Long Distance Single Shot Rifle

[redneck2]

I have a Browning Creedmoor in .45-90. With the Badger barrel, it can be loaded up to .458 Win Mag levels safely. That's more fun than I want in a single shot rifle.

 

[Rexster]

With all the Ruger/Gibbs-Farquharson love out there, maybe we could start our own get-togethers that specifically accommodate such rifles? It is difficult for us to travel these days, with my elderly father-in-law living with us, but after the sad but inevitable happens, someday, I plan to travel MUCH. The Quigley Shoot is one planned destination.

 

[Jim Watson]

The Ruger No 1 .45-70 is a great LOOKING little rifle. Emphasis on little. It weighs about 7.5 lbs which is a great hindrance to "heating it up" for casual shooting. For a shot or two fired offhand at game, it is fine; but it will beat you up to shoot any number of full or "heated up" loads from a solid position on a bench or prone.
At least mine did, which is why I sold it to a hunter and got a 10 lb Highwall .38-55 to shoot. And then an 11 lb .40-65 to knock down the rams the .38 was ringing.

 

[Rexster]

One reason the .45-70 Ruger Number Ones are so light is that the barrel is quite thin in profile, and short. I have seen them re-barreled with something that would look at home on a Creedmoor rifle from the 19th Century. One recent one was chambered in .50-70.

Ruger built some with heavier and longer barrels, themselves. This one is at a local dealer; the link will disappear after it sells:

http://collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=35985

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes, I always admired that Lyman Centennial Ruger.
I would like to get a look through one their long Lyman scopes to compare with MVA and RHO; but I guess all those outfits are safe queens to be swapped around every once in a while instead of being put to good use.

 

[Maverick223]

I guess all those outfits are safe queens to be swapped around every once in a while instead of being put to good use.

Unfortunately that tends to be the case with many of these type of rifles...I like to take pretty good care of my stuff as well, but personally I like to use it. Paintings are for hanging on the wall...rifles are for taking off the wall and shootin' stuff.

 

[Rexster]

I would shoot that Lyman Centennial Ruger! Really, though, its barrel may be a little light for competitive BPCR. I have seen some local guys shooting BPCR near Columbus, Texas. As many shots as are fired in competitive BPCR, it takes much mass to damp the cumulative recoil. As far as I know, however, those guys shooting near Columbus must use external-hammer rifles to compete.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Even though mine is just a baby simply manipulating the action on this rolling block makes me want to own it's larger brother preferably in 444

with all the pics in this thread someone has to represent the rolling block

 

[alemonkey]

That's pretty....I've tossed around the idea of a Schutzen Rolling Block, just for something different. Never mind that I don't shoot Schutzen.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm leaning towards an 1885 High Wall but would easily go for a Sharps if it weren't for the movies and Quigley causing the prices on the 1874 Sharps to skyrocket.

 

[Norrick]

Slightly related, is it unheard of to scope these single shots? I like the idea except for the iron sights isn't really floating my boat. My question is specifically for the 1885 High Walls.

 

[S. Hill]

Slightly related, is it unheard of to scope these single shots? I like the idea except for the iron sights isn't really floating my boat. My question is specifically for the 1885 High Walls.

There are reproduction scopes for the BPCR. Long tubes with external windage and elevation adjustments. Look VERY cool IMO. I'll see about finding and posting a link.

 

[S. Hill]

Here is a link to the Shooting Times article.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/optics/rho_0505/

 

[S. Hill]

Here's another source.

http://winchestersutler.com/BCA_Scope.html

 

[S. Hill]

And here is the last one I've tracked down. From here on, you are on your own.

http://www.montanavintagearms.com/mva_scope.html

 

[Norrick]

my goodness... do they even have optical elements inside or were they just long tubes with a lens on each side?

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

"This one'll shoot a might further." .....................................................

[/IMG]

 

[hiawatha]

I had a .45-70 rolling block replica, but it had a relatively short barrel. I never shot it at 1000 yards, or really over 300. But I also had an 1871 Mauser 11mm single-shot (not a 71/84). Again, I never shot it at 1000 yards -- never was on a range that long. But I could hit a target at 700 with it, and a better shooter than I was could probably have scored pretty well with it. Don't know if it would be legal in a match, though.

 

[S. Hill]

my goodness... do they even have optical elements inside or were they just long tubes with a lens on each side?

I've never seen a schematic of one of the old style rifle scopes. They have the cross hairs, and enough glass inside to magnify and erect the image.... beyond that, couldn't tell ya. They sure look cool on a vintage rifle, though.

 

[Maverick223]

Whilst the Leatherwood Hi-Lux Malcolm style scope has gotten decent reviews, the guys shooting in BPCR with optics seem to all use either RHO or MVA. I would probably stick to one of those if I were to buy one (even then, don't expect it to be too bright...those are mighty small tubes).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I really wouldn't want to put a scope on an old style rifle even though they are replicas of what was available at the time. I would much rather a tang site over a scope.

 

[alemonkey]

I've seen both the MVA and Leatherwood scopes and they're both good quality, for target shooting at least. The MFA has much better quality mounts. I own a Leatherwood that's going on a project gun.

 

[Pokyman]

Regarding the original question about which old world action type would I use for 1000 yard shooting, my answer is- there really is no best action type. Everyone has their favorite, but none have proved to be the best.
Shiloh and C. Sharps both produce quality rifles that will compete with the best "old world" rifles around.
I have built custom single shot rifles on most of the actions that will qualify for NRA Creedmore matches. I have rebarreled Shiloh rifles 1874, rebarreled C. Sharps 1874, and built custom rifles around the C. Sharps 1875, Remington Rolling Block, Winchester High Wall, Stevens 44 1/2, Remington Hepburn. The number of rifles I have built numbers around 30. In my opinion, none of these actions holds a distinct advantage over the other as far as accuracy is concerned.
The shooters ability to dope wind and mirage along with load development will prove to be the deciding factor as far as hitting your target at 1000 yds.
If the decision is to go with an Italian replica, I would recommend the 1874 Sharps. They are the best of the Italian replica rifles. I would not recommend the Italian rolling block and am somewhat unimpressed with the 1885 Highwall.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for the input Pokyman, it is appreciated.

 

[Bill B.]

Browning BPCR 45/70 is hard to beat as a shooter and is strong enough for modern ammo also which is a big plus. Some of the best factory sights put on a rifle.