de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 26, 2017 18:01:58 GMT -5
Thank you for your responses so far. I'm more curious about rather than committed to hotloading the repro Sharps. An original rifle in any of the single shot types would not have even stirred the heavy load curiosity.
in a similar vein, I've discovered a chance to get an old Rolling Block in 50-70. Anyone care to chime in with their experience with this rifle/round? I don't long to hyperload it, it gets my interest because it's a vintage rifle from the early 1870s. I'd feed it loads it was built for and cherish it for it's historical value (thump thump goes the heart......).
The price range on the NY State Rolling Blocks seems to be all over the place - what would ya'll pay for one?
D.
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Post by bradshaw on Nov 27, 2017 9:08:50 GMT -5
Thank you for your responses so far. I'm more curious about rather than committed to hotloading the repro Sharps. An original rifle in any of the single shot types would not have even stirred the heavy load curiosity. in a similar vein, I've discovered a chance to get an old Rolling Block in 50-70. Anyone care to chime in with their experience with this rifle/round? I don't long to hyperload it, it gets my interest because it's a vintage rifle from the early 1870s. I'd feed it loads it was built for and cherish it for it's historical value (thump thump goes the heart......). The price range on the NY State Rolling Blocks seems to be all over the place - what would ya'll pay for one? D. ***** D..... Rem- ING-ton Roll- ING-block----a lyrical name. My experience with the Remington Rolling Block is limited to originals. A military Remington in 7mmx57mm Mauser is, by far, my favorite. Thirty-inch barrel, deep rifling with what appears to be a fast twist, guessing around 1:8. Full length walnut stock with hand guards. Tried WW I Springfield and WW II Garand bayonets on the 7x57 Rolling Block and they fit perfectly. I loaded ammo for the gentleman who owned the 7x57 Rolling Block, the Hornady .284 175 Spire Point over, as I recall, a modest charge of IMR 4895; or, possibly, IMR 4320. The rifle shot the 175 Spire Point perfectly to the sights, and cleanly accounted for whitetails and various livestock, mostly pigs. Design of the Rolling Block may predate the Springfield Trap Door. It would be interesting to read actual the actual trials which resulted in adoption of the Trapdoor. As the Trapdoor is the product of efforts to convert the 1861 Springfield 58 caliber muzzleloader to a cartridge rifle, the tests may have been skewed against an independent design. Quite a few fans of the Trapdoor .45-70 handload for it, keeping the loads modest. A 400 grain .458 at 1,300 fps or its lighter loading of 1,100 fps still carries the BOOM of a Joe Frazier punch. The MEATBALL EFFECT can roll a deer, something rarely if ever seen from high velocity. The Remington Rolling Block is simpler & stronger. One of Les Baer’s workers, John Miller, had made his own Rolling Block in .45-70. Presume by “NY State Rolling Blocks” you refer to Remington factory in Illion, New York. David Bradshaw
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de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 27, 2017 12:15:22 GMT -5
It appears to be one of the "New York Contract" rfles purchased for the NY National Guard, as described in George Layman's book on page 53. $950.00 is a bit steep for me, but since I walked away after the seller initially was not inclined to come down any, I'll revisit it in a bit to give him another chance.
I'd like to get a nice original Rolling Block..... perhaps after my 28" barreled Ruger Lyman sells. Sure would like to get the big Ruger setup with a good tang sight in place of the safety (as well as a front sight which it does not now have-it's only set up with blocks to mount the Lyman Centennial scope that was part of the package as they made them).
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awp101
.401 Bobcat
TANSTAAFL
Posts: 2,645
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Post by awp101 on Nov 27, 2017 14:03:38 GMT -5
Sure would like to get the big Ruger setup with a good tang sight in place of the safety I didn't know there was an option to do that on a No1. Is it all No1's or just certain ones?
