Why are falling-block rifles uncommon (tgt shooting, varminting)?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings. Random question for those more technically inclined than me: why are falling-block rifles so little used these days? The lack of repeatability is only a factor in hunting and fighting, one would imagine. I'd think the lock-up of a falling block would be very predictable and uniform, plus the virtues of longer barrel length in a smaller package, etc. Is there some inherent flaw in the accuracy of falling-blocks that I am ignorant of?

I'm a huge fan of my T/C Contender carbine, so have a soft-spot for single-shots. I kind of wish the T/C concept had been done on a falling block rather than break-action, as it'd make firing from the prone much easier, or reloading with less disruption of your stance, but I suppose that would have made the switch-barrel aspect more difficult.

In any case, if anyone has a good reason why varmint and benchrest guns can't be made on a falling-block, I'd find that most educational. Thanks much. -MV

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I'll make a SWAG*: Bolt actions are preferred because it is much easier to put one into a one-piece stock, which is easier to bed for best accuracy.










* - Scientific Wild A.. Guess

 

[Gordon]

The 2 piece stocks and forend hangers make the intrinsicly less accurate than bolt guns, also the workmanship is expensive . That said they were, are and always will be my favorite varmint rig, I have a Martini .22khornet, a 1878 Browning .22-250, a real Winchester Hiwall in .17Bee, and a Ruger #1 in .220Swift. The others are not in Varmint calibers .

 

[Coltdriver]

I have a Ruger #3 that is in .223. It is only good for varmints.

As a rule you don't get a second shot at much of anything very often except perhaps squirrels and ground hogs or prarie dogs. Crows and coyotes can disappear like a proverbial "fart in the wind".

Gordons comment about them being intrinsicly less accurate is interesting and I confess to only having owned this #3 for a few weeks. Next week a scope goes on it.

I pulled the fore arm and it looks easier to float the barrel than on a stocked weapon.

This #3 and a #1 which is on the way were purchased specifically so that I could dial in a hand load for each one. It may be the case that a hand load created for each one is the way to get the most accurate ammo for one.

I will let you know if I have any luck. The falling block was one of John Brownings early patents. He sold it to Winchester. Browning improved the 1885 Winchester a bit and Ruger copied that as near as I can tell.

 

[SDC]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with them accuracy-wise, but they're single-shots, so if you give most people a choice, they're going to choose a bolt-action over a falling-block. Since most people will choose that way, the gun companies respond by making more bolt actions than falling-blocks.

 

[fallingblock]

Christian Sharps, NOT J.M. Browning....

patented the original falling block, in 1848.

Browning copied the action and put the hammer in the center, although the Sharps Rifle Co. had already put a fine hammerless single shot, the Borchardt, on the market in early 1878.

Borchardt's patent pre-dates Brownings by two years, and some of us falling block nuts (hey, it's my thing ) consider the Borchardt to be superior to the Browning .

And not to nit-pick, but a Martini isn't a 'falling-block' but rather a 'hinge block' or 'pivoted block'.

And there oughta be more falling blocks, there really should be.

 

[Gordon]

During the later 70's I dabbled in the Benchrest game, there you find out what is accurate (aluminum bedded cylindrical bolts in fiberglass stocks with short moderately fat small primer cases and light, fast triggers), my SS never stood a chance. They did in off hand competiitions like metalic shiloette, and Schutzen. Varmint guns need to be accurate to hit 2" wide targets at 300 yards, most of the SS I mentioned can do it on a good day. They all have target scopes over 10x. The SS trigger is hard to get good. My original Hi walll has a double set trigger at 8oz or so, but 'lock time' is slower than a bolt gun. Bottomline;benchrest guns make good varminters,SS don't make good benchrest guns! But falling blocks are beautiful !

 

[Crimper-D]

Got SIX 'Hinged Block' .22's

Martini actions... Fallingblock's right, a Martini action is properly a hinged block action as the block pivots on a rear mounted pin rather than dropping down entirely at the stroke of the cocking lever. I have 3 BSA's, 2 Vickers and a Greener = all Martini's!
Accurate? Oh My YES! - I've shot Rimfire Benchrest with my BSA MkII and one of my Vickers 'Empire' models... I may not equal the X counts of the custom rimfire boltguns... But these old singleshots come close enough to make the boltgunners decidedly nervous.
Now the bench guns are too heavy to take out hunting, but my little .22Hornet Martini Cadet will nail groundsquirrels at 100+ Yds. till I run out of ammo
For field hunting, the little Greener Rook Rifle was designed specifically for "Jumpshooting' rabbits and foxes... uses a tang sight.

2 piece stocks 'unstable'??? = Try a VICKERS Martini! They have singlepiece stocks and to carry rigidity even further, have a single unit barrel/receiver = one piece with the entire action screwed into the bottom of the receiver.

Gotta LOVE these things

 

[fallingblock]

You'd have had fun, Crimper-D....

In New Zealand a few years ago, before the market for Martinis went nuts.

I bought a BSA 12/15 club rifle at Alan Millar's gunshop in Dunedin for
NZ$ 100.

At that time the exchange rate was about NZ1 = US$.48.

I shortened the nice bull barrel to 20" and threaded it for a Parker Hale silencer and shot countless rabbits with it. Just a 'click' when it fired .

The next Martini was an old Martini/Enfield .303 for N.Z. $80.

It had been 'sporterized', but the 1881 Enfield action was good and tight and the bore was shiny....the perfect goat slayer.

Then, what should come my way but a Greener G.P. 12 gauge ?

It was as new, had come out from Britain with a sheep farmer.

The G.P. cost NZ$400., my most expensive Martini to date.

All of these Martinis were reliably accurate, especially the little club rifle.
Even the G.P. would put five slugs into a 3" circle at 50 yards.

You're absolutely right about "gotta love these things!"

Bolt actions may indeed have the capability for more technical accuracy....

But single shots will do anything in the field that a bolt will, perhaps a bit slower, but that is part of the 'single shot mystique'.