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After careful consideration and a realistic look at priorities, etc I'm probably going to part with a couple of firearms I'm ho-hum over to pick up one final "must have" rifle. I'm almost certain it'll be one of the following falling blocks (nothing is certain until I plunk the cash down and bring something home
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
It will primarily be a range gun, maybe some BPCR type silhouette shooting. I prefer a 22-24" carbine barrel but could go for a 26" if it "feels" right. Budget is under $1000 (more like $700-900 which means Italian for the Sharps but that's not necessarily a bad thing IMO and IME).
I understand my choice of caliber will dictate the final rifle to some extent, so here's what I'm considering as I already have factory ammo and/or components on hand:
.22 Hornet
.257 Roberts
.45-70
The 1859/63 is paper cartridge only of course but that holds it's own appeal to me. AFAIK the Ruger No1 or No3 can be had in any of those calibers but in the Sharps it'd be .45-70 unless I could find a Little Sharps in the Hornet and a .257 Sharps would be a custom only deal (and out of the price range).
Here's my train of thought at the moment:
I already have a .45-70 (Trapdoor) and I have no desire to hot rod the .45-70 anyway. A quick look at the usual online places hasn't turned up a .257 or .22H Ruger yet (just started looking though) but I don't know what the going rate for either is right now. A Hornet barrel can be had for my Handi-Rifle reasonably or I can have one of the Martini Cadets reworked for the Hornet at a later date.
That leaves the 1859/63 in the lead as I post this but I'm open to opinions and info in case there's something I've overlooked in my reasoning.
Thanks!
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)