And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Remington Rolling Block
Mine's chambered in .43 Spanish - An ex-Argentine Army gun.
You ain't kidding, just checked out their site, needed a drool bib, every firearm is something you can be proud to own, and their cartridge rifles can handle the hotter rounds like Buffalo Bore sell, like in 45-70, a 250 gr copper hollowpoint, with 3000 ft lbs of energy, not too shabby for a 20 inch trapdoor carbine. Have a TC Contender, with a carbine 45-70 barrel, the little thing kicked pretty hard, till a gunsmith machined a muzzle brake for it, still kicks but its like a .44 mag. The calvary carbine trapdoor is near 10lbs, I imagine that soaks up a lot of recoil.
I acquired a 45-70 Remington rolling block, said to be Spanish American War surplus, and 100 rounds of ammo in the late 50s. I was 12 or 13 at the time. I seem to remember it weighed 13 pounds. I was skinny (at the time) and don't remember much of a kick. Got through maybe half the ammo before it was seized by officialdom. Wish I still had it.
Always wanted a short barrel carbine in 45-70, they are making new modern versions, beautiful rifles, bit out of my price range, have to start piggy banking some extra each week for one.
No problem, love single shots, got a brace of contenders and barrels for them, they are very fast loading cause of the trigger frame break, nothing to, shoot and pop that puppy open, but for deer hunting, usually they are one shot rifles and pistols, the Contender was the first pistol I ever bought, mostly like the carbine set up, even made my own barrels using blanks from Green Mountain Rifle Barrels. After getting a factory 45-70 bbl, it was hard to find, machined other calibers, but .44 mag is my favorite deer rifle, and with a 16 inch bbl its got to be the fastest easiest carrying carbine, carved a piece of curly maple for a stock and forend, its 4lbs 1oz, easy carying.
for the longest time I wanted a Model '73 trapdoor carbine. Most of what I found/afford were cut down rifles. Now, along with a Model 94 carbine, it's sumwhurz on an ever lengthening wish list. As Pappy often said; "wish in one hand.....".
G. Custer carried a custom ordered Rolling Block in 50-70 Govt when he met up with some locals near the Greasy Grass plains. That rifle was never recovered, at least by any white man.
They aren't difficult to re-barrel into a cartridge thats more available, long as it is not a rim fire that is. .45 Colt in a 16 inch barrel is potent deer and two legged critter medicine. With that .45, in decent condition, no need to be concerned with metallurgy of an early rifle, and you re-barrel is modern alloy, that helps. The barrel tennon on that is just a stub length, the width of the breech block, they unscrew pretty well, the factory's used a good thread grease so usually no corrosion.
Do tell. Mine too. Acquired it from an estate in which I was handling the firearms sales. Here is an interesting discussion. Mine is a twin to the one the photos. (Add blockers may need to be told to go sit down)
Man, if you want a reloading challenge, 43 Spanish is it. Back around 2011, I worked the retail floor at Huntington's in Oroville, CA. I bought a 20-round box of Bertram brass because they have the correct .090 rim thickness. Even with my employee discount, they were $2 EACH. Ordered some lead bullets online and eventually loaded some ammo, and got around to shooting it. Group size at 200 yards was about five FEET. I need to make a chamber casting. I suspect free bore and bullet diameter are issues.
Here’s a good read on this: https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/thoughts-on-the-43-spanish-and-the-remington-rolling-block-rifle
You can get ammo but it’s expensive. You can get brass and reloading dies. I would say that a chamber cast and slugging the bore are mandatory. There is a chance yours is in .43 Reformado. A very small chance, as Argentina broke away from Spain 2 generations before the rifle was made.
Pedersoli in Italy makes replicas in 45-70.
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
You ain't kidding, just checked out their site, needed a drool bib, every firearm is something you can be proud to own, and their cartridge rifles can handle the hotter rounds like Buffalo Bore sell, like in 45-70, a 250 gr copper hollowpoint, with 3000 ft lbs of energy, not too shabby for a 20 inch trapdoor carbine.
DeleteHave a TC Contender, with a carbine 45-70 barrel, the little thing kicked pretty hard, till a gunsmith machined a muzzle brake for it, still kicks but its like a .44 mag. The calvary carbine trapdoor is near 10lbs, I imagine that soaks up a lot of recoil.
I acquired a 45-70 Remington rolling block, said to be Spanish American War surplus, and 100 rounds of ammo in the late 50s. I was 12 or 13 at the time. I seem to remember it weighed 13 pounds. I was skinny (at the time) and don't remember much of a kick. Got through maybe half the ammo before it was seized by officialdom. Wish I still had it.
DeleteAlways wanted a short barrel carbine in 45-70, they are making new modern versions, beautiful rifles, bit out of my price range, have to start piggy banking some extra each week for one.
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to find a used Ruger No. 1S at an affordable price, if you could live with a single shot. They've got a 22" barrel.
DeleteNo problem, love single shots, got a brace of contenders and barrels for them, they are very fast loading cause of the trigger frame break, nothing to, shoot and pop that puppy open, but for deer hunting, usually they are one shot rifles and pistols, the Contender was the first pistol I ever bought, mostly like the carbine set up, even made my own barrels using blanks from Green Mountain Rifle Barrels. After getting a factory 45-70 bbl, it was hard to find, machined other calibers, but .44 mag is my favorite deer rifle, and with a 16 inch bbl its got to be the fastest easiest carrying carbine, carved a piece of curly maple for a stock and forend, its 4lbs 1oz, easy carying.
Deletefor the longest time I wanted a Model '73 trapdoor carbine. Most of what I found/afford were cut down rifles. Now, along with a Model 94 carbine, it's sumwhurz on an ever lengthening wish list. As Pappy often said; "wish in one hand.....".
ReplyDeleteG. Custer carried a custom ordered Rolling Block in 50-70 Govt when he met up with some locals near the Greasy Grass plains. That rifle was never recovered, at least by any white man.
ReplyDeleteBayouwulf
Thats just a handsome rifle above, no matter how you slice it.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't difficult to re-barrel into a cartridge thats more available, long as it is not a rim fire that is. .45 Colt in a 16 inch barrel is potent deer and two legged critter medicine. With that .45, in decent condition, no need to be concerned with metallurgy of an early rifle, and you re-barrel is modern alloy, that helps. The barrel tennon on that is just a stub length, the width of the breech block, they unscrew pretty well, the factory's used a good thread grease so usually no corrosion.
ReplyDeleteDo tell. Mine too. Acquired it from an estate in which I was handling the firearms sales. Here is an interesting discussion. Mine is a twin to the one the photos. (Add blockers may need to be told to go sit down)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gunboards.com/threads/1879-argentine-rolling-block.106324/?nested_view=1
Man, if you want a reloading challenge, 43 Spanish is it. Back around 2011, I worked the retail floor at Huntington's in Oroville, CA. I bought a 20-round box of Bertram brass because they have the correct .090 rim thickness. Even with my employee discount, they were $2 EACH. Ordered some lead bullets online and eventually loaded some ammo, and got around to shooting it. Group size at 200 yards was about five FEET. I need to make a chamber casting. I suspect free bore and bullet diameter are issues.
that group size was volley good.
DeleteSir, I'll have you know that I highly resemble your remark.
Deletesmooth, simple
ReplyDeleteHere’s a good read on this:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/thoughts-on-the-43-spanish-and-the-remington-rolling-block-rifle
You can get ammo but it’s expensive. You can get brass and reloading dies. I would say that a chamber cast and slugging the bore are mandatory. There is a chance yours is in .43 Reformado. A very small chance, as Argentina broke away from Spain 2 generations before the rifle was made.