The Accurate Reloading Forums
Best Falling Block .30/06?
Best Falling Block .30/06?
I have been looking at a Falling Block in .30/06 and have narrowed it down to
Browning 1885
Ruger No 1
Colt Sharps
Dakota 10
Any opinions on these? Thanks
RLI
I have both the Browning and the Ruger and love them both,can't make up my mind if I like one more than the other. Both are very accurate and both have very classic lines.You couldn't go wrong with any of them, might be a cost issue for the colt.
I can get the Colt Sharps for about a $1000 with scope and case .I like the look of it but its used and more expensive but as new. I like the 28" Hexagonal barrel on the Browning and tang safety on the Ruger. The Dakota is nice but a lot more costly.
RLI
28 May 2004, 03:57
<eldeguello>My choices in order of preference are:
1. Dakota
2. Ruger No. 1
3. Colt-Sharps-Borchardt
4. Browning
This is nothing against the Browning. They are very high quality, I just prefer a hammerless design, favoring those with tang safeties, and less weight than the Colt-Sharps. But the Colt Sharps is pretty rare now, and its' value just has to increase a lot as time goes by!
29 May 2004, 14:45
Old DogI don't know about the 30-06, but I have a Dakota #10 in 7x57 that I can recommend. It is very light and handles very well. In addition, it is a beautiful rifle that will group 140 grain Accubonds in .8 inch at 100 yards.
Jim
30 May 2004, 21:01
VarminteerMy vote is for a Browning B78 with the 26" round barrel. Don't see them much anymore.
If you can afford the Dakota why consider anything else?
24 June 2004, 09:44
fieldhunterHi. Don't know if you've made up your mind yet, but should you decide against the Colt Sharps, I have been looking for such for a while. If you don't want it, let me know and let me know how to contact the seller.
Thanks.
Rob Kornacki
rckornacki@juno.comWHAT is a Colt Sharps? I know of a lot of different types of Colts and I thought I knew just about every make/remake of the Sharps 63, 74,75 77, and 78 models. But I sure don't know what a Colt Sharps is. Any hints? Is it a remake of the 1874? Is it currently made?
Please give me a clue - I promise I won't rush out and buy this one out from under you. I'm more interested in an original 74 if I can find one that I can afford.
Brent
I bought the Colt Sharps but might buy the Browning 1885 also but have to sell a few guns first!
The Colt Sharps is a modern falling block made by Colt in the 1970's comes with a Canjar set trigger ,They were made to compete with Ruger No1 and Browning B78 but I think they were very pricey and not many made, only made for a few years. This is only second one i have seen it is like new.
RLI
25 June 2004, 01:26
RoadtrashIf money is part of the problem go with the Ruger. I like my #1 in 30-06 it's as accurate as I can hold it so no complaint there. It likes heavy bullets much better than the lighter ones with the 180 gr being the best. Although I haven't tried the 165 gr yet anything smaller than that doesn't group very well and I've tried several bullets and powders.
Roadtrash
Thanks for the comments. Does it have a hammer? Can you post a picture? sounds interesting.
Thanks,
Brent
25 June 2004, 02:36
<eldeguello>Quote:
The Colt Sharps is a modern falling block made by Colt in the 1970's comes with a Canjar set trigger ,They were made to compete with Ruger No1 and Browning B78 but I think they were very pricey and not many made, only made for a few years. This is only second one i have seen it is like new. RLI
The Colt is a modernized version of the Sharps Borchardt action, by far the best of the Sharps designs!! 
It does not have a hammer, safety is on the actual block which is different, I do not have a digital camera. Nice rifle.
RLI
26 June 2004, 01:44
RoadtrashI don't guess I've seen one, could you post a pic?
Roadtrash
26 June 2004, 03:59
Bill McBut it's a 22/250 for $2,895.
You can buy 4 or 5 #1's for that.
Ugly little bastards they are. I never like the Sharps version of the Borchardt, but this is even uglier. Interesting though and the first I've ever seen.
Brent
I would not say it is "ugly" it is different looking to a Ruger No 1 if you are used to them. I remember reading old shooting magazines from the 1960's and when the No1 came out some said it was "ugly" because the look was "new" . I remember when synthetic/fiberglass stocks were put on sporting rifles and I thought how "ugly" they looked but years later I own several and I think they look great!
RLI
03 July 2004, 14:14
dan belisleCheck out the Martini-Hagn actions. I would call them the best modern falling block. - Dan
04 July 2004, 10:53
fieldhunterColt-Sharps rifles were made in the early to mid 70s. It was a single-shot rifle in several calibers,,,22/250, 7mm Mag, 30/06 and .270 to the best of my recall. It utilized a Sharps falling block design. Everything was first rate...checkering, bluing, wood, et. al. Came in a fitted case with acoutrements. Something on the order of only 500 were made. i.e. small run. Why didn't it catch on? It was about $1500 new in 1970 and that was a bit of money then...may also have been before it's time here in the US. My thought regarding the lad making the inquiry was that if he could get it at $1000, he should be jumping, or let me know who had it for that money. I never heard from him.
Rob
Rob
Yes, I did buy the Colt Sharps in .30/06 and I am very happy I did see one one on Gunsamerica for sale .22-250 I think.
RLI