Danish Remington Rolling Block Range Report

[Seamus]

Last weekend I obtained a M1867 Danish Rolling Block in 11.7x51R caliber at the Big Reno Gun Show.  I had a .45-70 case with me & it inserted fully into the chamber telling me this one was reamed out years ago to .45-70 length by the importer so that cinched the deal.  This is a long rifle very similar in appearance to the .43 Spanish B.D. Mike commented on recently.  The Danish rifles were originally rimfires and the block still has the hole where the firing pin was located for rimfire ammo.  It can be convereted back to rimfire by simply moving the firing pin back to the lower position.   This example was built under a Remington license by the Danish State Arsenal at Copenhagen in 1882.  Chester A. Arthur was in the White House when this rifle was manufactured.  How would it work 131 years later?

I had some light loads of 2F Goex & wonder wad under a .459 hollow base 405g cartridges on hand that I use in my 1873 Trapdoor Carbine.  They worked great.  At 50 yards I had to aim about a foot low to be on target.  At 100 yards it was pumpkin on a post and my best 5 round group was just over an inch with two holes touching in the bull and 3 others in a solid string just below that.  That is about as well as I can do with any rifle using iron sights.  The cases all emerged in good shape unlike what some have experienced using this brass in Danish RBs.  Recoil was negligible with this heavy piece of iron. 

I will try to take & post some pix.  Overall I am very happy with this new/old Roller.  There is nothing like bringing back to life these big bore black powder rifles & carbines, 

Seamus

[Dick Dastardly]

Good on you Seamus,

There is heritage value in holding those old guns.  Goes well with our 1880s cowboy duds.  And, yes, they can shoot very well.  11.7mm ÷ 25.4mm/inch = .460".  There are Big Lube bullets that drop at that size.

What does your bore slug at?

DD-MDA

[Seamus]

DD,

I did not slug the bore & that was a concern given that I read that these bores can well exceed .460.  But the hollow based .459's really grabbed the rifling.  I had really hoped to find an RB carbine but at this point I couldn't be happier with this gun.

Seamus

[Oregon Bill]

Old thread, but happy to find it as there is a 67/96 heading my way soon.