Old school target shooting

[dave951]

My latest black powder addiction- black powder cartridge rifle. Rifle is an original 1869 rolling block. Sights are modern. Caliber 50/70



Sights by Lee Shaver-

Front globe with spirit level-


And at the first range visit to fireform brass.

 

[Dave T]

I like Rolling Blocks and I like the 50-70 cartridge so more power to you. The 50 Government was never much of a target round in the 19th Century but it was much more of a buffalo slayer than the 45-70 ever was. Surplus RBs and Trapdoors in 50-70 were available in the late 1860s and a lot of buffalo hunters outfitted on the cheep. Fine old cartridge all around. Enjoy!

Dave

 

[expat_alaska]

Very nice! It brings back memories of one I built in the mid-90's from a Remington RB #5 (smokeless action originally chambered in 7mm Mauser/7 x 57 and sold to the Uruguayan Government in 1902) re-barreled to .45-120-3-1/4" Sharps. I shot it with a Lyman 500 grain paper-patched bullet, but I used 4198 smokeless powder instead of BP. It had sights very similar to yours. I owned it for about 4-5 years and sold it to a co-worker who just "had to have it". I think I may have broken even at the sale price considering what I had into it. At the time I was really interested in single-shot target rifles of that era, but I kind of drifted away from that.

Good on you, sir!

Regards,

Jim

 

[Retreever]

I started shooting percussion revolvers about 3 years ago which eventually peeked my interested in black powder cartridges which evolved from .45 Colt to an interest in black powder cartridge rifles , specifically the 45-70 caliber long distance. I became fascinated by the different single shot technologies like the rolling block, falling block and trapdoor. Over the last year I have been able to acquire an antique 1884 Springfield Trapdoor (Mfg 1889) that is in excellent condition and is equipped with the Buffington rear sight. I also have a Remington Rolling Block (Pedersoli repro) equipped with a rear tang and from globe sight and a 1885 Winchester Highwall Falling Block (Uberti repro) also equipped with a rear tang and front globe - over the summer I have been casting my own bullets and experimenting with various black powder loads - right now I am shooting (2) cartridges - 405g bullet with 55g ffG blackpowder and 500g bullet with 70g.

Al (3) are shooting nice groups at 100 yards and I am starting to work on shooting longer distances. See attached pics of the guns.

 

[BullRunBear]

My 45-70s are an old Navy Arms Rolling Block and an H&R Buffalo Classic. Although safe to use with smokeless loads, I prefer BP rounds. I enjoy loading them, they are more accurate and consistent than smokeless loads, I love the aroma of black powder, and the recoil is easier. I find recoil with BP cartridges is more of a push on my shoulder than a slam into it. I don't mind cleaning the spent cases; it only takes a few seconds to scrub each one and set it aside to dry.

I don't feel the need for the larger 50/70. But the only reason I don't have a 38-55 is because I haven't found the right deal yet.

Jeff

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I built up a an 1873 rolling block from an old .43 Egyptian military rifle, rebarreled and chambered to 45/70. Stock is Mesquite, that was the most difficult part as Mesquite is a hard wood to work with. Its a fun rifle, something about lobbing bowling balls at things 500 yards away.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Are you shooting out to 220 yards?
I only ask, as since it's a nostalgic target rifle, I thought perhaps you would shoot it at the nostalgic distance of 40 rods....220 yards.
At least I think it's a nostalgic distance as it is mentioned a lot in Ned Robert's The Muzzle Loading Cap-Lock Rifle, as the distance that was used for those rifles. Now yours is of course not a muzzle loader, but I've wondered if when the breech loaders took over as the most popular form of target rifle, if the old style contests were still being used.

LD

 

[dave951]

Are you shooting out to 220 yards?
I only ask, as since it's a nostalgic target rifle, I thought perhaps you would shoot it at the nostalgic distance of 40 rods....220 yards.
At least I think it's a nostalgic distance as it is mentioned a lot in Ned Robert's The Muzzle Loading Cap-Lock Rifle, as the distance that was used for those rifles. Now yours is of course not a muzzle loader, but I've wondered if when the breech loaders took over as the most popular form of target rifle, if the old style contests were still being used.

LD

At this point, I'm still doing load development. Black powder cartridge reloading is nothing like modern stuff. But mainly I'm fireforming brass so if I stumble on a decent load, then so be it. I have one that looks promising.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

At this point, I'm still doing load development. Black powder cartridge reloading is nothing like modern stuff. But mainly I'm fireforming brass so if I stumble on a decent load, then so be it. I have one that looks promising.

Sounds Splendid!

I love to see old originals still working, whether it's a black powder rifle, or a WW2 Warbird!

LD

 

[woodnbow]

Sounds Splendid!

I love to see old originals still working, whether it's a black powder rifle, or a WW2 Warbird!

LD

I’m equally glad to see some of us still working!