Looking at a rolling block for sale
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03ultraglide
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:30 pm
Looking at a rolling block for sale
Any one can give me some info? They say it is chambered 30-08 but I believe that is not right. Cant find that chamber anywhere for a rolling block.
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Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
Hi There,
It looks like a model 1896 (or 1897) but the barrel
seems too short. These were what is commonly called
No: 5 actions.
Most No: 5's left the Factory as 7mm Spanish Mausers
(a.k.a 7X57) but a handful of other calibers were offered
and are very rare. Having said that, 30-08 was never
offered for the No: 5 but this would not stop a foolish
gunsmith from modifying one.
Original caliber markings should be on top of the barrel
just forward of the upper hand-guard. If the barrel was
set back (a common practice for gunsmiths that re-chambered
barrels for shorter cartridges or cartridges that were smaller
in diameter at the head), the original caliber markings may
now be under the upper wood hand-guard. The barrel being
set back may be the reason the barrel looks short.
The differences between the model 1896 and the more
common 1897 are very minor. The easiest way to tell the
difference is the front sight. The 1896 had a sight base that
was longer than its width (about 3/4" in length) and the sight
blade was pinned in place. The 1897 had a sight base that was
much shorter (about 7/16") and the sight blade was dovetailed
into the base.
These rolling blocks were not made for high intensity cartridges
like 308 (assuming that is what you meant by 30-08) or 30-06.
If this rifle was originally a model 1896 that was cambered for
30-40 Krag (which was the U.S. military rifle caliber in 1896),
it would have been marked 30 U.S. on top of the barrel.
From the pics, it appears to have the longer 1896 front sight.
Good Luck!
Webb
It looks like a model 1896 (or 1897) but the barrel
seems too short. These were what is commonly called
No: 5 actions.
Most No: 5's left the Factory as 7mm Spanish Mausers
(a.k.a 7X57) but a handful of other calibers were offered
and are very rare. Having said that, 30-08 was never
offered for the No: 5 but this would not stop a foolish
gunsmith from modifying one.
Original caliber markings should be on top of the barrel
just forward of the upper hand-guard. If the barrel was
set back (a common practice for gunsmiths that re-chambered
barrels for shorter cartridges or cartridges that were smaller
in diameter at the head), the original caliber markings may
now be under the upper wood hand-guard. The barrel being
set back may be the reason the barrel looks short.
The differences between the model 1896 and the more
common 1897 are very minor. The easiest way to tell the
difference is the front sight. The 1896 had a sight base that
was longer than its width (about 3/4" in length) and the sight
blade was pinned in place. The 1897 had a sight base that was
much shorter (about 7/16") and the sight blade was dovetailed
into the base.
These rolling blocks were not made for high intensity cartridges
like 308 (assuming that is what you meant by 30-08) or 30-06.
If this rifle was originally a model 1896 that was cambered for
30-40 Krag (which was the U.S. military rifle caliber in 1896),
it would have been marked 30 U.S. on top of the barrel.
From the pics, it appears to have the longer 1896 front sight.
Good Luck!
Webb
Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
a 7M/M, action is a great smokeless powder action. and as stated converted in to a vast array of caliber's.
Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
about 50+ yrs ago I was stupid enough to have a LGS, convert one of the 7m/m's into a 410 shot gun, yes I know it was a SIN, but that was the mind set at the time. they were cheep and all over the place!
Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
I wouldn't trust any RB in 308, or for that matter, in any modern caliber. Even though the caliber may be the same as modern guns, they are not! Modern loads are too hot for these old guns. The RBs and older guns never had their bbls heat treated, or made out of "modern" steel. The same for the first 1903s made. A lot of them aren't safe with modern loads.
Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
could the 30/08 just be a buggered up 30-06 stamping? makes more sense, a 6 than an 8.?
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jon_norstog
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:10 am
- Location: Portland, OR, USA
- Contact:
Re: Looking at a rolling block for sale
I bought one of those Mexican contract RBs when I was 15 - Ye Olde Hunter, probably. That was 61 years ago. I still have it. It has shot loads so hot I had to use a hammer handle to knock the action open. FN military 7mm for example.
This rifle was offered to the civilian market in 30-40, .35 Winchester and maybe 38-72. Maybe some other calibers. The RB action is so stretchy that your brass is not going to last too long if you are loading to smokeless pressures.
The #5 action is superior to the earlier full-size rollers, especially the trigger pull. Stick with black powder and big bullets and it will never let you down
jn
This rifle was offered to the civilian market in 30-40, .35 Winchester and maybe 38-72. Maybe some other calibers. The RB action is so stretchy that your brass is not going to last too long if you are loading to smokeless pressures.
The #5 action is superior to the earlier full-size rollers, especially the trigger pull. Stick with black powder and big bullets and it will never let you down
jn