Remington Rolling Block project

[surfclod]

I have been looking at the Swedish Remington Rolling Block rifles that can be obtained for a decent price in the Tradex site.

Have not yet researched the action much but the wiki page gives a bit of history and it would seem like a strong enough action to adapt a modern cartridge to. I was thinking something small for the gopher patch, perhaps 22 K-Hornet or 17 Hornet. In this case it would no longer be considered an antique but with the demise of the LGR it will not be much hassle.

The other thought was to use the action to make a Olde Tyme buffalo style rifle, in perhaps Sharps 50-90. By the time I get a .50 barrel and all the work done I could likely buy a repro Sharps, but its the project that gives me as much (if not more) pleasure than shooting the final project.


Would love to hear from any who have worked with the Remington Rolling Block.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I shoot a Rolling Block in BPCR competition. I have a real soft spot for them. Personally I would opt to do one in 45-70 if I were you. More options for brass, bullets and load options. Just don't feed it ammo you load for your Guide Gun. I load my smokeless 45-70 loads in nickel cases to make it almost impossible for me to feed the wrong stuff to my Roller.

 

[Randy B]

I have built 3 .. two were 50-90 sharps done on Antique Swede`s and the other was a 38-55 done on an Egyptian. Currently working on gathering the parts and pieces for 2 more to be built on the 8x58 swedes from tradex. One will be a 40-70 sharps straight the other one a 38-55. Unless you are a capable smith \ machinist your expenses will indeed surpass what it would cost to buy a new Pedrosoli. Lots of fun to tinker with and a decent challenge even if you have experience. You certainly wind up with something unique but likely never get the money out of the build.

 

[dan belisle]

I have originals in 50-70 and 32 Rimfire. I keep meaning to sleeve the 32 down to 22 for a boy's rifle, but just haven't found the time. Sweet rifles though. - dan

 

[tiriaq]

I have a 1 1/2 .32RF that is nice outside, but with a truly horrible bore. It could be converted to most any reasonable caliber, by either rebarrelling, reboring or sleeving. The 1 1/2 sized action is a bit of a sledgehammer driving a tack for .22.
Given the 8x58R cartridge used in many of the Swedish rifles, there is no reason that these rifles could not be set up in a more modern cartridge than 45-70, etc. A sported one with a poor bore would be a great candidate.

 

[mwjones]

You can usually ream a 12.7 chamber to 50-90 and go to town.

 

[mooncoon]

I will make a plug for the 38-56 cartridge with a faster twist and a 300 grain loverin style bullet. The cartridge is a reformed 45-70 case and recoil is mild. I also have a rolling block in 40-70 Sharp's bottle neck except that I used a 45-70 shell to form the case. That is 15 thou smaller at the base than the original round but 45-70 empty brass is cheaper and more available that the basic brass to make the true dimensional case. If you make your own reamers and dies, the smaller dimension of the 45-70 case is not a problem

cheers mooncoon

 

[surfclod]

Lots of positive input so far but its just pie in the sky on my part. Even though it costs more I do like to be unique.

I saw a video of a fella shoot a BPCR style rifle at around 800 yards. He shot, then shifted over to the spotting scope and watched the bullet strike the gong. Way freaking cooler than IPSC in my mind.

Can the Remington Rolling Block action deliver the accuracy to replicate a Billy Dixon at Adobe Walls type of shot??

 

[Randy B]

In Billy Dixon`s own words (it was a scratch shot) in other words a shot of luck. likely one that where he just pointed the rifle and gave his best judgement as to what his hold should be. No doubt any roller could accomplish the same thing. Rollers were used extensively at the Creedmoor matches in the late 1800`s. 1000 yds for sure maybe more. Back in the day when shooting matches drew crowds of 50000 ( 50 thousand)
spectators. And shooters were like rock stars . How times have changed.

 

[superted]

I've always wondered about Billy Dixon's shot ... did he hit the actual Indian he was aiming at...?

