Has there ever been any serious consideration given to firing up a production line for Ross rifles? Something along the lines of the AIA Enfields, using .308 and/or other popular modern cartridges. Who thinks that this would be a practical and profitable idea, or not?
New Production Ross Rifle
- Thread starter r_wpg_rif
- Start date
After all the whining about the price of the AIA No 4 repros- I'd say someone would have to be nuts to even think about it.
Setting up to manufacture a Ross type rifle would be quite an adventure. Have a good look at the complexity of the action. Setup wpuld be very costly. The price of the resulting rifles would be a lot higher that that of the AIAs; these would be very expensive rifles. Cannot see that there would be a market.
Since the Military Version of the Ross cost the equivalent of $1000.00 in 1912, I imagine it would be even more today!
I don't think Canada would ever make firearms simply because there's such a small market, unlike in the states.
I don't think Canada would ever make firearms simply because there's such a small market, unlike in the states.
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- Downtown Vancouver, BC
I looked at this thread and went in excitement. Then I saw it was hypothetical and got disappointed.
in excitement. Then I saw it was hypothetical and got disappointed. The Ross would be a super project. Reproducing the 1910 MkIII would be awesome. If made to the same spec with all of the later updates, I would buy one. Modern CNC machining would make a difference, parts can be reproduced easily. I know that you can buy .303 barrels matching the contour of the ross.
An interesting project would be to make a Ross in Magnum calibers 375 H&H or 458 Lott, 416 Rigby....
Regards
Pete
An interesting project would be to make a Ross in Magnum calibers 375 H&H or 458 Lott, 416 Rigby....
Regards
Pete
People talk of the nice pre 64 Win & the older production Rem 700s and they are right they are well made guns. The .280 Ross sporter I own is a cut above both, a extreemly well made, and would be very high priced guns if made today,and I don't think they would cut it today on the sales charts.
But iif people bought guns for the feel and balance etc, the Ross Sporter is the nicest gun I have ever held.
But iif people bought guns for the feel and balance etc, the Ross Sporter is the nicest gun I have ever held.
I'm still not convinced that if you made target rifles on a ross action that thetre would be no market. A small run of reproduction military rifles for those "crazy" milsurp collectors, and a bunch of sporting/target/hunting models for everyone else. Everyone talks about the awsomness of the ross, even with a price tag of $1000-1500 there may be a market.
I think you are a Little off here.
As stated, the Ross's were a complex Rifle. Look at the new production MP40's and MP44's on Marstar all at the $3000 Range. Giving that these come from out of country and Marstar has to take thier share, I think a retail price of about $2000+ would be right for the Ross Rifle.
The last time a Ross was made in Canada was long before the last Enfield was made in Australia. I don't really think that anyone here in Canada will know what it will take to go through this process. For one person to build everything it would be a huge undertaking. Just imagine all of the small parts that will have to be milled. Everything from Barrel bands to making the screws and springs. For one person to do this they would already have to have a huge shop. If they get places to make parts and they assemble them at one location it would still be a huge price because now there is shipping parts and other sub-contractor prices to deal with.
Either way it is going to be an expensive project with not a lot of return.
Cam
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A serious Ross collector I know got an estimate of the cost of making the late pattern (forged and milled) Mk. III nosecaps reproduced by CNC. $65 each, if 100 were ordered.
I think that there could be a market for a reproduction Mk. III stock and handguard set. Add in a nosecap and screw, and a lot of sported Mk.III rifles could be restored. Then the question needs to be asked - what is a restocked Mk. III worth, and how much could be charged for such a restoration set?
Reproducing a Mk.III service rifle would be extremely expensive. Recreating M-10 sporting rifles, of equal quality to an original, might be a bit less expensive, simply because there are fewer parts. But the rifle would be in the premium price category.
And the Darwin Award candidates would be chanting, "Oh no, the bolt will blow out and kill you."
