What's you favourite breech block single shot?

Which breech block single shot action do you prefer?

  • Sharps

    Votes: 8 14.8%

  • Browning

    Votes: 13 24.1%

  • Farquarson i.e. Ruger #1, Martini & Hagn

    Votes: 19 35.2%

  • Martini

    Votes: 12 22.2%

  • Remington rolling block

    Votes: 2 3.7%
  • Total voters
    54
kombi1976

kombi1976

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Here's the poll Catnthehatt failed to add to his excellent post.
So I credit the intellectual property to him and am simply doing a survey on his behalf.:p :D
BTW, I've put the Farquarson type actions together and added the Remington rolling and tilting blocks.
 
I have a Sharps, a Ruger No.1/Farquarson and a martini.

The Martini is the least elegant of those and probably the least "strong" of these three actions. The Ruger is tough as nails and is functionally probably the best design. The Sharps, on the other hand, is the easiest to clean and service as the breech block drops out just by turning a lever.

I like the Sharps the best for many reasons, but the Ruger is the most user-friendly IMHO.
 
BIGREDD said:
I would go with the Sharps... they made history with that action.
Click to expand...

Rolling Block

WAY more of them made that Sharps. Not surprising since the Roller is a better system for both market hunting and fighting, the two most important pastimes in the güten alten tag. It would have been chosen as the military breach loading rifle, but the government found that they could make Springfields into Trapdoors quite cheaply. That and Springfield was quite popular with the uppie-ups.

No way to break the firing pin with a Roller like rookies do with the Sharps when they forget to half-#### before dropping the block.

Less moving parts with the Roller. Simplicity = ruggedness.

You can always get that last shell into a rolling block by beating the breach block closed. Important in heavily fouled rifles either next to the buffalo-wagon or shooting bad people. You see all kinds of guys at BPCR matches trying to do the bore riding bullet thing with bullets that aren't from a mould with a bore riding front driving band. They all have funny little sticks to put in the block mortise to press the shell into the action. Lose your little stick and you're horncocked!

That's why the Roller rules.

Not saying that the Sharps isn't a beauty, but my vote (and apparently only mine) is for the Rolling Block.
 
My preferences would be in this order: Ruger Number 1, Browning 1885, 1874 Sharps. Never had the pleasure of shooting a rolling block - they just seem a bit "unusual" for some reason. Maybe there's something comforting about a slab of steel sliding into two vertical mortices that makes the Ruger and Browning feel more secure.

Can't say that I knew about the reliability factor with the rolling block, but it makes sense.
 
Y'know, despite the short comings of the Martini action there is an appeal I just can't avoid.
Maybe it's the old trade rifles built for Africa or the vision of those few men in formation at Rorkes Drift.
Actually, something just occured to me.
The Martini is the only action that with a good tug on the lever will flick the case clear ready for the next one to slide in.
The rest have primary extraction but no ejector, at least as far as I'm aware.
I guess it's more justification for putting a long-eye-relief scope on it so you can enjoy that fast action or conversely have QR rings for target or long distance work.
 
I have a Jeffery Farquarson in 303 and it is the smoothest action in my collection, which includes Sharp's Ruger's, Martinis and Rolling blocks
The Daniel Fraser is a very close second
 
WR1894 said:
I have a Jeffery Farquarson in 303 and it is the smoothest action in my collection, which includes Sharp's Ruger's, Martinis and Rolling blocks
The Daniel Fraser is a very close second
Click to expand...
You couldn't show us a pic of that, could you?
The original Farquarson actions are real pieces of art.
 
I have just discovered the elegance of the breech-block single shot rifle. The handling heft of my Ruger#1 in .25-06, together with the mechanical elegance of this type of action give the feeling of classic craftsmanship and design. This ain't no Bubba Unit!
 
When I get my digital camera fixed I will post some pictures of some of the singles shot
Guns are great but this electronic stuff
 
Don't forget the Snider!!
The Martini also made a lot of history as did the springfield trap door....
Cat
northernguidewithtrophy.jpg
 
Wait a sec, Cat.
Are you implying that the Snider is a breech block single shot like the others?
You have to admit it's really a little different as it's an adaptation of a muzzle loader, as is the Trapdoor Springfield.
 
kombi1976 said:
The Martini is the only action that with a good tug on the lever will flick the case clear ready for the next one to slide in.
The rest have primary extraction but no ejector, at least as far as I'm aware.
Click to expand...

Both the Ruger and the Browning extract and eject. The Browning does it with gusto! :D

Ted
 
kombi1976 said:
Wait a sec, Cat.
Are you implying that the Snider is a breech block single shot like the others?
You have to admit it's really a little different as it's an adaptation of a muzzle loader, as is the Trapdoor Springfield.
Click to expand...

NOPE, it is as different from the others as a Falling block is from a Martini!:D
But it IS a single shot, with a Hinged breach block.:rolleyes:
I am not a fan of the Springfield, but it is a very good action with the lighter loads.

Oh, and here is a little piece of trivia for the fellas that don't know the Rugers and Brownings that well.
Yes the ejection system is tuneable on the ruger, and the Browning has a little stop behind the trigger that is actiually a directional diverter!
It can be turned to stop the ejected case, or direct it to the right OR left!:)
Pretty cool little gizmo, actually.
The Martini Intl. 22LR match rifle action is not the same as the original Military actions, but likely has the highest case ejection velocity of ANY rifle
in the World!!:eek:
That action will send a case 4 firing positions over! ( Plays Hell with the competition!:D )
Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
The Martini Intl. 22LR match rifle action is not the same as the original Military actions, but likely has the highest case ejection velocity of ANY rifle
in the World!!:eek:
That action will send a case 4 firing positions over! ( Plays Hell with the competition!:D )
Cat
Click to expand...
Way to psyche out your competitors!:p ;)
 
kombi1976 said:
Way to psyche out your competitors!:p ;)
Click to expand...
I firmly believe that it is the BIGGEST reason that Old badger loves to be on my left side a few lanes away with his when In am trying to concentrate on a good standing score with my Anschutz!:cool:
Cat
 
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