 was the most powerful 45 out there.

5) Some may have put 120 grains of powder in the 45-110 case and loaded the bullet out further. But in the time little to no Brass was long enough to make a 45 - 120 case.

6) 45-110 with a 540 grain paper patched bullet that was said to be able to shot a mite further than 1,200 yard by Quigley (played by Tom Selleck) and originally only three guns were made.
One was later sent back to have a lighter aluminum barrel attached for the clubbing seen.

7) Years later they put out a Quigley Line in chamberings other than the original 45-110 of movie fame.

8) There is now a yearly shooting contest in Montana on Father's Day for owners of Quigley rifles.

Chris, did I miss something real important that should have been the point of this thread????????????????????????
 
#13 · (Edited)
This was originally going to be a post on the below thread but I could not find it:

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Bits
I would like to hear from those that really know, the major pro's & con's between the 45/110 caliber and the 45/120 caliber. I have heard that the 45/120 is a real bear at getting bullets to group down range and the brass is more expensive and harder to get etc.

My son is thinking about purchasing one of these Sharps Look A Like rifles and asked me, so I am trying to get the correct answers on this forum for his sake. Thanks for any information gentlemen. Tracer

So my answer (to above was): 45-110 or a 45-120? If it is just to have a piece of the old west in a powerful package I would suggest the 45 -110. It was used on buffalo far more as the 45 -120 was used. The 45 -120 was only produced at the tail end of the great buffalo herds, say around 1885 (is this right ChrisL? Vs 1870’s). But if it is to be a hunting gun and target gun – I might go with the 45 -70 due to of less recoil and good functioning at most hunting ranges. Plus there is a lot of the reloading data and ammo available. But my choice would still be the 45-110 due to the Down Under movie and the extra power - smiles.

Then I research what a Quigley was and posted it
 
#21 ·
I've had an Armi Sport Quigley Model for about 15 years now. The Armi Sport and Pedersoli copies are not on the same "gun art" level as the Shiloh Sharps, but they are still very nicely made rifles and offer a lot of bang for the buck. They go for $1800-$2100 now, but at the time it was $800 compared to about $2,700, and it was in stock, as opposed to a 4-5 year wait.

It's always been a great deal of fun and has been an MOA capable rifle with both black powder and smokeless.

It's long throated and marked ".45 Cal", so I've toyed with the idea of reaming it to .45-90 or .45-110. However as it is with a 2 foot drop tube, a card wad and about 3/16" powder compression, I get 82 grains of FFG under an SPG lubed 480 gr Lyman 457658 bullet and excellent accuracy.

Since moving from SD to NC, I no longer have the same long range shooting opportunities, so I worked up a smokeless load (Unique with a dacron wad) that also produces MOA accuracy and black powder velocities with commercial 405 gr flat nose bullets. Inexpensive, easy to clean, and easy to re-load for fun on plates at the 300 yard ranges I have available here.

 
#22 ·
I have a 45-2 7/8, with a 32" barrel. I shoot the Lyman 330 gr hp in it, bp about 120 gr. My brass is from Buffalo Arms and extruded from 348. I hunt elk and prong horn with it and it does a fine job. A friend borrowed it to hunt bear in Alaska, it did the job it was made for with a heavier bullet. I shoot about 500-700 rounds a year through it. Quigley Down Under was the most expensive movie I have ever seen. If you get my drift.
 
#24 · (Edited)
I also have a Pedersoli in a Quigley model 45/120 and a John Bodine 45/90 that I put some real nice walnut on, took the old plan stock off the rifle. I paid them for good wood but got screwed by Taylor & Company.

I also picked up another rifle from Sharp, Shilo in Montana but it does not shoot any better than the Pedersoli model. It is worth twice as much and nicer looking but that is where it stops. There is another 45/120 in the safe, it needs to go somewhere, got that on a trade. It is made by Uberti 45/120 and has a square butt with decelerator pad on it.

The biggest problem and it takes a lot of time, is working up loads for these rifles. Now having all the components like various weight bullets, primers and powder is a lot of time and work. Oh yeah, not to mention the money spent.:)
 
#25 · (Edited)
I shoot a modern H&R Officers Model Trapdoor in .45-70 and a .45-100, 1859 Sharps percussion that was converted to cartridge in 1863 then re-barreled in the 1870's to a sport shooter with a 32 in barrel. It has a rear tang sight and a rear barrel sight mounted in the .450 dovetail. I shoot BP and smokeless in both and I find the BP to have more consistent accuracy. I cast my own using wheel weights and cut my own wads from cereal boxes. When I use Smokeless I stuff a small wad of my wives quilting batting in the case to increase consistency in the burn. That seems to work best in the .45-70. Enough with the blab'n. Here's a couple a pics of the Sharps..





 
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