Break barrel versus falling block single shots

[northwoodneil]

I'm a falling block guy except for my shotguns. Hey!! Why didn't they ever make a falling block shotgun? (I know how firearms go. Somebody will prove that last statement wrong shortly I would guess )

[northwoodneil]

Here I'll do it to myself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJafFD28SJo

[jedman]

I do own a falling block shotgun, it is a Belgium made miniature Comblain action 410 it is from the 1880’s
I also have several rolling block shotguns including a 1880’s Whitney in 18 ga.  I love single shots !

jedman

[oldandslow]

It took me awhile to get to this thread and I'm going to take exception with your post Lloyd, but not cast doubts on your intelligence while doing so.  I own a couple of Ruger #1s and fine rifles they are. I also own a T/C Contender 2 and a fine rifle it is also. The Ruger is a more difficult rifle to manufacture than the Contender and comes with a better grade of wood or at least my two did. This is most of the difference in cost. Shooting off a bench with a good rest setup the accuracy with the rifles is equal with my hand loads. Both are capable of less than 1/2 minute accuracy. My Contender is actually three rifle in one and only takes a few minutes to become any one of them, something the #1 isn't capable of. It is also lighter and shorter, something to take into consideration for hunting.

I also tried out one of the early NEF Handi Rifles not too long after they appeared. I have never owned a bigger piece of junk in my life. Considering the number of people that like them I probably got a late Friday afternoon or early Monday morning made one. Whatever. The handi rifles are no where close to the class of the T/Cs and #1s. It was just a shotgun with stouter material for a receiver and a rifled barrel.

[Lloyd Smale]

wont argue with you a bit. #1s are gorgeous rifles and like you said are a step up from anything else ruger does in wood and bluing and they just dont sell enough to make them cheaply. so i do understand there price. Lately though since they officially became a limited production gun for them the prices have been jacked up even more. To the point i just cant justify another one. Im with you on the handi's and the h&rs. I just dont see the appeal other then there cheap. But even then there not much cheaper then a mossberg atr or a tc compass. Both witch will probably outshoot the falling block guns. Some claim there a good first rifle for a kid but i dont agree. I bought my grandkids each there first deer rifles. I bought them bolt action 243s. Not a big 243 fan but its mild to shoot, kills well and i didnt want to reload a bunch of different rounds or have to down load for some of them for recoil. I bought bolts because they probaly wont be a gun nut like me and it will probably be there deer rifle for the rest of there lives. They wont have to step up to a bolt gun when there old enough. There already there. I bought  a mixed match of guns. Two Mossberg atrs a ruger american and a savage axis and a mossberg 1500 that i bought used. i just remembered when i was young. My first gun was a savage single shot 20 gauge. Within 2 years i was using a pump and the single shot collected dust. What boggles my mind is some even collect them. Its INSANE what they ask for some of the low production calibers. Sorry but im not paying 500 bucks or even more for one of them. Some would call a woody pinto station wagon a collector car too. But you wont see one in my yard.

[oldandslow]

I consider the #1 to be the best looking rifle ever made. There are some pretty slick bolt actions made but they fall short of the #1 in looks IMO. Some consider the Contender to be ugly or eird looking but it appears efficient looking to me and in use it feels great.

I just sold my Axis. It was an early one and I chose it for it's weight and the accuracy reputation of Savage. The multitude of low priced competitors hadn't appeared yet. I decided after the other choices appeared I should have waited at least a year but what was done was done. The stock was miserable and I immediately  threw it in the trash can and built one that fit me like I wanted. It turned out to be accurate although not quite up to my #1s and my Contender. Despite it accuracy it had enough glitches that I never grew fond of it and hadn't shot it in several years so I finally sent it down the road. I might turn it's proceeds into another barrel for the contender if reloading supplies ever become available again.

[Flynmoose]

I  still have Contenders, Encores and Ruger #1s. Since my last post in this thread I have started an 1885 affliction.
Browning Low Wall
22 Hornet
223 Remington
Winchester Low Wall
22 LR
22 HMR
Winchester High Wall
22-250 Remington
I like a variety, what I shoot on a given day depends on my mood, I am glad I still have a choice... for now.
Bill

[gene_225]

While I have Break barrel and Rolling blocks and a falling block actions, in my opinion, the break barrel are the fastest into battery, the Rolling blocks are strongest, and the # 6 Remington .22 the most secure against inadvertent fireing.

[jedman]

I have a very large collection of single shot rifles I have tried to get at least one example in every type action made but that is unrealistic. I do have over 50 single shot rifles and if it was just for hunting and casual target shooting I could be very content with a couple of break actions. I am a lefty and none of my break actions are designed for left hand operation but they are all very easy to operate either way. I prefer rifles without cheek pieces on the stocks but I do own several with the raised cheek piece is on the left for a right hand shooter but the combs are straight and shooting them left handed is no problem.
I like them all but the simple break action is like your everyday clothes you wear.

jedman

[DEACONLLB]

I have a nice collection of the Thompson center TCR 83 Aristocrat and the TCR 87 Hunter and a large collection of barrels all the way from 22 Hornet to 45-70 and They are the ones that I hunt with the most although I do have a bolt gun or two and a number of leaver guns but my go to when hunting most of the time is the Break barrel Rifle.

Deaconllb

[BUGEYE]

It took me awhile to get to this thread and I'm going to take exception with your post Lloyd, but not cast doubts on your intelligence while doing so.  I own a couple of Ruger #1s and fine rifles they are. I also own a T/C Contender 2 and a fine rifle it is also. The Ruger is a more difficult rifle to manufacture than the Contender and comes with a better grade of wood or at least my two did. This is most of the difference in cost. Shooting off a bench with a good rest setup the accuracy with the rifles is equal with my hand loads. Both are capable of less than 1/2 minute accuracy. My Contender is actually three rifle in one and only takes a few minutes to become any one of them, something the #1 isn't capable of. It is also lighter and shorter, something to take into consideration for hunting.

I also tried out one of the early NEF Handi Rifles not too long after they appeared. I have never owned a bigger piece of junk in my life. Considering the number of people that like them I probably got a late Friday afternoon or early Monday morning made one. Whatever. The handi rifles are no where close to the class of the T/Cs and #1s. It was just a shotgun with stouter material for a receiver and a rifled barrel.

Good well thought out post.
I never would have thought that your IQ was 60 or below.