I think that there could be a market for a reproduction Mk. III stock and handguard set. Add in a nosecap and screw, and a lot of sported Mk.III rifles could be restored. Then the question needs to be asked - what is a restocked Mk. III worth, and how much could be charged for such a restoration set?
Reproducing a Mk.III service rifle would be extremely expensive. Recreating M-10 sporting rifles, of equal quality to an original, might be a bit less expensive, simply because there are fewer parts. But the rifle would be in the premium price category.
And the Darwin Award candidates would be chanting, "Oh no, the bolt will blow out and kill you."
I think the easiest solution of all would be to manufacture BARRELS. Many/most of the Ross sporters I see are wearng next to useless barrels these days. ALOT of actions could be made viable again if barrels were around.
Also, you could offer other calibers if new barrels were made again. A Ross in .30-30 or 7x57 would be really cool. Even a 7.62x54R might be an interesting bit of kit
Another option is to rebore a Ross to something larger caliber with a similar or bigger case base so that rechambering is possible. 9.3x54R is a strong posibility in my view.
Also, you could offer other calibers if new barrels were made again. A Ross in .30-30 or 7x57 would be really cool. Even a 7.62x54R might be an interesting bit of kit
Another option is to rebore a Ross to something larger caliber with a similar or bigger case base so that rechambering is possible. 9.3x54R is a strong posibility in my view.
I think the easiest solution of all would be to manufacture BARRELS. Many/most of the Ross sporters I see are wearng next to useless barrels these days. ALOT of actions could be made viable again if barrels were around.
Also, you could offer other calibers if new barrels were made again. A Ross in .30-30 or 7x57 would be really cool. Even a 7.62x54R might be an interesting bit of kit
Another option is to rebore a Ross to something larger caliber with a similar or bigger case base so that rechambering is possible. 9.3x54R is a strong posibility in my view.
As you say, there's lots of Rosses with cut down and/or worn out/dark barrels around. Ditto to cut down and cracked wood sets with missing bands.
The receiver is the part hardest to make new and least likely to be screwed up...
If someone (for example AIA/Marstar) sold kits with a new full length barrel and new wood set with bands and all parts, that might fly pretty well.
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The design is over 90 years old. There are no patents. The thing might have to be reverse engineered. That would make the project much more complicated. Ross Mk. III barrels could be made, the threading and breeching aren't much different than some other rifles, for which aftermarket barrels can be obtained. A Mk. II barrel is a whole different kettle of fish. Mk. III barrel is 30 1/2 long, and the shank diameter is larger than most; that just about guarantees greater cost. The barrels would be straightforeward in comparison with the bolthead, bolt sleeve and receiver. Tear a Ross down sometime, and have a look at all the bits. Limited production would be impractical, and volume production would require a substantial and contiuing market.
AIA? Come on.
Rebuild kits might be a possibility, but I doubt that the price of the kit would make the project worthwhile.
AIA? Come on.
Rebuild kits might be a possibility, but I doubt that the price of the kit would make the project worthwhile.
I'd love one, but doubt you could build a Ross clone and make a profit even at $1500. Start-up costs would be substantial. How many Ross rifles would be sold? The Ross only has a following in Canada, unlike the Enfield (AIA) which was popular throughout the commonwealth.
Maybe we can get Norinco to make copies and sell'em back to us. A little slave labour could really help keep costs down, and I'm sure the slaves would appreciate a break from building AR-15 and M14 copies.
If there's even a thought of starting to reproduce a Military Ross at all, why not go for broke and reproduce the experimental .280 Military Match rifle? Compared to the vanilla MkIII, we're talking Corvettes vs Mack Dumptrucks...
Would it not make more sense to just find the cleanest MkIII you could, then treasure it right up to the time your Federal government comes along and confiscates it? (of course, without compensation)
Would it not make more sense to just find the cleanest MkIII you could, then treasure it right up to the time your Federal government comes along and confiscates it? (of course, without compensation)
