What single shot action makes the BEST sound when opening / closing ?

[Jedman]

It's late night and this thought came to mind. Most pump actions make a very identifiable sound and a SAA revolver is almost unmistakable but what SS rifle or shotgun action makes the best ( coolest) sound. If you were in a dark quiet room and heard this sound , would you know what action it was ?
What would be your choice ?

Jedman

[uscra112]

A properly set up falling block will at most make a tiny click as the lever meets the lower tang.

[trails4u]

For me.... Peabody. But I'm very biased.. It's my favorite. Secondly...a Werndl. Mostly because it really doesn't make a sound...it just rotates, which is cool on a whole other level. :P

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Winchester Lowall!

[Stephen Cohen]

If it was for home defense I would vote for shotgun of any make, even non shooters know that sound. Regards Stephen

[El Gato]

Martini-Henry

[725]

The good 'ol H&R shotgun makes a dandy sound when snapped shut.

[Jedman]

I have all of the actions mentioned except the Peabody and many more and most don’t make much sound while operating the action. About the only single shots I can think of that have a distinct sound are break actions that when opened you hear the auto ejector pop and then the shutting of the action and the sound of cocking the hammer. Also working the bolt action on my Win. 67 makes a distinct sound when opening and ejecting and when you pull the bolt back to cock it. I’m sure there are actions that make a more muted sound that you can hear all that’s happening but I am having trouble thinking of them.

Jedman

[atr]

the rolling block...CLICK...CLICK
sounds you can't miss

[Toymaker]

Sound? The only sound I want them to hear is the hammer falling.

[Bigslug]

BEST? I don't know.

MOST DISTINCTIVE? Probably the '74 Sharps with all the steps you need to take. Maybe the rolling blocks.

COOLEST? That pretty much has to be about context. I'd pay good money to hear 500 redcoats load their Martinis in unison.

Which brings up another point; are we including case ejection? Because a .32-20 and a .577/.450 represent VERY different bells in the church tower.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Because a .32-20 and a .577/.450 represent VERY different bells in the church tower.

There is another noise, dropping your spare 50cal!

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

[marlinman93]

Most make little or no sound. But a Rolling Block probably makes more audible sound as you close the breech block than others do. My Ballard makes zero noises. My Hepburns also make a pretty good click when you thumb the breech block lever up or down.

[WestKentucky]

Contender for me. But I’m very biased. I have roughly 4 grand sunk into the platform. A close second is the Winchester bolt action 22 single that was my grandfathers, given to him by his grandfather in the late 1920s. It’s rattly and clunky but when you manually cock it the spring sings for a second and makes the whole world just seem right. He worked out all the misses in the rifle in the 30s so all it has left are hits now.

[Conditor22]

Hard to beat the sound a pump shotgun makes

[pworley1]

A Ruger #1 or a Winchester 1885.

[Texas by God]

Half a century of using these- its a sound I know very well. Thunk/click/ thunk and boom. I'd like to have a nice "....block" Single shot but I dont( yet).https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210423/bd845a707e1e0999b8037f05139e68a9.jpg

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[fiberoptik]

My Krag with the magazine selector off.


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[Tar Heel]

A T/C Contender

[GARD72977]

My hearing sucks.

[GhostHawk]

Rolling block gets my vote as well. Although for pure hair turning white guts turning to water fear there is nothing like a good pump shotgun. I lean towards Rem 870's myself.

[sharps4590]

I have several single shots. Most are silent, especially the Jones underlevers. Most distinctive has to be my Bartels stalking rifle on an Ideal action. It makes one sound on closing when the underlever locks, just a "snick".

[megasupermagnum]

Well not technically a single shot, the Marlin Supergoose 10 was only reliable as a single shot. It sure made quite the racket when running that massive bolt.

Here's a guy trying and failing to run 3 shots from a Supergoose 10. He shows the reliabilty of the gun, but also quite the thunk of the bolt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLRoCrWiyYk

[barrabruce]

I agree I loved the sound of a pump action shottie shucking out an empty round and reloading when I had one.
The sound must of soiled some police officers pants so they banned them over hear.
But I can still buy a pump action 30-06 whatever if I like.
Don’t worry beats me too.


I had a single shot 22lr that was silent until you pulled the cocking piece back. It made a tink/twang sort of real loud sound.
You learn’t quick to pull the trigger back then pull the cocking piece back and ease down the trigger if you wanted to actually have at shot anything sitting still.

My martini cadet is silent if worked right.
And my bolt actions handled smoo-oothly

My 12. Gauge shot gun has a nice grrrrh whoop sound as the case flys over your shoulder and vault locking sound when it closes.The safety click comes about two milliseconds after closing.
I do not believe in safeties and never trusted one ever.

[uscra112]

I suppose you can get a noise out of slapping the loading gate on a trapdoor shut.

[marlinman93]

I suppose you can get a noise out of slapping the loading gate on a trapdoor shut.

Even if you closed it normally you'd get a noise as the lever latched shut.

[Yooper003]

The sweetest, smoothest sound of all the guns I have owned in my 83 years was a Browning 12 ga. Over-under. It sounded like a bank vault when it closed.

[uscra112]

Had my #4 Rolling Block out today for show and tell. The double click when you cock the hammer is distinctive. Then the lesser click as the breechblock closes.

[MrHarmless]

I love the sound of the Ruger No. 1. I'm lucky to have one in 375 H&H, and it channels the same energy as an artillery piece when it flicks out the empties. Very satisfying.

[NEKVT]

I suppose you can get a noise out of slapping the loading gate on a trapdoor shut.

M1884 Trapdoor....the only singleshot I'm hearing!

[stubshaft]

I'm partial to the sound of a Sharps.

[David todd]

My son just took possession of a Fanzoj drilling , 12x12over 375 H&H, and the lock up on that gun is awesome sounding!!
David

[sharps4590]

Fanzoj is definitely top of the line. That's one heavy duty drilling. I have several German drillings and double rifles, they all sound like a bank vault when you close them....or better.

[marlinman93]

One of the things I love about hunting with my Rolling Blocks is I can walk around with the hammer cocked, and breech block open for safety. Then if I see game and want to take a shot I slip a round in and quietly close the breech block. There's no sound at all to alert game doing it this way.

[bigbore52]

Sound of an original 98 Mauser 7.92 closing and opening is quite distinctive....smooth as....but then it's Mauser after all..so what would you expect :)

[samari46]

My Pedersoli sharps 1874 infantry rifle make great clicks when cocking that hammer back. My little low wall as well. But have to admit my 670 pump makes a very distinct clack-clack when pumping a round into the chamber. Frank

[smkummer]

I suppose you can get a noise out of slapping the loading gate on a trapdoor shut.
The whole process of operating a trapdoor including the hammer and the ejection of the case has a sequences of operations ( sounds ) that well.....is old timey to say the least. IMHO along the lines of the 4 clicks of a SAA Colt.

[KenH]

I was wondering why it took so long for the trapdoor to be mentioned. I think it's much more distinctive a sound than either my rolling blocks or '74 Sharps. I like them all:)

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I have all the actions mentioned except the Peabody and I think it would sound pretty much the same as the Martini. I remember Grant, in his book saying he did not like the clicking and clacking of the Winchester High Wall. Personally, I prefer the sound of one of my rolling blocks. After writing this I remembered what B.A. Wallace about the Winchester Low Wall so I got mine out of the safe to try and while there I tried my Steven's 44-1/2. They sound the same.