1867 Rolling Block VS 1874 Sharps VS 1885 highwall

[justin22885]

im actually going to be making one of these rifles from scratch, less the barrel, ill be casting the receiver and parts from modern steel alloys, hardening, maybe case hardening the frames, rust blueing the remington components.. you get the idea..

anyway, my options are the ones stated in the title, i want something simple, strong, and accurate, currently im leaning towards the 1867 rolling block for its sheer simplicity.. theres not much to break in a rolling block rifle with only about 3 moving parts and a rather compact action... but is there something to the other two models that would make them in some way a better option than the rolling block?... it takes a fraction of a second longer to reload the rolling block without an ejector, having to pull the round out, but that doesnt matter

from what i can tell, all designs can hold a hell of a lot of pressure, so i dont think action strength is an issue, being single shots i would assume one is as accurate as another, and either one will most likely receive a tang sight

so what are your opinions on these three?

[Shotgun Franklin]

The extractor on my RBs was long enough that the case pretty much fell out if I didn't open the action slowly. When you figure that the Remington was in production from the end of The War of Northern Aggression until the early part of WWI, there must have been something about the gun that kept it on the market.

[Herbert]

You sound lick you have the skills so why not try somthing difrent,a Frank Wessons No1 long range,Remiton Hepburn,or a host of other good single shot actions it would mack it a more satisfing project

[justin22885]

well, it depends on what i can actually find blueprints for, the only single shots i can find factory blueprints for is the RB, the highwall, and the 74 sharps... and the RB i could make from a billet with tools i already have so it would be cheap and rather simple

[Joe Lansing]

     I once saw several RB's on a rack in a gun store (about 45 years ago). What caught my eye was they had 50-70 actions with single digit '03 Springfield barrels installed and chambered for 30-06. When I inquired about them, I was told that they were originally made up and sold by Francis Bannerman's. The RB is indeed quite an action.

                                                           J.L.

[Shotgun Franklin]

The RB was used as the test gun when the Military was developing the .30-03 and refining the .30-06, this was the #5 Smokeless Action if I remember correctly. The power of cartridges used in the RB was mostly restricted by the length of case that would clear the block when it was opened.

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings Fellow Netizens-
From what I have read, the limits of the Rolling Block Action are often due to the original materials used in the action, the BreechBlock, Hammer and pins. DeHaas, in one of his his  single shot books advises against the use of the Rem RB for modern center-fire smokeless cartridges, here  I offer a link to this very discussion:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=504034

Apparently various learned heads feel that there are issues even when using modern high-strength materials.
It seems that Bannerman was more interested in turning a fast buck than in safety issues.

Monsieur  justin22885,  I would suggest that you acquire and devour the following books:

A Potpourri of Single Shot Rifles and Actions
-- by Frank DeHaas

Mr. Single Shot's Book of Rifle Plans
by Frank and Mark de Haas

Mr. Single Shot's Gunsmithing Idea Book
-- by Frank DeHaas

Single Shot Rifles and Actions
-- by Frank DeHaas

The bible of single shots
as written by Frank DeHaas.

More Single Shot Rifles and Actions
-- by Frank DeHaas

all of which can be purchased here:
http://www.gunbooksales.com/sshot.htm

When you have consumed these wonderful tomes, you will be mentally equipped to construct a variety of increasingly complex single shot projects, from a Chikoppee Falling Block in .22 LR to a large bore single shot rifle equal to the great rifles of the turn of the century. DeHaas covers everything including materials, pressure, & etc. and will offer you an incredible edcuation in the realm of single shot rifles, and allows us to leverage up from his experience and experiments.

yhs
prof marvel

[drcook]

I am sure glad Prof Marvel chimed in here. (please read all the way to the bottom as I put some links
there for blue prints and a couple sources for double set trigger assemblies if you decide on a sharps) 

Unless you are going to use strictly blackpowder Build a Sharps or a Highwall or a Wesson nbr 1 as folks
above all recommened or a Borchardt (see the link from BACO below, has a Borchard drawing including
the Zischang double set triggers)

The rolling block action should never be used for
modern smokeless. Due to the design of the action, if there is a catastrophic failure, the breechblock
can be blown through your eye.

Below are links to rolling block failures. One is the original source where I stole pictures from. Granted
the guy that got killed did it to himself, BUT the pictures let you see exactly where the weak points
of a roller are.

Additionally, the geometry of the hammer arc where it locks into the breechblock arc has to be just
correct otherwise a roller will auto eject the case into your face. Pedersoli had a problem for a while
and they eventually returned to the original design. Over on the BPCR boards, there were discussions
about rollers having the bearing surfaces worn smooth and being oiled and then auto ejecting.

With that said, a roller makes a neat black powder rifle.

http://www.pbase.com/halp/danerollblock

http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1256445760/4#4

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/RBfailure.html


Blueprints:

http://www.assra.com/Archivelibrary.htm

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,148.html

Trigger assemblies:

jeff's also has wood for sharps

http://www.jeffsoutfitters.com/store.aspx?panel=3&productid=378&categoryid=1

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=5413

in the white sharps action:

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=14514


Best,

Dave