General Hints

39
LOADING AND SHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS
FOR 1874 SHARPS
WARNING: BEFORE PROCEEDING ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE FIREARM IS UNLOADED AND POINTED IN A
SAFE DIRECTION.
See exploded view at
page 19a, 20a of this booklet.
The exploded view drawing shows the S
HARPS SPORTING model, but the suggestions apply for all
1874 Sharps rifles.
FIELD STRIPPING
1) With the action (part. # 46)
OPEN, place the hammer in the half-cock position. You will notice a
tiny plunger pin (part. # 42) located on the right side of the frame.
2) The lever hinge pin (part. # 41) is located on the lower front of the frame on the right-hand side
of the rifle. While pushing in on the tiny plunger pin, rotate the arm of the lever hinge pin
forward past the plunger pin, approximately 180 degrees from its original position. Turn the rifle
upside down. While rotating forward and backward a few degrees, and pulling outward,
remove the lever hinge pin. After the lever hinge pin has been removed, slide the lever and the
breech block up and out of the frame.To avoid that the hinge pin bumps against the forend
(part. # 30), we suggest you disassemble the wood, loosen the screw (part. # 28) or remove
the barrel’s bands.
3) You have now field stripped the rifle.
4) Reverse the above procedure for reassembly.
Further disassembly should be attempted only by a competent gunsmith
CAUTION
• We strongly recommend you practise the procedure of placing the rifle on safe
BEFORE
attempting to load and fire the rifle.
• To place the rifle on safe, slowly drop the hammer in the half-cock position. We strongly
recommend not loading the rifle until you are in the hunting field, or on the target range and
you are ready to shoot safely.
• Whenever the hammer is fully down, the firing pin will remain pushed forward in contact with
the primer. If you now lowered the breech block with the firing pin in contact with the primer,
the firing pin would be dragged across the cartridge rim, causing a score mark in the brass
case as well as possibly damaging the firing pin or even firing if a loaded cartridge is inserted.
• We suggest that after firing a shot, the hammer be pulled back into half cock position and then
the lever operated to fully lower the breech block, ejecting the fired case.
LOADING AND FIRING
1) Use only factory loaded ammunition, C.I.P ruled or reload with black powder or equivalent
propellant (Pyrodex), in the gun’s caliber.
The .45-70 caliber can be loaded with commercial smokeless factory made ammunition, not
exceeding the 29.007 C.U.P. / P.S.I. or reloaded cartridges with black powder or equivalent
propellant (Pyrodex) not exceeding the 25.000 C.U.P./P.S.I.
2) To load the rifle, first point the muzzle downrange in a safe direction. Place the rifle on safe, by
placing the hammer in the half-cock position (1
st
. click). Extend the lever downward, fully
opening the breech. Carefully insert one cartridge of the proper caliber completely into the
breech and close the action, pulling back the lever. You are now ready to fire the rifle.
3) To fire, point the rifle downrange toward your target and fully cock the hammer (2nd. click).
While pointing at your target, slowly pull on the rear trigger until it sets. While aiming at your
target, slowly pull the front trigger and your rifle will fire.