MovieChat Forums > Quigley Down Under (1990) Discussion > Rekindled interest in black powder shoot...

Rekindled interest in black powder shooting

posted 19 years ago by mhansen2
7 replies | jump to latest

The scenes of Matthew Quigley's Sharps 1874 Sporting Rifle, especially the scene shooting the bucket at extreme range, helped spark or rekindle wide spread interest in long distance black powder shooting. As a result, there are a number of shooting events held throughout the USA that cater to those with similar interests. Such an event held annually in Eastern Montana, is called the "Quigley."

The movie was also a boon for the small firm that made the depicted rifle, the Shiloh Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company of Big Timber, Montana.

"You, too, can own a Matthew Quigley Sharps 1874 rifle." When you log onto the web site, have your speakers on to listen to the Quigley music track.

http://www.shilohrifle.com/

Mike

[–] Tyrfingr 19 years ago

Not bad, not bad at all ;), i really like those sharps i must say. Most peeps today might think they wouldnt put up much of a challenge if pitched against modern firearms... Think again! :P

The Swede

[–] smearbrick 19 years ago

Except for one thing: His Sharps rifle is not a black powder rifle. Sure, the center-fire cartridge may have black powder in it, but it is not a black powder rifle. I can't remember, but I think he had the 45-70 variety (it may have been the 50 cal). Either way, big gun, single shot, very cool.

[–] christandberg278 19 years ago

The rifle IS a black powder rifle. Rifles of this period were loosely categorized as either muzzle-loading, or breech-loading. They are also grouped according to ignition system. This Sharps probably used about 110 grains of black powder (rifle granulation) behind a cast lead, paper-patched, tallow-lubricated bullet of around 500 grains (1.14 oz). The powder was contained in a brass cartridge case and ignited by a percussion primer pressed into the base of the case.

I seem to remember Quiqley describing it to the boy whose mother was killed by Marsden's men.

You are probably thinking about muzzle-loading black powder rifles, such as the Kentucky-style rifle or the Hawken mountain gun. Nitrocellulose-based (smokeless)propellants were not in wide use at the time depicted here.

[–] c-huddleston 19 years ago

Smokeless powder wasn't invented until around 1880, if memory serves.

[–] whisperhog 19 years ago

ALL original Sharps rifles were black powder affairs. Smokeless (nitrocellulose-based) powder was perfected ca. 1884 by the French chemist Vielle. It's first widespread use was in the French Army's Model 1886 8mm Lebel rifle cartridge, which consequently sparked an arms race culminating in WWI, and subsequently WWII and beyond.

"Better living through chemistry..."

[–] kdolgener 19 years ago

The Sharps 1874 can be used with smokeless powder but I do not recommend it. The firing pin is held in place by a thin plate that slides into place in the back of the falling block. Redesign the block and I bet you can load some really hot loads. The action is certainly strong enough.
But why do that? Black powder loads are fun to shoot. I had three Shiloh 74s Sharps back in the late sevenites and early eighties. Two 45-90 and one 45-110. Today, I have an 1875 40-70 Sharps and
I ain't gonna make the mistake of selling that one!

[–] chance_caskey 18 years ago

If memory serves me correct, The rifles used in Quigley were made by Shiloh in Montana. There were three identical rifles made, all chambered in 45-110. If you google "Shiloh Rifles" the third of fourth selection down is an article about the rifles made for the movie including locations of the three.

Later