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de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 28, 2017 1:27:30 GMT -5
I saw a custom Ruger No. 1 in a photo spread a while back. The 'smith had removed the Ruger safety, and affixed a nice tang sight where the safety button had been. I don't know if the sight base simply covered the opening left by the removal of the safety button or if he created a base that covered the opening and served as a mounting point for the tang sight. It was very nicely done, I'm just blank at this moment on the craftsman's name. He also mounted a corresponding globe front sight on the new longer barrel. The end result was a Ruger No.1 in the appearance of a classic long range target single shot from the old days.
D.
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dhd
.327 Meteor
Posts: 941
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Post by dhd on Nov 28, 2017 1:42:54 GMT -5
I've seen the rifle you describe on the web somewhere. In my first post, that was the rifle I was referring to when I mentioned the expense of converting a No1 to a BPCR style target rifle. I seem to remember that the tang was added on to quite a bit.
Regardless it was very nicely done. The craftsmen we have today are fantastic. John King, Glenn Fewless and a few others are at the top of their game.
Another beautiful rifle to me is an 1877 Sharps done in a Creedmoor style. That said, a 10 pound rifle in 45-2.4" using a 550 grain PP bullet would be a hand full.
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de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 28, 2017 1:43:45 GMT -5
Mr. Bradshaw, and any others with experience with "originals", what is your position on the subject of "cleaning up" an old rifle? I did get my hands on the 50-70 Rolling Block today. Refinishing is not a goal, but would removal of an honest accumulation of dirt/grime be a bad thing? I'll post pics soon for reference, probably in a new thread on the subject of how/what to do with this rifle. D.
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Post by bradshaw on Nov 29, 2017 20:12:28 GMT -5
Mr. Bradshaw, and any others with experience with "originals", what is your position on the subject of "cleaning up" an old rifle? I did get my hands on the 50-70 Rolling Block today. Refinishing is not a goal, but would removal of an honest accumulation of dirt/grime be a bad thing? I'll post pics soon for reference, probably in a new thread on the subject of how/what to do with this rifle. D. ***** Around 1972 or so my late shooting partner, Ed Verge, traded an early K-22 for a Sharps made in Hartford. The Sharps had been handed down in the family from an ancestor who worked at the Sharps factory. The rifle was a carbine, packed in cosmoline---an orange, waxy grease----and wrapped in oil cloth. Plain walnut, mint case hardening and blue, obviously unfired. As I recall, Verge sold it to a fellow in Michigan for 600 skins. Don’t remember model or caliber, just that the workmanship was just what you’d expect from Gun Alley in those days. Breathtaking precision carved on iron machines powered by great cowhide belts churning from the ceiling. To clean your .50-70 Remington Rolling Block, consider a command decision whether to pull the stock. If you’re not up to it, don’t. Metal generally can be cleaned with oil applied to 0000 steel wool. Nothing coarser: 000 definitely will scratch. Oil or Kroil, on a cloth of cotton flannel should precede oiled 0000 wool. Oil should not touch wood. Before rolling up your sleeves, it wouldn’t hurt to call the curator at the Buffalo Bill Museum. Specifically ask for command guidance on technique. If 0000 steel wool is out, so be it. David Bradshaw
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de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 30, 2017 16:40:51 GMT -5
Thank you for the input. Pictures of the rifle are in the Gallery.
D.
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de1216
.30 Stingray
Posts: 303
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Post by de1216 on Nov 30, 2017 16:51:49 GMT -5
My long running interest/fascination with old singles is working me hard. I have been long tormented by the forced sale of an 1878 Sharps Borchardt years ago when my job of several decades ended with the closure of the plant I worked and (somewhat) grew up in. The rifle had been altered by shortening of the fore end but was in good shape for a rifle of it's vintage. Sold so many guns, books, everything to stay in my house. Now, right after I get this Rolling Block, I found another Rolling Block that was rebuilt by Lee Shaver, and it's calling my name.........
"Dear Santa...."
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