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BULLET POINTS |
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by Scott Crawford - September 17, 2024 First off, I'd like to thank Cimarron Firearms for providing this rifle for a "Media Test & Evaluation" session. Without manufacturers and distributing companies offering this type of option, there would be far fewer reviews online and in print. Davide Pedersoli builds some of the best Sharps rifles and Cimarron Firearms out of Fredericksburg, Texas with its exacting eye on replica details imports the best, authentic rifles. Cimarron has several Sharps models to choose from including the subject of this review. I've shot a lot of single shot firearms in various configurations however never had the pleasure of shooting a Sharps rifle, especially in my favorite caliber, .45-70 Government. Well, the day has finally come, and I was hugely excited when I opened the box at my FFL. The extreme length of the rifle compared to what I normally shoot and the heavy weight told me immediately I have entered a whole new category of firearm. There was much to learn when it came to loading and shooting this Cimarron rifle, like making sure to pull back the hammer before working the lever so as to avoid possibly bending the firing pin. Then there were the double set triggers, another first for me. That took some getting used to however when I finally settled into some serious shooting, they are extremely nice to use for an accurate shot. 
The Cimarron Billy Dixon Sharps .45-70
Before I start talking about the details of this rifle, I thought it necessary to give a little history behind the name behind the rifle, Billy Dixon. William Dixon was an American scout and Bison hunter active in the Texas panhandle. In 1874, Dixon and a handful of other buffalo hunters were under siege by a massive force of Comanche, Kiowa, and Cheyenne warriors who’d united in a bloody effort to drive out the invaders from their hunting grounds. Dixon fought for his life alongside 27 other men and one woman. In the end, a legendary rifle shot ended the siege and sent the war party into retreat. Dixon’s incredible long-range shooting with a “Big Fifty” Sharps at 1,538 yards entered the history books as the "Shot of the Century". One .50 caliber, 600-grain bullet aimed at a group of riders knocked one of the Indians from his horse making the Indians realize that even at that distance, they were not safe. The rifle, although in a different caliber, was fairly identical to the model I'm testing. A 32.0" octagonal barrel and ladder sight with double-set triggers making this one an excellent replica of the rifle Billy Dixon actually used. While this rifle was made by Pedersoli for Cimarron, I credit Cimarron with the foresight to offer this replica as a quality representative of the old west Sharps. 
The Cimarron Billy Dixon double-set Triggers The Billy Dixon Sharps is available in .45-70 and .45-90 both with 32" octagon barrels. This model as mentioned is the .45-70 and weighs 10.65 pounds and is 48.5" in overall length. Right after I opened the box I fell for the looks and feel of their design, especially the beautiful case-hardened butt plate and frame and the bluing of the barrel was perfectly deep blue. The weight of the rifle was a bit surprising however when hefted into firing position, the balance was still good but I could tell that this would be a good choice for tall shooting sticks. As much as I wish I had a longer shooting range to test out the ladder rear sight, I was constricted to 100 yards. I still feel to do this fine firearm any justice, I should have hunted down a longer range however alas I stayed on the 50 and 100 yard range. While I have shot iron sights for many years, there is just something about using a ladder sight. That said, since I stayed at 100 yards max, I really didn't get to play much with the ladder sight since the 100 yard aim point is at the bottom of the flip up ladder. I did have some fun with it. 
The Cimarron Billy Dixon Lever in Open Position The Pedersoli team designed an accurate shooter and excellent representation of the Billy Dixon Sharps. A favorite design for so many black powder and target shooting enthusiasts. The factory sights on this model consist of a rear mounted ladder sight that adjusts up to 800 yards and a blade front sight making for very good target acquisition. This design is very functional however it took a bit of practice for me to get good with it.   The Front & Rear Sights on the Billy Dixon Sharps The stock and forearm are constructed of walnut which is finished to a beautiful color. Sharp checkered grip panels provide superior grip in all weather conditions. The forearm is capped off with a beautiful brass embellishment adding to the looks of this very nice rifle. Something I’d be proud to use on a hunt or competition shoot.  The metal fit and finish on this particular model is very clean and well done. The case-colored frame just blends in nicely with the walnut stock and forearm. The bluing is well done on each part.   The rifling twist on this model is 1:18 Right Hand which works well for a heavy .45-70 load. I found the accuracy, repeatability quite good and the velocity of the bullets out of a 32" barrel something to appreciate. The muzzle on this rifle is crowned, non-threaded as you would expect for a period correct rifle.  Now let’s talk ammo. Although this rifle was made for heavier bullets, I decided to stick with my tried & true 405 grain hand loads. My other .45-70's love these loads so I figured I'd see what the Sharps thought. I load Starline Brass with 33.5 grains of "Buffalo Rifle" powder from Shooters World and SNS 405 grain Coated Cast Bullets. I experienced very good groups for shooting factory sights. Very pleased with the overall accuracy of the six-groove rifling on this big bore rifle. This load generates 1,500 fps out of an 18.5" barreled Guide Gun, somewhat faster in this long barrel! While I was learning how to use a ladder sight, the Point of Impact ranged all over the place however when I settled in, my groups improved greatly. It's amazing what a 17 ounce trigger can do for group size. Gotta love a double-set trigger set up. The shot grouping experienced with this rifle were impressive. At fifty yards I was eventually shooting clover leaf groups and at one hundred yards just slightly bigger. Once I figured out the proper sight alignment, this rifle did its job.  
Parting Shots  At 10.65 lbs., naked, this rifle is on the heavy side however accurate for a period correct Sharps rifle. The 48.50" overall length of this rifle makes it much longer than the modern Trapper models I typically carry. That said, it is a work of art and deserves a second look, especially from big bore rifle lovers. While the price is on the high side, the beauty and accuracy of this Pedersoli built rifle will hold the value and should be passed down for generations. The MSRP for this rifle is $1,953. As many know, I test a lot of firearms and to me, I had more fun with this rifle than any previous model. This period correct Sharps is accurate and a blast to shoot. Do yourself a favor and look into a Pedersoli built, Cimarron Billy Dixon Sharps rifle. Technical Specifications
 At the range with the Cimarron Billy Dixon Sharps 
IN THIS ARTICLE Cimarron Firearms
Pedersoli
Starline Brass
Shooters World Powder
SNS Bullets
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