I finally managed to get my new Remington Single Shot yesterday. It is chambered for 7.62X39 and was manufactured in Russia. I am really impressed that a rifle of this quality could be made and sold for well under $300 dollars. The workmanship is crisp and sharp on the metal parts. The barrel is hammer forged and is 23 3/4 inches long. Twist appears to be somewhere between ten and ten and a half inches. My barrel slugged out at .312". Sights: The rear sight is adjustable for windage by loosening a clamping screw and moving the sight. Elevation is the front sight that is screw adjustable. The sights have a square notch rear and a flat top front similar to the match grade 45 that I used to shoot. The width of the front matches the notch very well and provides a clear, sharp sight picture. I learned to shoot with this type of open sight and much prefer it to the bead type. It is not drilled and tapped but instead is grooved for a scope mount. I haven't measured the grooves yet to see if it is compatible with common 22 type bases. Will do that tommorow. The wood is another matter entirely. The inletting is well done but stands proud of the reciever by 1/32" to 1/16". The fore-end is a triangular shape that is ugly but doesn't feel to bad in the hand. The wood appears to be of some straight grained walnut. Both butt and fore-end are cut checkered. The checkering is slightly fuzzy and I will go over it, probably with a riffler. The action is rather deep and that is because the same basic forging is also used for shotguns and a over/under, rifle/shotgun. The balance is just a trifle muzzle light and another inch of barrel would have improved this.
This is a break action rifle that has a lever that appears somewhat similar to a Ruger #1. The difference is that you squeeze the lever upoward to open the breech. This also cocks the action. The lever does not return to the full down position until the rifle is fired and then it snaps down about a half inch. The gun may be uncocked by squeezing the lever, pull the trigger and slowly releasing the lever. I definetly would not do this with a loaded cartridge in the chamber. This line of firearms was designed to be reliable in the Siberian winters and the springs are a good indicator of this. The trigger spring must be six or eight pounds with the action not cocked. This should be easy enough to lighten.
I have several molds that should be suitable. I recently bought a Lyman 311413 that drops ACWW slugs at .316. It should be just about ideal for this rifle.
I certainly hope that this rifle shoots. If it does then it will recieve a new stock next winter. The cartridge may be pushing the envelope just a bit but this may be the new version of the venerable Rook Rifle.
Bad news!!!!!!!!!! Remington has just dropped this line of firearms. Hopefully another importer will keep them on the market. Neil