Author Topic: IAB Gardon VT Sharps 45-70 ? (Read 2295 times)

Iowahunter · « **on:** December 20, 2003, 10:34:09 AM »

:? I have the option to buy a Sharps reproduction rifle and was hoping I might get some info from the group. Its made by IAB Gardon VT of Italy and looks to be imported by Pars Intl, Lou KY according to marking on the barrel. Its in 45-70 and W/28inbrown bbl. In 98% condition but, the 1st stage of the 2 stage trigger must be about 20lbs atleast. anyway to adjust this ? Price is $550 To high? low ?? What the ongoing opinion on this repo? Thanks Looking to get into the 45-70 sharps shooting without breaking the bank......... at 1st LOL

Kenny Wasserburger · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2003, 03:10:05 PM »

IAB>>>>>. Junk!

Don't waste your hard earned money on it.

Kenny Wasserburger.

My sights cost $500 alone. Wait till you can afford the best.

Iowahunter · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2003, 05:11:17 PM »

:eek: I just want a basic plinker for shooting jugs ect.. I have an Encore and a Marlin lever in 45-70 and the longest range in my area is 200yds. I realise Its not a Montana made Sharps and the sights are not worth more than a few pennies but, besides being junk do you have any more info I could use ? Thanks.......

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2003, 03:35:09 AM »

Unfortunately, Kenny is right in his estimation of the IAB. But it will do what your asking of it, hittin jugs at 200... but that's about all it will be good for. The weight of the first stage trigger is probably only adjustable VIA the springs. It will have to be pretty stout to do it's job.

If I could make a suggestion, a better "first buff gun" would be a Cabelas Rolling Block. The cost is under a thousand, and they are excellent guns fer the money. (I know yer gonna get flooded with replies about how great the American made Sharps are, but I know where yer comin from, that's a major amount of money fer a gun that doesn't see much shootin!)

Shorty · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2003, 10:00:19 AM »

To be more specific on the meaning of "junk". My first BPCR was an IAB carbine. It came NIB with a split forearm. 'Sent it back for repair. After less than 100 rounds, the barrel came loose! :eek: On reassembly, I found the threads were so sloppy that all I could do was shim the shoulder and slop on some industrial strength Loctight. Got rid of that one. My current one is not marked as to maker but is Italian made. It came with about .030" of headspace, and an off-center fireing pin! :cry: I sweated on a shim to the breachface and bent the finger lever to cure those problems, but holy cow,man! :roll:

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2003, 01:44:11 PM »

The two IAB Sharps rifles that I've had contact with both had the same problem with the barrel coming loose that Shorty experianced. I was able to fix both of them but accuracy sucked, comparitively speaking...two hundred yard guns at best!

Iowahunter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2003, 11:47:57 AM »

:roll: I went ahead and bought the rifle as I got the price down a bit more to my liking. I figured it would be cheaper way to try out the Sharps type of shooting and if its something I would like to pursue more in the future I can always trade up. I did find a Pedersoli in 45-90 with about 18 loaded shells left that was in decent shape but at $950 I thought he was a little high. Thanks for the info and maybe I'll turn my head when I shoot the first couple of shots : )

Kenny Wasserburger · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2003, 02:51:14 PM »

Good luck Hunter!

Poor quality internials and springs, soft breach blocks and barrels that tend to want to fall off after a 100 or so rounds!

Your the only one that has to be happy with it. Its money that was not well spent in my opinion.

No one said you had to buy a MT made sharps. I would of saved a few more hundred and got the Pedersoli from Dixie, at least you would of had a good quality rifle.

The things are Junk as I stated in my first post period! It might of been better if you had said I am going to buy this thing no mater what you guys say, then I would not of spent the bandwidth or time to try to steer a new Shooter away from a bad thing. Good Luck

Kenny Wasserburger

Iowahunter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2003, 09:54:28 AM »

Ok Kenny...... I know I'm wet behind the ears abit and being a flat lander also doesn't help much but,,,,,, I took your humble advice and traded for the Pedersolis in 45-90. He gave me $150 more than I paid for it and threw in a part box of 45-90 brass. I must (lowering head) admit the action and trigger is alot smother than the #@%%$# s Sharps :lol:
Thanks for the imput and if I have anymore questions in the future I know I will get an honest answer from you.

Kenny Wasserburger · « **Reply #9 on:** December 28, 2003, 06:09:48 AM »

Hunter you done good pard,

Glad you got rid of the POS IAB. The Pedersoli will serve you well untill you decide you wish to buy a real Sharps! If not they you are not out of any hard earned mony.

I currently own 3 Shilohs, #4 is now on the shop floor it will be a Business Rifle and will be for the business of killing a cape buffalo one of these days.
Untill that time its going to get alot of workout hunting in Wyoming. And some day Tx for some hogs. Caliber will be 45-110.

