Any Remington Rolling Block experts on board?

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I picked up a military Roller at a gun show in Louisville this weekend, and I'd appreciate any info or solid steers towards detailed info.

I'd like to figure out what country bought the rifle.

It appears to be chambered in .43 Spanish.

It has Remington's three line address and patent info on the tang. Last patent date is March 16th 1874

It has a "B" stamped on the left side of the barrel near the receiver.

It does not have the Argentine octagon barrel section near the breech

And here is the kicker. The rear sight is a typical military, step adjustable/long ranger slider type sight, BUT instead of a "V" notch, open rear sight blade, it has an aperture rear sight.

Not a very user friendly arrangement. With that aperture about a foot forward of your eyeball, it is not fun to use.

Any ideas?

[44caliberkid]

I have a 43 Spanish Roller that's been sitting in the back of the closet, waiting to go to a gunsmith for a rebarrel to 45-90.  Maybe after I build my new garage next summer.

[Pony Racer]

I have an Argentine 1879 rolling block musket in 43 spanish.

It is awesome - nice bore and shoots a flatter trajectory than I expected

Once you get used to reloading 43 spanish it is really no harder than any necked cartridge ammo.

I can look up my load for you. I do know I use 4.3cc of 2F with a wad cookie between the powder and bullet. Just can not remember bullet weight - it is the bullet from Buffalo Arms.

PR

[Ranch 13]

You'll want to do a chamber cast just to make sure of what you have. There are some dutch beaumont rollers out there that is nothing more than the 43 egyptian. Dies for that one are a pain, but the good news is you can make brass from starline 50-90.
If it turns out to be the 43 spanish, and not the reformado, it's about the same deal as the 44-77. Use a .429 patched bullet at 1.1 inches long backed up by a thin felt wad and a fiber wad over the top of75- 80 grs of KIK 1.5. Lee makes the dies so that's not a big problem , in a pinch you can trim and fireform Norma basic 45 brass. Won't be exactly the right head diameter, but with blackpowder loads not much of a problem.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I probably wasn't clear in my original post, but what I'm trying to determine is which country bought this Roller.

I thought the aperture rear sight might be specific to an order by one nation. but "The Military Remington Rolling Block Rifle" - Third Edition - by George Layman   has provided the disappointing answer to that question. The aperture sight was sold to many countries.

The aperture gives a poor sight picture. I think I have an Argentine Roller rear sight in the parts box that I may swap in.

To everyone else, I know this rifle is chambered in .43 Spanish (not reformado).

I've owned .43 Spanish Rollers before and I have dummy cartridges on hand to try. The .43 Spanish chambers perfectly and the bore measures out at about .437 with calipers, obviously too small for .454 Reformado rounds. And with the 1874 patent dates reformado was unlikely anyway.

I plan to slug the bore in the next couple of days. If it slugs out at .446" like some .44 Spanish bores I've owned, I'll be able to load it as a .44-77.

Thanks for all the replies and info.

[Ranch 13]

The dates on a roller action don't mean a whole lot, as can be exampled by the Scandanavian conversion of 72's to handle the 8mm Danish smokeless round.
Have to keep in mind the roller was the AK simple to make and maintain, and no big trick for an armorer to recondition.
The sight on your rifle is the standard Remington sight.
It is entirely possible that your rifle never left the US. They kept a full selection of military rifles ready at the factory, and were listed in their catalog as available for 19$ with the bayonet. You'ld need to locate and identify the proof mark of a foreign governement, then you'ld know for sure.
I'ld still recommend a chamber cast, as you can't be sure what someone may have accomplished with a chamber reamer or throater or .....

[Qball]

You have an exelent Rolling Block expert on this site.
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/rb.html

And here.
http://rollingblockparts.com/

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Thanks guys. I slugged my bore at .439. And the chamber is standard .43 Spanish, which is a relief.

The last nominally .43 Spanish Roller I bought, a beautiful Argentine model, had a .446 bore and the long 2.5" chamber, which meant I had to make cases out of basic brass...working up a good load was a nightmare.

I'm expecting this gun to be easier. I cast up a batch of bullets today. Need to lube/size them, and then I'll get to loading!

[Ranch 13]

You need some 1.5 KIK to make that thing sit up and run like it should.
Sounds like your other rifle was a 44-90 under another name.... and that's why chamber casts are well worth the time if you don't know the rifles entire history.

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Yup. That's how I loaded it. Kicked like a bugger.

I'll be using 2fg Goex Express in this Roller