Single shot actions?

VaultDweller · January 6, 2006, 07:30 PM

Hi there. I am thinking about building a single-shot rifle in 6.5x55 as a long term personal project and am having trouble finding good single-shot actions. The only thing Brownells sells are Ruger No 1 barreled actions. Ruger makes a good single-shot, my dad has one and I love it, but the ones they sell are all barreled and they do not make them in 6.5x55, I don't want to pay that much for a barrel I'm just going to pull. Besides, I would like to barrel up the action myself if I can, just to make the gun that much more personal.

So, the point is, I am looking for an affordable action that can be chambered in 6.5x55 with the potential for outstanding accuracy and the elegant design that I love single-shot rifles for.

Anyways, any suggestions would be appreciated, from good, affordable virgin actions to guns I could find used on the cheap and strip-down to rebuild. I just want a solid, well made action to build a rifle up from.

Another question, I am fairly new to the biz but I have sucessfully rebarreled a few bolt-action rifles, is it any more difficult to barrel up a single-shot?

James K · January 6, 2006, 08:29 PM

Have you thought of contacting Ruger direct and asking them if they would make up a No. 1 barrelled action in 6.5x55? They chamber the Model 77 in that caliber so they are no stranger to it. I doubt they would sell the action alone (too much potential legal trouble) but they might do a special order or even run off a bunch of guns/actions if they thought there was a market. You would have to order through a distributor, but they should tell you if they would even consider it. I would write, not call or e-mail.

There are a fair number of older actions on the market, but most are either collectibles bringing big bucks (Winchester Hi-Wall) or are not really very elegant (Remington RB).

Jim

Harry Bonar · January 6, 2006, 08:36 PM

Dear Shooter:
I'm with you on the 6.5X55. It's forte is with the 140 gr, bullet! It's a great caliber.
But, as you say, there isn't a Ruger S.S. for it to my knowledge! The only thing that a person might need to change on the Ruger would be the extractor. I would call Douglas Barrels in Charleston and talk to Fred Depoy and see if they fit barrels to No. 1s?
If you have a lathe, broke the old barrel out and followed the thread design (if it was for the 30-06 class very little extractor work would have to be done) and chambered it properly you would have a sweet gun!
Douglas furnishes an F.T.C. (finished turned and chambered) barrel - possibly for the Ruger 1. Fitting it, I'm sure you could do.
I like the 6.5 X 06 very well.
Penetration has everything to do with killing power and that 6.5X55 seems to strike the right balance.
Good prospectus on your project. Harry B.

onlybrowning · January 6, 2006, 10:20 PM

Just a thought...don't laugh but maybe a T/C Encore. You can get the frame cheap and just about any barrel you want made for it or find it used. I am just not sure if you want a break action. I think it might look cool to have a hammer gun like this with a traditional looking stock. Hmmm...

mtnboomer · January 7, 2006, 03:46 AM

SARCO has advertised single-shot FN-made Mauser bolt-action recievers. These would make a very accurate rifle when attached to a high-end medium-heavy barrel.

VaultDweller · January 7, 2006, 09:21 AM

Those aren't bad ideas, but I was thinking of something more along the lines of a falling block design.

Harry Bonar · January 7, 2006, 07:23 PM

Dear Shooter:
I've got plans for a S.S. action you could make if you had a lathe, mill, etc - but boy would it be a job!
Like several have said, contact Ruger. Otherwise, contact Douglass Barrels and at least ask about the re-barreling.
Harry B.

hivel37 · January 8, 2006, 02:29 PM

It's a shame no one (that I know of) is building a reproduction Martini action/rifle. Never have owned one, but have read they are strong enough for most purposes. Besides, sporters made from these actions are purty.

ricecracker · January 12, 2006, 03:43 PM

Harry> I'm in machine schooling right now and my classmates and I, while not allowed to officially build one for a class project are looking into building "spare parts" for our falling blocks that we just don't have yet.

queston> where did you get your plans from? are they PDF files or actual printed paper? Essentially I want to know what it would take and/or cost for me to get ahold of such plans.

Thankyou in advance.
-Paul Yamakawa

cntryboy1289 · January 12, 2006, 07:57 PM

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=947189

I found this book and bought a copy of it.

ricecracker · January 18, 2006, 09:47 PM

well, gosh that makes it easy eh?

Wow can't believe I haven't stumbled up that before. thankyou verymuch. I'll make sure to postup if I make any progress

January 6, 2006, 07:30 PM	#1
VaultDweller Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 40	Single shot actions? Hi there. I am thinking about building a single-shot rifle in 6.5x55 as a long term personal project and am having trouble finding good single-shot actions. The only thing Brownells sells are Ruger No 1 barreled actions. Ruger makes a good single-shot, my dad has one and I love it, but the ones they sell are all barreled and they do not make them in 6.5x55, I don't want to pay that much for a barrel I'm just going to pull. Besides, I would like to barrel up the action myself if I can, just to make the gun that much more personal. So, the point is, I am looking for an affordable action that can be chambered in 6.5x55 with the potential for outstanding accuracy and the elegant design that I love single-shot rifles for. Anyways, any suggestions would be appreciated, from good, affordable virgin actions to guns I could find used on the cheap and strip-down to rebuild. I just want a solid, well made action to build a rifle up from. Another question, I am fairly new to the biz but I have sucessfully rebarreled a few bolt-action rifles, is it any more difficult to barrel up a single-shot? __________________ "Giving MONEY and POWER to government is like giving WHISKEY and CAR KEYS to teenage boys." -P.J. O'Rourke "You can't defend one right by sacrificing another. Other people are going to do things with their lives you don't approve of, just as they're unlikely to approve of everything you do. Making criminals of them gives socialists a precedent for making a criminal of you."

