Unsure if this is where it needs to be? Long, but here it goes.
Back in the late 80's me and my dad were always messing with military rifles, 1917 Eddystone's, Mosin Nagants, 03A3's, Mauser's, mainly anything 30 caliber. Seemed like it was simple to make them shoot well, almost boring for me at the time.
In 1990, Quigley Down Under came out, me being a big fan of westerns I went to see it, twice that weekend! I was smitten with that big rifle and all that smoke! So I started collecting books and magazines with anything black powder related. Lots of stuff written by Mike Venturino, Steve Garb and SPG (same) I was hooked!
In the 90's you could find an original sharps or remington roller for less than $2000 in shootable condition, the copy's were around the $500 mark, either might has well been $100K to this young man back then. I was in the market for a rifle but raising a young family at the time, money was extra tight!
In 92, I happened to stop in at a local pawn shop, I always visited their gun rack. That day they had just put out a used Navy Arms copy of the Remington rolling block in 45-70. It was the heavy octagon version with the brass barrel band fitted forearm, 20 inch barrel wearing a globe front sight and a pedersoli tang sight. Price out the door was $300. Bummer I could not swing it at the time. So I waited, saved and watched it sit in that pawn shop for three months. I finally had $300 saved up and walked into that shop. Got the manager to show me that roller, talked, bartered back and forth on the price. After an hour I walked out with $125 still in my pocket and the proud owner of a fine (at the time) rolling block rifle.
I spent the rest of the cash on dies, primers, powder, brass, and boolits. Pyrodex was the only bp you could get at the time in our area. Boolits were mail order montana precision in 405 grns.
Back then I had access to all kinds of shooting areas, less than a 5 minuets from the house. I could shoot a mile in any direction if I wanted. Could shoot coyotes or ground critters on any given farm. Spent many days shooting in my spare time. Life was good! Fast forward to 2024, all the free range is gone now, homes being built everywhere. Farms are gone and housing has sprung up. Got to drive 50 miles to get free range or 10 miles and pay $20 an hour for range time.
I put 100's of rounds through that rifle. Learned a lot about pyrodex. Then was lucky enough to get a pound of Goex and I dropped the other like a rock. Never used pyrodex again!
2 years later the navy arms went down the road in favor of an original rolling block in 43 spanish. Had lots of fun with that one too till the brass became expensive. A buck+ a case was more than I wanted to spend. That one went down the road.
Since the mid 90's I have owned several rollers, mainly 43 spanish only because they had brass with them. One roller in 444 marlin, that was an interesting rifle, just never had the guts to shoot it. Down the road it went. Then life got crazy and I strayed for a few years.
In the early 2000's I picked up a nice roller that had been converted to 45-70, Badger 34 inch octagon barrel, slicked sporter action and snover sights. All set up for competition. Shot the crazies out of this one! Accurate and fun no matter the load. Sold it a few years ago, kind of regretted doing so then months later if fell back into my lap. It's a keeper now. Don't shoot it much anymore, it's a heavy rifle and old age sneaks up on you when you shoulder it.
I just recently picked up a Spanish Remington saddle ring carbine that has been relined in 44-40. Shoots great with smokeless but am currently gearing it up for the black powder full time. Nice rifle, it shoulders well and weight is not an issue! Going to be a fun one!
I know I've missed a few rifles in here, never mentioned some of the pistols I have, mostly 44 colt and 44-40. BP driven of course.
So far it's been a fun ride with the Black Powder!
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Originally Posted by gwpercle
Chill Wills
