Home Forums Hunting & Shooting BPCR Navy Arms Rolling Block 50-70

There's one in the local shop for sale in of course 50-70. Comes with some brass, dies, card punch, and I think either Lyman or Lee bullet mould. Rifle seems to appear in nice condition and I can tell it wasn't shot or even handled much as the finish is very good.

The barrel is half octagon half round and it has an simple Vernier tang sight included. It's an Navy arms that is an Pedersoli import.

Anyone know if this Pedersoli rolling block and it's kit is an go, or an pass and don't look back type of thing? Asking price $700.

Any thoughts?

Any thoughts on the Pedersoli repro rolling blocks?

I have what sounds like the same general rifle in .45-70. It is half octagon half round, stock has brass buttplate. Weighs about 11 pounds. Navy Arms stamped on the barrel and Pedersoli on the under side of the barrel. It shoots pretty well with a vernier sight but I had to shim one side to get it to shoot consistent groups. The sight is kind of cheap on mine and a barrel mounted peep sight was much better for what I use the rifle for. I paid $600 for it a couple of years ago. I like the action, works very well, and with 500 grain bullets and 70 grains of FF it shoots better than some of my other black powder rifles. I don't see any reason not to get it if you want a rolling block action.

Shoot crossfireoops a PM. He knows a ton about those rifles.

IIRC, the earlier Pedersolis, such as the Navy Arms version, were quality rifles.

Ed

I had a .45-70 many years ago, the one with a heavy 1 & 1/8" octagon barrel. With the tang sight and 400 gr Speers it would do about 1 MOA at 100 yards. I never did try lead bullets & BP in it, but it seemed to shoot fine with jacketed.

With the hammer down I'd check to see how much play is in the breechblock. Also check to see that the sear is not worn. Cross will likely have additional insight.

Navy Arms original,....? e.g. Val Forgett
Contemporary " Reorganized Navy Arms" ....? e.g. Val Forgett JR.

There's 65 years of Italian Manufacturing behind the name and to say that quality has ranged around a bit, would be putting things mildly.

If there's a visible gap / opening between the hammer and the block at full cock, it's one of those weird Pedersoli "Stand off replicas," with the pins spaced further apart than the standard #1.
There WERE a few problems with that particular action evincing a surprise auto-eject function,when pushed hard with competition loads. One .45-70 that wandered in from New Mexico was prone to blowing back to full cock on a regular basis,.....spooky, that.

That said, properly tuned / sicked up, and at the price quoted, that would probably be fun iron to play with,...PARTICULARLY in .50-70.
Good, and generally under rated cartridge, that.

GTC

I didn't see an gap between hammer and block. It seemed like an decent deal and I ended up picking it up because I don't have a rolling block nor a 50. All I had was Shiloh and C. Sharps.

It seems pretty decent package because all the tools are there to reload and shoot.

Sounds like a good deal. Post some photos. Would like to see it. I have always wanted a rolling block. I found one at a local gun shop that has been on the wall for some time. It has been re-barreled. It is a 38-55 and pretty clean. I have a Contender pistol in 38-55 and really like it. Not a hot rod but good clean (yeah right) fun. I can shoot modern or 2F in this caliber.

Mike