January 6, 2006, 08:36 PM	#3
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	6.5x55 Dear Shooter: I'm with you on the 6.5X55. It's forte is with the 140 gr, bullet! It's a great caliber. But, as you say, there isn't a Ruger S.S. for it to my knowledge! The only thing that a person might need to change on the Ruger would be the extractor. I would call Douglas Barrels in Charleston and talk to Fred Depoy and see if they fit barrels to No. 1s? If you have a lathe, broke the old barrel out and followed the thread design (if it was for the 30-06 class very little extractor work would have to be done) and chambered it properly you would have a sweet gun! Douglas furnishes an F.T.C. (finished turned and chambered) barrel - possibly for the Ruger 1. Fitting it, I'm sure you could do. I like the 6.5 X 06 very well. Penetration has everything to do with killing power and that 6.5X55 seems to strike the right balance. Good prospectus on your project. Harry B. Last edited by Harry Bonar; January 6, 2006 at 08:38 PM. Reason: text correction

January 7, 2006, 03:46 AM	#5
mtnboomer Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Location: Oklahoma by birth. America by the grace of God. Posts: 635	SARCO has advertised single-shot FN-made Mauser bolt-action recievers. These would make a very accurate rifle when attached to a high-end medium-heavy barrel. __________________ Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati (If all else fails - play dead!) Support the Second Amendment. Join the NRA > http://www.nra.org < Oklahoma State & Big 12 - #1 GO POKES!!!!!

January 7, 2006, 09:21 AM	#6
VaultDweller Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 40	Those aren't bad ideas, but I was thinking of something more along the lines of a falling block design. __________________ "Giving MONEY and POWER to government is like giving WHISKEY and CAR KEYS to teenage boys." -P.J. O'Rourke "You can't defend one right by sacrificing another. Other people are going to do things with their lives you don't approve of, just as they're unlikely to approve of everything you do. Making criminals of them gives socialists a precedent for making a criminal of you."

January 7, 2006, 07:23 PM	#7
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	S.S. action Dear Shooter: I've got plans for a S.S. action you could make if you had a lathe, mill, etc - but boy would it be a job! Like several have said, contact Ruger. Otherwise, contact Douglass Barrels and at least ask about the re-barreling. Harry B.

January 6, 2006, 08:29 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Have you thought of contacting Ruger direct and asking them if they would make up a No. 1 barrelled action in 6.5x55? They chamber the Model 77 in that caliber so they are no stranger to it. I doubt they would sell the action alone (too much potential legal trouble) but they might do a special order or even run off a bunch of guns/actions if they thought there was a market. You would have to order through a distributor, but they should tell you if they would even consider it. I would write, not call or e-mail. There are a fair number of older actions on the market, but most are either collectibles bringing big bucks (Winchester Hi-Wall) or are not really very elegant (Remington RB). Jim

January 6, 2006, 10:20 PM	#4
onlybrowning Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 275	Just a thought...don't laugh but maybe a T/C Encore. You can get the frame cheap and just about any barrel you want made for it or find it used. I am just not sure if you want a break action. I think it might look cool to have a hammer gun like this with a traditional looking stock. Hmmm...

January 8, 2006, 02:29 PM	#8
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	It's a shame no one (that I know of) is building a reproduction Martini action/rifle. Never have owned one, but have read they are strong enough for most purposes. Besides, sporters made from these actions are purty.

January 12, 2006, 03:43 PM	#9
ricecracker Member Join Date: November 24, 2005 Posts: 19	Harry> I'm in machine schooling right now and my classmates and I, while not allowed to officially build one for a class project are looking into building "spare parts" for our falling blocks that we just don't have yet. queston> where did you get your plans from? are they PDF files or actual printed paper? Essentially I want to know what it would take and/or cost for me to get ahold of such plans. Thankyou in advance. -Paul Yamakawa __________________ Sig 239 9mm Baby Eagle 9mm Browning Buckmark Savage 93r17BVSS 17hmr Winchester model 70 270win Winchester model 94 30-30 Winchester model 1200 12g

January 12, 2006, 07:57 PM	#10
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	Look at this link http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=947189 I found this book and bought a copy of it.

January 18, 2006, 09:47 PM	#11
ricecracker Member Join Date: November 24, 2005 Posts: 19	well, gosh that makes it easy eh? Wow can't believe I haven't stumbled up that before. thankyou verymuch. I'll make sure to postup if I make any progress __________________ Sig 239 9mm Baby Eagle 9mm Browning Buckmark Savage 93r17BVSS 17hmr Winchester model 70 270win Winchester model 94 30-30 Winchester model 1200 12g