The T/C Contender , personally it's the pistols
Printable View
The T/C Contender , personally it's the pistols
What's my favorite? The one I happen to the holding at the time.
Rollers Still Rule ... for me!
http://i.imgur.com/SfBs7Pt.jpg
Farquarson.
My favorite is the Marlin Ballard action. Charles Ballard didn't design the strongest single shot action, but it certainly is more than strong enough for the calibers it was offered in. But the design is pure genius! The way he designed the breech block to pivot back as it dropped, and cam a cartridge into the chamber as it locks up, plus the way it headspaces into the frame! John Dutcher once mentioned he thought Charles Ballard was either a real genius, or got lucky and accidentally came up with the design, as he couldn't see how anyone could envision it before building it!
Add to the function, the fact the whole trigger, hammer, etc. is all housed within the breech block to protect it from dirt; and it's just a fantastic design. I love my Rolling Blocks, and especially my Hepburns. But they just are a tad lower on my most loved list, below the Ballard!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...DSCF4505_1.jpg
Incredible Ballards! a favorite of mine too
I guess I'm too fickle to pick a favorite. Of the several I have I can't see me parting with any of them anytime soon. I've had several #1's and like the one I have left in 450/400 but that's more about the cartridge than the rifle. If the right double came up in that cartridge or the 9.3 X 74R the Ruger would go down the road. The two Shiloh Sharps in the toy box are permanent party as is the one Ballard. There's a Bartles on an Ideal action in 8.15 X 46R that is a delight as is the Jones underlever stalking rifle by Johan Outschar in 9.3 X 57R...or is it 51 mm...I forget. It's based off the hoary 9.3 X 72R. An "Original Haenel-Aydt" Schuetzen rifle scores high marks as a keeper. It's chambered in some .345 wildcat from long ago, thank God brass was easy to form. Then there is my delightful little Jeffery Rook rifle that was originally in 255 Jeffery but was long ago re-chambered to 25-20 WCF. It was recently relined to the same cartridge and has been a great deal of fun to work with....less than 5 lbs.
Original Haenel-Aydt
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...psxx88q9vt.jpg
Outschar stalking rifle on top
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps1hphwhy4.jpg
I like the Farq. ok and a Henry would be a very nice addition as would a Stevens 44 1/2. Rollers just never caught my fancy but recently I've been looking at.....and probably for....a Husqvarna sporter with a good bore in 12.7 X 44R. Seems to me that would be a fun cartridge to work with. I recently learned the original type hammer Peabody has become available and it's an interesting action. Martini's, as with the Roller's, never piqued my interest but I definitely give them high marks as a single shot action.
Browning 1885 Hi Wall in 45 70 (Sporting Model)
British/Irish/Scottish single shot rifles have always been my soft spot and I have owned or do own quite a few of them.
I have also owned Winchester 1885s, Remington rolling blocks, new Sharps and even an original Sharps but IMO, they just don't come close to the British falling blocks.
Here are some of MY favorites:
Westley Richards 1881
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...1FC8F6FFD8.jpg
Daniel Fraser falling blocks
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0303%20001.jpg
Alexander Henry hammer falling block rifles
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...s/DSCN7984.jpg
But my favorite are George Gibbs Farquharsons. I could be a happy man collecting and hunting with only Gibbs Farqs!
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...ns003jpg-1.jpg
Remington Rolling Block. And Remington 510 .22 lol.
Winchester 1885 in 45-70
Martini Cadet in 218 Bee
My favorite single shot action is the falling block.
My second favorite single shot action is break open.
My all time favorite gun is John Browning's High wall.
To me the simplicity of engineering overarching all the styling characteristics is the mark of a true master piece.
I will get mine in heaven and shoot it at a thousand yards while I have conversation with Mr John M. Browning.
Exquisite, Huvius.
1874 Sharps, hands down.
I have 3 Greener 12 bore rifles
2 Rolling blocks
1 Stevens
1 Borchardt
I had a 74 Sharps also a No1 and all in all I like all of them.
I really like break action hammer guns. My favorite is a Savage 22/20 ga older model 24 with joined barrels which might not be a single shot or maybe it is.
But my favorite single shot action is the H&R Topper. For real. Best, Thomas.
I tend to like the Falling Block actions, hammer or hammer less and Rolling Blocks are OK. The only ones I don't like are the break downs. Unless high quality European purpose built rifle. In
USA brands, I've had them all, T/C-H&R- NEF and don't like any of them. Ruger #1 is hard to
beat if buying new, at a practical price.
Wow! What a tough question! For me, the super lines and form of the Win. Low Wall is just awesome, but then, those old Schuetzens, many of them Ballards, are to me the most wondrous rifles ever conceived and assembled by the hands of mortal man, along with some of those old PA and KY's. Then I think of the Ruger #1 and 3's, the rollers, and so many others! My head's starting to hurt! I gotta' go take an aspirin!