OT Rolling Block build

[adirondakjack]

Since I started the Cowboy .45 Special project almost 5 years ago, I've wanted a single shot rifle properly short chambered for the round. (Both the rifles and revolvers using it to date are chambered for the .45 Colt, which works super for CAS, but that long bullet jump makes wringing out handloads for paper punching etc a bit tough).

So I stumbled into a #5 (steel) rolling block action in good order, and after casting about a bit, have the project underway.



This little guy started life as a 7X57 rifle, built by Remington, doubtless for some low budget military somewhere. What you see is how it came to me.

It's in good order, so it's begging for a build.

Douglas is gonna make a barrel, 20" long, 1 1/8" at the receiver, 1" at the muzzle.

Lyman 17 front sight, Marbles tang peep rear.

Custom chamber reamer is on the way for cowboy .45 Special

Dave Higginbotham of Lone Star Rifles is gonna do the truing of the action, chambering, threading, and headspacing the barrel.

Finish has yet to be determined. I may blue it, or antique it, dunno yet.

I'm gonna do the wood, using military style buttstock and a schnable forearm.


Gonna be a LONG winter waiting for it to be done, do my part, then get er on paper.

[kimwcook]

That's neat. Can't wait to see the finished project. Keep us informed. Pics required.

[awp101]

Nice! I've been wanting one of those "low budget military" 7x57s for funsies but my budget seems to be even smaller than the original end users...

[adirondakjack]

Nice! I've been wanting one of those "low budget military" 7x57s for funsies but my budget seems to be even smaller than the original end users...

I hear ya. I only stumbled into it because a LGS I frequent is also an auction rat, and he bought a "bunch of junk" including this RB action the former owner obviously had plans for that never materialized.....

The reference to "low budget military" is only because while the big powers had all gone to repeating bolt guns, some countries stuck with and continued buying rollers. The post 1901 rollers all fall into that category. Toward the end, big green was knocking em out pretty cheap

[awp101]

The reference to "low budget military" is only because while the big powers had all gone to repeating bolt guns, some countries stuck with and continued buying rollers. The post 1901 rollers all fall into that category. Toward the end, big green was knocking em out pretty cheap

Yeah when you're a third world country that barely has a pot to whizz in, much less a window to throw it out of, you get what you can get that the conscripts can't break AS easily...

[win92]

Ive got one going as well!
Building it for a friend. I donated a wall hanger I had for 25 years. Egyptian .43 cal that was in pretty rough shape. Of course I get to do the metal work. So far I,ve lapped all the frame holes and breech block and hammer to the same size. Fit new pins. Bushed the breech block and turned the firing pin to .080. My barrel is ordered. it will be a 50-90 Sharps when finished 1+1/8 Full octagon at least 30 inches long. Wood has arrived from Trebone My buddy gets to tackel that part. See attached pics Manson 50-90 reamer along side a 308 reamer for size comparison.

[adirondakjack]

Nice Job, Win92

I just made a flurry of calls this morning (my plastic is still smoldering).

Got a manson reamer being made.

Ordered wood from somebody (can't remember the name)
and sights from Midway. A #17 Lyman front and Marbles peep rear.

Douglas barrel

Dave Higginbotham is doing the receiver and mating the barrel, mounting sights and tenon for the forearm...

I get to do the cosmetics, fit and finish stock, etc.

FUN stuff.

[win92]

I do all my own work normally But my expertise is with bolt actions Single shot bench rest actually. I have made 4 of my own and smithed dozens for others.Ive made more than a few hunting rifles over the years as well. But my friend here got me started with this Black Powder stuff and I'm having a HOOT . casting bullets shooting A Uberti Highwall and a Pedrosoli Sharps. And casting for some of my lever rifles of course. Not the same level of precision that we achieve with the Bench Guns but a welcome relief from from the competition side of things just blast and go, lots of Fun.

[Ben_Rumson]

I've got just about every flavor and age roller..All the ones I've shot have turned in near 1 hole groups and some actual 1 hole groups..Always 5 shots@100yds. I temporarily scope them for ammo development and never look back after I got 'er figgerd...This pick demonstrates what I'm talking about... Don't forget to do the math and subtract for bullet diameter...


