Falling block or similar action rifles

[Guest JohnGalway]

Hi folks,

 

Every so often this topic pops into my head. Possibly due to the amount of cowboy films I watched when I was young (and not so young). Single shot falling block action rifles, or even lever action rifles with magazines. Lets hear what makes and models of this type of rifle you've owned or used please I'm going to own one eventually

 

I hope that this topic will bring up some interesting posts. Last time I think I brough it up in chat but that was a good while ago, I can't remember if I brought it up in a topic or not.

 

Start it off with some real quality gun porn Winchester model 1885 High Wall in 30-06 Springfield (if memory serves me right).

 

 

Not quite got the John Wayne loop on it but hey, it's a start

 

Let's see them if you got them or hear about it if not

 

All the best,

 

John

[FJager 0]

Hi John, I had a Winchester .30/30 a number of years ago and to be honest it wasn't that well finished, Marlin are the way to go in my opinion, they do some model lever guns with a pistol grip, they are a great looking outfit.

[SportingShooter 0]

Many a time I have shot Rabbits in Mid Wales with a Martini Action .22LR. This is a great little gun, with a proper peep sight and is devastating to Rabbits, as well as others, at sensible distances with the open sights.

I have also shot a Martini Action, Greener GP many times in 12 bore but thats besides the point.

 

Regards

SS

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I have also shot a Martini Action, Greener GP many times in 12 bore but thats besides the point.

 

 

Greener Martini is Never 'beside Any point', mate! God knows what happened to the photo's I had of my one - Yeah; These were Real " Photo's ". Not JPG's. That long ago - but I had one. What a f*cking tool!

 

Old mate of mine, who just so happened to be tangled up in the aquisition of my Greener, had in his posession - Post Ban (uk Amnesty!) a rifle, of indeterminate calibre. That's to say, I don't remember what the f*ck it was. But he reckoned this thing dated from about the time of " Sharpes Rifles " and it bore .....? Yeppers! A Martini action by none other than W.W. bloody Greener!

 

Anyway, yes: I Am on the second part of my Jameson ration. I'm also in a particularly garralous frame of mind and shall shortly have another Guinness, quite possibly run riot somewhere in cyber space. Then pass out with Orange Dog clutched firmly and lovingly to my chest

 

John; What's a " Falling Block " action, mate? In fact, what's the attraction of the action? Any connection to the angle of the dangle being equel to the heat of the meat when the urge is constant? (Einstiens Theory of the Lob).

 

Yes!

[kiwi 4]

owned a number of winchesters, 30/30 and 44mag still own a marlin 30/30 thats been chopped to fit on the quad.

owned a ruger no 1 in 22.250 awesome rifle but heavy and had a ruger no3 in 223.

also had for many years a rossi 357 with the half mag...copy of a 92 winchester.

also my uncle has had a 22mag winchester for years...good rifle.

had a browning .22 lever action too

[charadam 0]

I shoot my 577/450 Martini-Henry (MKIV) occasionally.

 

Great fun and a very strong action and surprisingly rapid loader.

 

I have also fired the Sharps repros which are agricultural by comparison.

 

Previously owned a Ruger No1 in .308 Win and it was a superb shooter off the bench. I was never totally comfortable with it in the field, I think because of its relatively short overall length, (but with a "full length" 26" barrel) I never came to terms with its balance.

 

The Ruger was a joy to reload for and very rewarding in terms of precision.

 

It did however get heavy towards the end of the day, weighing as it did over 10 1/2 lbs with scope & mounts.

[Guest JohnGalway]

John; What's a " Falling Block " action, mate? In fact, what's the attraction of the action? Any connection to the angle of the dangle being equel to the heat of the meat when the urge is constant? (Einstiens Theory of the Lob).

 

Yes!

 

Falling block action, according to Wikipedia. It's out of a different era for me, that's the attraction, it's also different. Who hasn't shot a bolt action or semi automatic firearm at this stage. Not too many people who've been shooting for any length of time. Also I think it would heighten the senses you need to use, single shot... Do it right the first time, every time. Which is the way it always should be but we live int he real world so...

 

I love the look of them and the way they work. I love the fact it's in a way a bit of regression therepy combined with my favourite hobby, in that it's not a futuristic gizmo with this gadget and that widget, it's simple and hopefully effective. This is the one and only type of rifle I'd actually consider getting off my arse and looking for deer permission so I could own one. Wouldn't care if it never shot a deer.

