Home Forums Hunting & Shooting BPCR Saw one for sale

Saw in LGS a Farmington Shiloh, in 45/120
Looked in excellent condition
Very nice wood with cheek piece
High end tang sight and globe on front
Not sure of barrel length, but long
Price was $2100

If interest call the Gunstop 952 935 2857

I have no interest in the gun, but thought it a bargain.

It's Farmingdale, not Farmington.

Ok
Thanks for he correction

Smart man. That's a good candidate for a wall hanger.

Wall hanger?

Are these not good guns

I have two from Big Timber but don’t shoot them much.

I am guessing it is the caliber

45 caliber is fine, but the 120 is getting into the man's man category. Not exactly something one does a high round count with in a single day.

Depending on when it was made, Farmingdale guns were not the same as Big Timber. Some had issues, but I don't recall all the details of the company's history. I know that current firing pins are like a tack and can be replaced fairly inexpensively. Not so the earlier ones. Think over $100. Don't know if they are a drop-in or need fitting. The newer ones can be installed in a few minutes without tools.

As far as the 45-120 being a "man's rifle", there are more issues than just recoil. It doesn't add anything significant in the way of performance, and presents a bunch of challenges, availability of decent brass, and fouling control being a couple.

Anybody even remotely considering a .45-120 should do a bunch of homework before committing to spending the money. If you absolutely have to have a big bad BPCR, look at a .45-110, and even then, do a lot of research and thinking. There was a recent thread here on choice of chambering. A few of the posters here have 110s, and could provide some good info.

Venturino and Garbe's book notes that the .45-120 was never originally a Sharps cartridge and was introduced after the company had gone out of business. They describe the recoil as brutal in a rifle weighing less than 12 pounds. I'm thinking that's an understatement.

Paul

If it's not a B serial numbered gun, it likely will have that goofy long freeboard chamber. It will be a dirty booger to get to shooting well, along with the firing pin problems that Paul pointed out. You can probably get Shiloh to replace the breechblock, but that will add expense ..
3 1/4 cases will cost you 3$ or there about. So for the price of a bag of 100 45-70's you can have 20 rounds for the 120.
1 F powder will be your friend if you go ahead with this rifle. If it's not a heavy barrel gun it will be a brutal bugger to shoot more than a few rounds at a time. Might be fine for a hunting gun, if you don't develop a huge flinch problem.

But no better than others. If the .45-120 offered any advantage over other rounds you would see them in the field and at long range shoots. They are conspicuous by their absence. The only thing they offer is whatever satisfaction the owner can take by having the biggest and baddest.

Get yourself a .45-120, then take it to a major event like the Quigley and state to the gathering "I got me a .45-120" and be prepared for the looks you will get. Being polite folks for the most part, they won't say much.

It would be interesting to know how many .45-120s Shiloh gets back for rebarreling.

But, hey, it's your money. If it grabs you, go for it.

Paul

Well I do know that the 120 with 120 gr of 1f and a 550 gr pure lead patched bullet will grab a buck antelope, shove him back about 10 ft and drop him in a pile.

Hey, old pard, I'll bet it shoved the hunter back about 10 feet and dumped him in a pile as well!

It was spectacular

Isn't the .45-120 a crew-served weapon?



Ed

LOL Many letters you may be right on that one.LOL

Interesting comments. I am the OP and had zero interest in the gun. But I though t a good buy, guess not in that cartridge.
I have a Shiloh #1 in 45/70 and 50/70. Both are fun to shoot. I have an elk and two antelope with the 45/70 and so far just one feral hog with the 50/70.

Sir, you are a distinguished gentleman with fine taste in firearms!

Ed

My brother bought a B prefix 45-3 1/4" with 34" HB and shotgun butt. got into it right at about 65% retail and never fired. I picked up some brass at Denver last year, Only took 6 rds to come up with a load 114 gr Fg Goex, card wad, lube wad, card wad and a 566 gr 45TGBS ppb at 1 in 16 alloy it shot well. Not something a guy would start a girl on or any woman you liked but hell it wasn't as bad as my 50 -3 1/4". He has other Shiloh's for everyday shooting. You guys need to try some of this stuff before you pass on someone elses badmouthing. MB