No set triggers ..just backed off the trigger screw.. Bone stock stock rifle.. the muzzle diameter of this sucker only measures .709" .. Lets see...709" minus.512" leaves .0985" of meat around the grooves!! ..Always a nice lube star on the muzzle of the whippy 36" tube.. I'm amazed that there is after snaking a bullet for 36"!
WLR primer, Thrown charge 54gr IMR 4350, Single dipped room temperature Lee liquid Alox lube, Unsized Lee .515/450 bullet, WW alloy BHN 11, all bullets weighed between 426.0 to 426.9 unlubed, Quarter sheet TP lightly wadded into a ball contacting the powder with the bullet base firmly seated on it. The bullet engraves when the block closes..
Final Chrony 10 shot string result
Lo 1274
Hi 1319
Av 1298.3
Es 25
Sd 12.2
Gun:Remington Rolling Block
Circa 1873 50-70 New York State Militia Rifle
Barrel 36" long
5 lands and grooves equal width approx .512"deep
Twist 1/42"
Wt. 8lbs 12 oz
Starline 50-90 cases annealed and cut to 1.9" instead of the standard 1.75" that 50-70s cases are, so as to allow for Remington's long throating..

Lots of stuff out there about the good old roller...But here's the point Remington made about their military smokeless rifles...The Roller did not suffer from having to be replenished every 5 rounds with stripper clips, or use two to charge the SMLE..Therefore overall rate of fire was at least as fast as the bolt action. However, when expense, manufacture time ,and time to load the stripper clip before shipment were considered, the roller was faster and cheaper in use than the bolt action rifle! I've seen WWI German combat footage and Russian WWII footage where the soldiers are standing at a berm with their rifles lying on it not aiming and cranking out rounds using the left hand to operate the bolt and the right hand to pull the trigger.. This was not an uncommon technique. The roller could be aimed every shot.. The bolt action was only faster for the three or four magazines.
BTW I'm looking for some un-sanded wood for my smokeless carbine..

[adirondakjack]

Nice NYS rifle ya got there. I bought mine at an antique auction when a private "museum" liquidated. Still had the sling on it (until my son broke the sling the first night). I've not had as good luck as you, but likely that is because I didn't know at first how LONG the chamber was, and bought .50-70 brass. Might need to get some long brass and give that a whirl.


pictured the night I brought it home, along with a smoothbore Stevens Favorite .22

[Ben_Rumson]

Nice rifles AJ.. I've got a paper thin sling like that on a trapdoor..

[adirondakjack]

Thanks. the sling was just dry rotted. When I handed the riufle to my then 12 yr old, he underestimated the heft of it and his hand slid until the sling caught it, popping the dry leather. In use, the sling rings bugged me, so I delicately sliced em off so they could be put back if desired, using silver solder, and saved them and the sling. SOME DAY I intend to have a local leather wizard use the brass hardware to duplicate it.

[Ben_Rumson]

Hey Jack.. Did you notice the lettering on the sling rings?
Genuine excellent condition slings have got to be $350-450 by now, bad econamy and all!

[adirondakjack]

Pat'd 11 FEB in 1866

That is an odd way to represent the date, isn't it? During the 1980s, I went to college in Utica and lived in Frankfort, NY, a sister town next to Ilion. My oldest son was born in Ilion, in a hospital originally built by Remington so their employees would have heath care.

times have chaged a lot, but the big plant is still there, just as it was after the last rebuild (WWI era).

I went with my CAS club to do a demo at Remington's open house a couple of times (their open house is held at a gun club outside of Ilion, on lands once part of the Remington estate, and within a mile or so of the iron "pits" near the creek where they used to mine ore). and let their custom shop guys (who build new rollers) shoot my NYS rifle. One fellow commented that the only originals Remington has are behind glass in the museum, and he'd never even been allowed to touch one. I handed him the rifle and three rounds and said "Have at it". He was like a kid at Christmas.

[Ben_Rumson]

My heart swells at that beautiful gesture brother..

[Ysabel Kid]

That's neat. Can't wait to see the finished project. Keep us informed. Pics required.

+1 Please take some "progress pictures" if you can. This is going to be fun to watch!