Rebarreling a 1901 Rolling Block

[brstevns]

If you were to have a Remington RB Model 1901 rebarrel what cal would you choose? Already have a 45/70, so that is off the list. Have given thought to either 30-40 krag or 303 British.

[koger]

Both of those are great choices, but I would go with a 7x57 Mauser, had one in this caliber and regret selling it. No recoil shooting factory ammo or handloads, shot flat and around 1&1/2 inch groups at 100yds!

[3leggedturtle]

A 32WCF with a light sporter weight barrel 22” long sounds like a nice idea. Todd/3leg

P.S. but 303 or 30/40 are nice depending on which one you have reloading dies and molds to feed it with....

[country gent]

Maybe 32-40 or 38-55. depending on what you want to do with the rifle. 40-65 is also an option. I have heard the longer cartridges may require mods to the hammer spur to make loading easier

[marlinman93]

Maybe 32-40 or 38-55. depending on what you want to do with the rifle. 40-65 is also an option. I have heard the longer cartridges may require mods to the hammer spur to make loading easier

Ditto. I did one in .40-65 on an original action, and the next one will be one of those two calibers. I'm also doing one presently in .40-50SS which is a caliber I love. Easy to form brass from cheap .303 British, and very close to the .38-55 in performance.

My .40-65 Roller:

https://i.imgur.com/IxjPU8W.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/EidVLkD.jpg

[Texas by God]

30-40 Krag for me.

[Boz330]

Another 40-65 Roller built on the Swede 8MM action. A 40-50 would be fun as well. If you are going to shoot BP I'd stay away from the 30cals, fouling gets to be a problem.

Bob

[Drm50]

I bought a RB that was a 7x57, along with a Numerich arms Buffalo Kit 45/70. Previous owner had
not got around to putting it together. Since 7x57 barrel was shot I put it together. Not hard at all- but
on small smokeless action the clearence for 45/70 cartridge isn't there. I had to do a little reshaping
on top of block. I didn't get carried away but was still just barely enough. I also had a RB carbine in
30/40 that had a Nickle plated action. I bought it that way and guy had no idea of origination. Might
have been 30/40 from Rem and plated later?

[brstevns]

Leaning to the 30-40 at the moment, What twist for 180-220 gr cast bullets.

[Texas by God]

DRM 50- your nickel plated action could have been factory- plating was popular back then for corrosion resistance. I'd go with the common 1-10" twist but I have only used jacketed bullets with the 30-40.
It's gonna be neat.

[brstevns]

Need to start looking for a barrel blank for my Smith to work with.

[marlinman93]

Need to start looking for a barrel blank for my Smith to work with.

I'd look into Borchardt Rifle Co. barrel blanks. Extremely accurate, and cheaper than even some economy priced barrels.

http://www.brcbarrels.com/

[brstevns]

Would a 1.350 diameter barrel blank work on the 1901 aciton?

[KCSO]

Remember fr a rimless ctg you will need a special extractor and for rimmed you can weld up and use the old one. I would stay with a low pressure round and would prefer a 38-55 or 32-40. You can get a little springing with the 303 if you load warm and samo with the 7MM Mauser.

[Drm50]

The 30/40 RB I had with nickeled reciever had a naval type Anchor & rope design in top of ring. Guy
that bought it thought it many have come from a military school. ??? I don't know, never saw another.

[samari46]

Average pressures for the 30-40 Krag run about 40K the 303 British runs about 45K 174 grain jacketed flatbase 2440 feet per second. Think you would be better off with the Krag cartridge. Great long neck for cast bullets. Easy to load for and great bullet selection. Frank

[brstevns]

Average pressures for the 30-40 Krag run about 40K the 303 British runs about 45K 174 grain jacketed flatbase 2440 feet per second. Think you would be better off with the Krag cartridge. Great long neck for cast bullets. Easy to load for and great bullet selection. Frank

Yes , I decided on the 30-40 Krag. No plans on hot rodding the round. Have other rifles for that purpose.

[shafer44]

Makes me want to rechamber my 1897 RB #5 to 32-40 or 38-55 myself. Unfortunately, I have to get someone to do all the work, as I don't know how or have the equipment to do so. It is just collecting dust now.

[marlinman93]

Makes me want to rechamber my 1897 RB #5 to 32-40 or 38-55 myself. Unfortunately, I have to get someone to do all the work, as I don't know how or have the equipment to do so. It is just collecting dust now.

I'm in the same situation too. I do all the draw filing, polishing, and as much work as possible on my gun builds. But when it comes to fitting and chambering a barrel I have to get someone to do it. It's usually around $150-$175 for this work, and the cost of the barrel. But I've found that building up the average Rolling Block into a nice sporting rifle is less than the cost of buying one ready to go.
But the cost depends on how much you do yourself. If you fit and finish the wood you'll save huge amounts of money. If you draw file, and hand polish the barrel and receiver it saves a fair amount on final finishing of rust blue and case color.
The last one I did cost me $1250, including buying the action, and paying for the above mentioned work, plus sights. Most guns I looked at in that price range had lessor grade wood, and not as nicely finished or fit.

[Milsurpsandmore]

38-55! Can't say enough about my RB in that chambering! Can't say enough, seriously!

For reloads I use either Winchester or Starline brass, and they last forever. And I get my bullets from the Meister Bullet Co., and am very happy with both their quality and price.

Here is the load that my gun likes: 22gr IMR 4198; 245gr RN/FP, .377 diameter; 2.510 OAL. Very accurate and easy on the shoulder. This is the gun and the load that I am taking out in the woods deer hunting this year, definitely.

Have fun. Let us know what you choose, and how you like it.

[brstevns]

What contour barrel would you guys use for a 30-40?

[Nueces]

I have a 1901 in 7mm with a poor bore. My plan is to rebarrel to 30-40, too, and I think the original RB barrel profile is about right - fat in the butt and slim further out. Barrel could be thicker at the muzzle if shortened much below the OEM length.

When I get to it, I thick I'll profile the barrel so the balance point is right ahead of the action.

[marlinman93]

What contour barrel would you guys use for a 30-40?

Depends on what your use of the gun is, and what contour you like. My favorite is a #3 weight 30", in either full octagon or half octagon. Anything shorter or lighter doesn't interest me. But shorter, lighter barrels are more often chosen for hunting rifles.
This is my original #1 Sporting Rifle with a 30" half octagon #3 weight in .40-50SS:

https://i.imgur.com/SMBpXLyl.jpg

[samari46]

Been seriously thinking of getting my Swedish RB in 8mm rebarreled with a heavy style carbine barrel and done in 44 special. Don't hunt and the sherrif's range is about 20 minutes from the house. Cast bullets only and pressures are below what the Swedish RB's are listed for maximum pressures. Have 3 S&W revolvers in 44 special and have been neglecting them for far too long. Either the heavy carbine style barrel or maybe full octagon barrel with about 22" long max. The original wood on mine is pretty nice but would loose the forend if rebarreled. Decisions,decisions. Someone did post a RB I believe in 45 colt with a heavy style carbine barrel some years back and thought it looked really great. Frank

[John Taylor]

Mine was a 45-70 and a few months back I put a 38-55 barrel on it. I'm getting to old for recoil.

[marlinman93]

John Taylor barreled this one for me with a 32" full round Green Mountain barrel maybe 10 years ago? It's a #3.5 weight full round. I wanted something different than the usual full octagon or half octagon. It's a .40-65 and a real tack driver!

https://i.imgur.com/IxjPU8Wl.jpg

[brstevns]

Guess I better start looking for loads using Lyman 311284 and 311299 . any suggestions?