Gunsmithing Rolling block project

[DieselTuun]

I have been getting stir crazy and decided I wanted to do a true trapper rolling block. I bought a remington swedish pattern that has a shot out bore. The rest is in decent condition. I do not think the rifle has any value as a historic piece. My concern is the heat treat for a modern cartridge. I have been going back and forth between a 44 mag or a 45 colt. Either one can be loaded mild or fairly wild.

The benefits of the 44 mag would be that I already have plenty of mag and special brass for it.

The benefit of the colt is well, I don't have one yet so....

I may try and hunt deer with it here in MD now that it is legal but it would mostly be for the project and as a plinker.

As far as the project goes I am planning on a green mountain barrel cutting it down to 17 (in case I want the thread it later on) working the firing pin and the extractor as well as slow rust bluing the barreled action. I would reuse the factory stock set and just refinish it.

Sights would be dovetailed in and standard ladder or Buckhorn depending on how much I want to spend at that time, I may even step up to a tang sight.

This is the first time I am working on something like an antique to try and shoot modern ammo. I have worked on multiple older rifles but they all shoot their respective ammo so I am not too worried about the strength of the action. I know rolling blocks are strong enough for more modern ammo.

I am open to input or ideas.

 

[mmlj]

The Swedish made RB are excellent actions for rebuilding. I have built and shot a variety of cartridges in RB's for Black Powder Cartridge Silhouette for over 25 years. These actions were made for black powder cartridges. The Remington #5 was made for smokeless cartridges, mostly 7MM mauser. Personally, I would build a 38-55. Components are available, it is an easy cartridge to load for, and would give a better overall hunting cartridge. If your set on the above rounds, I would prefer the 45 Colt as it was originally loaded for BP and many factory rounds take this into consideration. Most importantly, I would discuss this project with a qualified gunsmith who is known for working on these single shot actions and get his input. Good luck with you project.

 

[mmlj]

I forgot to add, if you can get a copy of Frank de Hass's book, Single Shot Rifles and Actions, it has a lot of information on all of the rolling block actions and gunsmithing them.

 

[DieselTuun]

I looked up the book on Amazon and it is way too rich for my blood. I have a 38-55 in a winchester 94 however due to the variances in bore diameter I want to stay away from that cartridge for this. Having mulled it over i have dropped the 44 and am looking at the 45 Colt or 38/357.

I have no one near who can discuss these older single shots. I have tried to find pressures for the clambering it currently has (8x58mmRD) and found pressures to be inconsistently reported between 22-50k psi. I know 357 is SAMMI spec at 35k psi with 38 at 17.5k psi. 38 spl is below the lowest reported pressure I could find and 357 is within the reported pressure. I figure with the thicker barrel shank and straight wall of the pistol on either the 45 or 357 it should not decrease the strength at all. The breech block could be checked if used with 357 level loads but should be more than sufficient for 38 spl.

Hot loaded 357 are legal to hunt deer with and if I am relegated to only 38 spl then it will still be fun for plinking and some squirrel/ rodent eradication. And with a longer barrel should be plenty quiet.

I think while typing this out I talked myself into a 357. Ill update once I get the barrel and start working on it. Now I just have to decide on barrel length....

 

[DieselTuun]

Also thank you for the reply!

 

[mmlj]

PM sent.

 

[Lange Carabine]

There's also the .38/40 and .44/40 WCF cartridges to consider, both started life as BP cartridges.
Good thing about 38/40 is you'll be able to use readily available .40/10mm bullets.
I have a Marlin '94 and a Winchester '92 in .38/40. I load 180gr JHP and 200gr hard cast WFNGC bullets over 10gr Unigue. Relatively mild loads but plenty good for deer inside 100 yds.