I do alot of shooting both my silhouette rifle and my long range rifle have over 11,000 rounds though them now. My LR rifle is 9 years old and has done me very well at Creedmoor and other long range matches.

Some day when you can afford too I strongly suggest you look at the Shilohs, Money WELL SPENT.

Kenny Wasserburger

Lead pot · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2003, 12:10:59 PM »

Cuts-just wondering,do those rifles have a left hand twist?you would think if you would shoot them long enough,if you can,they would set in.I rung a chamber in my Pedersoli I had to put a 24"pipe wrench on the barrel with my 220 lb body on the handle to break it loose,I did'nt know if the reciever would give first or the barrel.

Kurt

iowa · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2004, 11:27:52 AM »

IowaHunter: Don't know where in IA you are located at, but you might want to think about attending the Buffalo Shoots and now Long Range shoots put on by the Cedar Valley Regulators, an NCOWS Posse that shoots at Ackley IA. First of the shoots will be in April and then May. Best Regsrds, steve witt

Lead pot · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2004, 11:53:59 AM »

iowa please give directions to the range.Do they have a web site?
Kurt

Iowahunter · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2004, 06:47:58 PM »

I'm just NW of Cedar Rapids, I would like to come down and watch and chat with some of the shooters and maybe if I get mine to shoot I'll join in on the fun.

Lead pot · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2004, 10:17:50 AM »

Iowahunter tell me were the range is and I will come.I only live two hours from Cedar Rapids.Lp.

Iowahunter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2004, 11:24:10 AM »

The one range I go to is a public one in a county park called Mattsels Bridge. It has a 200yd rifle range and 100yd pistol range. Its just NE of here about 20 miles Not knowing where you are in Ill It would be hard to give directions. Take.the towns of Marion, Central City and Anamosa and make a triangle and its close to the center . I'm just getting back into the shootin game after a few yrs off . The BPCR shooting looks fun and challenging and the people I have seen post on the forum seem down right friendly. I have dies and brass for the 45-90 on the way from Buffalo Arms and I'm looking forward to making some smoke. :lol:

Feel free to email or pm me if you need anymore info. Kevin

Lead pot · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2004, 12:13:13 PM »

Kevin.. I thought you had a long range.I need a long range since the Farm was sold I lost the long range.There it a 600 yd range in Quad Citys but it almost takes two to shoot that range,and it's about 400 yds short.
I live nearSterling IL.If I come out it would be on I-80.Sounds like your getting your stuff all lined up and on your way.Once you trip that sear and have that big hammer fall and set off that BP your hookrd for life I know it bit me 40 some years ago and I still burn arround 50 lbs of black every year. Now being retired I spend at least three days at the range every week :-)
Well I hope we will meet on the line someday Kevin.

Kurt

Cuts Crooked · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2004, 03:55:34 AM »

Leadpot,
Nope, right handed twist as I recall. The danged things were jist poorly threaded. The sears also needed recut and rehardened, and the springs needed to be replaced.

Interestingly enuff one of the ones I repaired was sold to feller in Illinios and was used to place very high in their SASS State Championships

Cottonwood · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2004, 06:10:55 AM »

Well so far with my POSIAB I have had no problems. Yes I have one of these that I had reamed up to 45-90. I was fully inspected while at the gunsmith for the reaming job when the barrel was taken off and then reset.

Maybe that was a good thing for me, I don't know :roll:

But until I can afford a real one, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Charles Vail · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2004, 04:29:20 PM »

I had one of these in a kit format and it worked fine.....my 550 yard group was 18 inches with a 405 grain lead bullet and smokless, so I really didn't give it a chance but I know the action needed to be case hardened for about 175 dollars. I think a far better choice would be to buy an old junker Rolling block#5 probably a 7mm mauser or the like and yank the barrel off and put on a new one($100 Greenmountain). You can get some wood from Treebone or Brownells and make a decent rifle. My most recent only cost about $500 to build not including the cost of the reamer which I can use again. I hand reamed the straightwall chamber and it was no problem although now I have a Big lathe to do it. If you are handy this is a fun winter project. The Uberti copy of the Winchester Highwall is about $800 as is the other various Sharps and Remington Italian copies. You may even look into a functional long barreled Trapdoor Springfield for maybe $700 at a gunshow unless they are more now. Finding a quality inexpensive BPCR under $500 is a tough proposition these days. If I wasn't a tinkerer I wouldn't have much of a collection at all. Have a blast :toast:

Cottonwood · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2004, 04:54:49 PM »

Here's my poderance..... I like to ponder on things.

I like both the Sharps and Rolling Block rifles, and Pedersoli carries both. One day I may own a Shiloh Sharps. I do plan on making a trip to Big Timber so I can handle a Shiloh and actually see the plant.

I'm hoping to soon get out with a friend of mine who has 7 Remington Rolling Block rifles, one being in 50-90 :shock: