.50 calibre Westley-Richards Rolling Block

[PJ Hardtack]

An interstig RB has come up on Canadian Gun Nutz - a Westley-Richards marked rolling block. The seller "thinks" it is chambered for 50-70. Bore is said to be excellent. Other than that, he isn't offering much info. Asking $750 cdn.

I've asked him what the rate of twist is. If it is like the NY State Milkitia RBs, it has the slow 1x42" ROT and a larger bore than current 50-70s.

[Barbarossa]

These Remington's are known as papal remingtons caliber is 12.7 x45 which is very close to 50/70.They were made for the Papal States by Richards and a Belgium firm and there was supposedly a quality control issue with them which might explain the the broken ear on theblock

[PJ Hardtack]

Thanks! Good info.

I thought there had to be some reason for the broken piece off the breech block. That could be welded or replaced, but not cost effective for what might not be an effective shooter.

I've got Croft Barker's book on the 50-70 and you have to go to a lot of trouble to get a NY State Militia model to shoot well. My Shiloh 50-70s are much easier to load for and shoot well.

I have a lot of faith in them and they don't kick the snot out of you. They drop game like lightning!

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[Pitspitr]

you have to go to a lot of trouble to get a NY State Militia model to shoot well.

Really?
I must have gotten an exceptional one or else just have gotten lucky with my loads, because mine shoots really well. As a matter of fact it's one of my favorite shooters.

[PJ Hardtack]

Just going by what Croft Barker says in his book on the 50-70.

However, he was approaching it from the point of view of a BPCR Silhouette shooter, not that of an historical reenactor.

If I wasn't so happy with my Shiloh Military Rifle, I'd jump on the Westley-Richards model just for it's rarity. Only RB I currently own is a very nice Argentine model in .43 Spanish that I 'bubbaed' into a period looking sporter, bobbing the barrel to a mere 30".

[Pitspitr]

I would think for BPCR there would be lots of better choices than a 50/70 and considering the NYS RB's sights it certainly wouldn't be my choice to play BPCR with. That being said I seem to shoot mine better than some of my other BP military rifles.

[PJ Hardtack]

Barker and others do not shoot BPCR silhouette with issue sights on any rifle! And no, the 50-70 is not regarded as a good calibre option for the game.

I'm OK with my Shiloh MR out to 200m and with the carbine out to 150. However, putting vernier tang sights on either does not seem the right thing to do.

[Tascosa Joe]

I have a Remington built RB made for Denmark.  It is a 12.7X44R  I use 50-70 dies to build my loads but the brass started out as .348 Winchester.  The old rifle shoots well but I too like my 50-70 Shiloh better. 

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I have a Remington built RB made for Denmark.  It is a 12.7X44R  I use 50-70 dies to build my loads but the brass started out as .348 Winchester.  The old rifle shoots well but I too like my 50-70 Shiloh better. 

Are you sure its not a Swede or Norwegian?

[Tascosa Joe]

No not sure.  I just know it shoots pretty good and has a Remington action rather than the licensed version built over seas. 

[PJ Hardtack]

Pictures?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

No not sure.  I just know it shoots pretty good and has a Remington action rather than the licensed version built over seas.  

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/remington/remington.htm

http://www.militaryrifles.com/norway/67NS-Rem.htm