 

[mooncoon]

In "The Border and the Buffalo", Frank Cook (hope I got his name correct) says that Dixon said after the shot, that he did not know if he hit the Indian or his horse and if my memory is correct, said that the effect of the shot kept the Indians at a distance

cheers mooncoon

 

[BigUglyMan]

I've always wondered about Billy Dixon's shot ... did he hit the actual Indian he was aiming at...?

I guess when you're surrounded any Indian will do.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I saw a video of a fella shoot a BPCR style rifle at around 800 yards. He shot, then shifted over to the spotting scope and watched the bullet strike the gong. Way freaking cooler than IPSC in my mind.

What's cooler is shoot, smoke clears, watch the target tip over, wait a couple seconds, hear the bullet striking the target you just watched fall. All this at 500 metres. You could probably get two shots off at a half-mile before the sound of the bullet strike gets back to you.

 

[mooncoon]

What's cooler is shoot, smoke clears, watch the target tip over, wait a couple seconds, hear the bullet striking the target you just watched fall. All this at 500 metres. You could probably get two shots off at a half-mile before the sound of the bullet strike gets back to you.

Something like a 45-70 probably has around 300 yards per second average velocity over 800 yards. That would be close to 3 seconds for the bullet to get there. I think you would be hard pressed to get a second accurate shot off in that time. From experience, I know that at 550 yards (500 meters) there is time to turn around and question your spotter and turn back again to see the target still falling

cheers mooncoon

 

[BCRider]

.....Can the Remington Rolling Block action deliver the accuracy to replicate a Billy Dixon at Adobe Walls type of shot??

I'd say that it's fair to say that the action itself is not a limitation. Instead the quality of the barrel, the chamber reaming, the head spacing and all the other usual stuff that enters the mix is going to matter.

 

[Randy B]

I've always wondered about Billy Dixon's shot ... did he hit the actual Indian he was aiming at...?

supposed to have broken his arm from the pieces I have read. I think that was relaying what the Indians who were with the victim at the time had said.
Kind of like shooting into a flock of seagulls. Sometimes you might get lucky,,or unlucky! Sure going to make everybody stand up and take notice on both sides. Lot of controversy over the years with some so called experts claiming it was impossible to make that kind of shot... But it has since been duplicated on site. more than once.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Something like a 45-70 probably has around 300 yards per second average velocity over 800 yards. That would be close to 3 seconds for the bullet to get there. I think you would be hard pressed to get a second accurate shot off in that time. From experience, I know that at 550 yards (500 meters) there is time to turn around and question your spotter and turn back again to see the target still falling

cheers mooncoon

Maybe we should try a "Two Shots Before You Hear The Impact" challenge at a half-mile for the blackpowder guys and gals. You have almost 2.5 seconds for the sound to get back to you from a half-mile so you're 5-6 seconds to get the second shot off after the first. Could be fun to try.

 

[mooncoon]

Quite a few years ago, I tried something like that on a turning deers target at a turkey shoot. You started with a loaded gun, one in the chamber and you had 6 seconds to fire 2 shots before the target turned out of sight. I am not a fast shooter so was a bit slow on my first shot and got in a poorly aimed second shot just as the bell rang. I used a trapdoor springfield which ejects the spent shells and I doubt that you could do it with most other single shots

cheers mooncoon

 

[superted]

Surfclod: the guy you need is Mike Magee from down in Maple Creek country ...

 

[BigUglyMan]

Quite a few years ago, I tried something like that on a turning deers target at a turkey shoot. You started with a loaded gun, one in the chamber and you had 6 seconds to fire 2 shots before the target turned out of sight. I am not a fast shooter so was a bit slow on my first shot and got in a poorly aimed second shot just as the bell rang. I used a trapdoor springfield which ejects the spent shells and I doubt that you could do it with most other single shots

cheers mooncoon

1885 would be the easiest. Doubt it could be done with a Rolling Block. Maybe a Hepburn or Sharps but it'd be a feat.