Single-Shot Semi-Auto!

[Matt304]

OK, so I have no idea what you would actually call the thing. Single-shot auto eject or single-shot semi-auto, either way, the thing looked odd enough to post about.

A fellow showed me this old Winchester rifle he had re-finished. It has an auto bolt, I believe bottom ejection, and is a single shot 22LR. In my opinion, the most worthless design I have ever seen.

Does anyone know what this gun was, or what the point of this gun was?

 

[MMCSRET]

It may have been Winchester Model 55 made in the 50's or early 60's. nice rifles and highly collectible in some circles.

 

[Vaarok]

Seconded on very collectable. The technical term is Halb-Automatiscche, or half-automatic, a design style originating in Austria in the early part of the century and most commonly seen in target rifles.

 

[PTK]

I love the design of firing, ejecting, and locking open for the next round. Not too common though.

 

[Gator]

I have an old H&R like that. It is actually a lot of fun!

 

[paintballdude902]

i would like a target get riffle like that maybe a .45-70 or sumthin

 

[Matt304]

I just thought that if it was intended for target, a bolt action would be the way to go. He thought it was pretty goofy himself. I guess it would require a little less effort to load with the bolt which locks open after the shot.

And yep, a Winchester 55 rings a bell. Good call.

 

[Speedo66]

"Firing, ejecting, and locking open for the next round."

Am I missing something, or isn't that what any semi-auto will do when fed one bullet at a time?

Will those be any more accurate, by design, than any other semi-auto?

 

[jrfoxx]

Will those be any more accurate, by design, than any other semi-auto?

My thought also. Would adding a mag tube or magazine, and the couple extra componants to feed ammo really change the accuracy, since it seems like everything else is the same as a semi auto already? if it would be less accurate adding that, then wouldnt this also them be less accurate than a break open or bolt single shot, since it is almost the same as a semi? Seems like you would be getting the downsides of the lesser accuracy and more moving parts of a sem, with little to none of the increase in accuracy or simplicity of typical single shots.

Seems like an answerto a question no one asked (unless you are an engineer, then there was no question, just the chance to overly complicate something , which is like crack to engineers )

^^
I can say that, as my dad and several other relatives were engineers, and I work with engineers regularly. Any honest one will admit that they dont usually know why they design/.build like they do, but it's just a compulsion they cannot resist.

 

[Jim Watson]

Like most things, it is something they thought would SELL.
Must have worked, they made about 45,000 of them.