 

Some things are just worth having because they're beautiful. (Not necessarily the one I put up the photo of..).

[Guest JohnGalway]

Have we any photos folks? I'll do some more reading myself and come up with some material soon, busy as hell at the moment but I don't intend letting this topic settle for very long

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

You need to use, single shot... Do it right the first time, every time. Which is the way it always should be but we live in the real world so...

 

 

I think I live in a real world, mate? Never did want anything beyond a single shot rifle myself. Only mine's a Hammer Action, as far as I know?

 

 

Detail Of 'The Beast'

[comanche 3,076]

I have also shot a Martini Action, Greener GP many times in 12 bore but thats besides the point.

 

 

tool!

 

Old mate of mine, who just so happened to be tangled up in the aquisition of my Greener, had in his posession - Post Ban (uk Amnesty!) a rifle, of indeterminate calibre. That's to say, I don't remember what the f*ck it was. But he reckoned this thing dated from about the time of " Sharpes Rifles " and it bore .....? Yeppers! A Martini action by none other than W.W. bloody Greener!

 

Yes!

Yep I know where one hangs on a wall."Oh look you have a Greener Gp ",says I smugly(also thinking meself clever because the owners surname is actually Greener) "No .It's a Henry rifle".I wanted it then and still do even if it is (hopefully :whistling:de-activated) On the Shot-gun subject .A chap used to insist on turning up at the fox-drives with his GP even though he had an over n under at home.Drove the Keeper nuts!"Suppose he misses,Suppose two foxes come through together",he would secretly rant. Well ,Mr Awkward must've heard him because one day he turned up with an old side- b -side.Complete with hammers and a bag of black-powder cartridges.!

[SportingShooter 0]

Yep I know where one hangs on a wall."Oh look you have a Greener Gp ",says I smugly(also thinking meself clever because the owners surname is actually Greener) "No .It's a Henry rifle".I wanted it then and still do even if it is (hopefully :whistling:de-activated) On the Shot-gun subject .A chap used to insist on turning up at the fox-drives with his GP even though he had an over n under at home.Drove the Keeper nuts!"Suppose he misses,Suppose two foxes come through together",he would secretly rant. Well ,Mr Awkward must've heard him because one day he turned up with an old side- b -side.Complete with hammers and a bag of black-powder cartridges.!

My head keeper gets very annoyed every year on our fox drives, Two of our guns turn up with 20 bores, He rants and raves, "20 bores are for Ladies, they wont kill!", "they only wound, no good, no good".

Problem is, the 20 bore guys drop more than the others put together:laugh:

 

Back on subject, the thing of shooting an animal with a rifle when it is moving is accepted on the continent, what do we think, the single shot seems to be a good weapon, though not ideal, for this job as it can be swung more like a shotgun when unscoped.

Just a thought?

 

SS

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I'd Never dream of 'swinging' a rifle! I was explaining my thoughts on this to the Gard, just before he gave my application the thumbs up to the Super. If a man has a semi auto five shot rifle, he's one day likely to succumb to just that temptation.

 

Fox, going hell for leather down a hedge line? No way! I wait for the bugger to hesitate. Then I look at what's behind him at that moment. I'd sooner he f*cked off unscathed due to my 'dithering' than let loose with a serise of rapid shots while he ran.

 

Some men may claim their mind can operate on the levels of watching the quarry. Analysing the backdrop. Working the bolt. Keeping on target. Controlling their heart rate and god knows what else, all at once and thus never risk a ghastly mistake? Rather them than me.

 

I've only Ever had single shot guns and only ever killed stone dead or else missed completely with them.

 

What next? 'Machine Guns' ?!

[SportingShooter 0]

I personally wouldnt feel comfortable shooting a moving target with a rifle. I was just wandering why it is accepted so readily on the continent and not here. The British Sportsman attitude perhaps, Or Irish as the case may be.

 

I have done it many a time with a shotgun, foxes running through the wood or hedgerows.

 

The Wild Boar shooters in France, use this method in most cases I seem to recall.

 

Regards

SS

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Most Continentals are f*cking lunatics around firearms. Period.