Rollingblock rifle

[bobsyouruncle]

I have an old no.5 Remington rolling block I would like to rebarrel in another caliber suitable for Elk. where should I be looking?

 

[arfmel]

What caliber is it currently?

 

[bobsyouruncle]

Like most no.5's 7 mm

 

[BearBiologist]

Have it checked by a gunsmith (goes w/o saying!). The 7x57 in a good rifle is adequate for elk. If you handload, it is roughly comparable to the 30-06. My wife dropped a 260 lb. wild sow with one shot at 250 yards with one shot using a 140gr Nosler Partition handload.

Otherwise, 30-06, 270, any of the medium magnums (I've taken 2 elk with a 300 Win Mag)==don't know if a rolling block is strong enough. Maybe 358 Win or 35 Whelen.

Of course, any of the old Sharps cartridges would be sufficient at lose range, although my Sharps repro (45-70) consistently hit a life-sized steel deer at 500 yards.

 

[bobsyouruncle]

In years past, 40+ I used a 338 rem mag Sako, or a Ruger no.1 in 338 Rem mag or 7 mm all with good results. I guess the 7mm rm no.1 is my all time favorite. I've been told that there are pressure concerns, I've seen a couple of no.5's that have been converted to 45/70. My first deer rifle was a rolling block in 43 Spanish

 

[bobsyouruncle]

Husquavarna rolling block

 

[jmca]

45-70 or 45-90. I just read an article last week about those old 7mm's. Chamber dimensions make them iffy of Case separation or other Pressure type issues.

 

[bobsyouruncle]

As an example, 223 55,000 chamber pressure, 45/70 28,000 chamber pressure, who would have guessed?

 

[Watchman]

45-70 or 45-90. I just read an article last week about those old 7mm's. Chamber dimensions make them iffy of Case separation or other Pressure type issues.

This.
Keep pressures low to be safe. 45-70 is a fine choice.

 

[BearBiologist]

The 45-90 was designed to be a longer range BP cartridge as opposed to the 45-70. I had a 45-90 1886 and it shot a little flatter than the 45-70.

 

[jmca]

I'm sorry, I wouldn't have guessed!
I do happen to know the approximate chamber pressures on some standard calibers.
Anyways, I have an original Rolling Block (No.1 Action) chambered in 45-100. And a Carbine (No.2 Action) in 50-45 that was rechambered for 50-70. If you really want to read that article on 7mm Rolling Blocks, help me figure out a way to get it out of a magazine to you.

 

[arfmel]

I remember reading that there’s no ballistic advantage to having a .45-90 unless you’re going to be using black powder. There’s more than enough space in the .45-70 case, using smokeless.

I’d consider having a gunsmith check the chamber dimensions and keep it as a 7mm Mauser if they’re ok, and the bore is in decent shape. The 7mm Mauser is a good game cartridge, once considered a substantial “improvement” over the .45-70 and others of that era.

Or, here’s one already fixed up, for sale:

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/custom-remington-rolling-block-45-90.306314/

 

[bobsyouruncle]

I guess this is what I really want.

 

[jmca]

Yeah, Sorry! Missed that! Yes, my RR's are BP guns! I have a reproduction Sharps in 45-70 that I shoot smokeless or black powder loads out of.