Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Latest Project

Here�s the latest single shot project I�ve been puttering on in my spare time. I purchased one of the first of Bailey Bradshaw�s falling block single shot actions last summer. For those not familiar with this action, it�s similar to the Holland and Woodward patent, but reduced a bit in size, and with some unique design features of Bailey�s. He sold this one to me as a barreled action, chambered for the 7x57R cartridge. All of the pictures I have to share were taken with the only camera available at the time, a mobile phone camera and are fairly poor quality, but should give you some idea. Here is the metal as received from Bailey along with the walnut to become the stock set.











Here I am heading up the bare action to the would-be buttstock. You can see how small the action is compared to my average sized paw. I also started to do some recontouring of the top surfaces of the action at this point.







With the action fully inletted to the stock, I could finally grab the rasp and get on with the shaping. I like this part. It feels like I just past the last buoy marking the end of the no-wake zone and I can finally hit the fast-forward button.

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Next I filed the quarter rib to a gentle curve and milled the features needed to accept the Talley scope rings. This pair is QD and 7/8� diameter. I put the rifle on the scale for the first time to get a hint at what the final weight will be.









With the stock sanded and ready for oil, it�s time to add a measure of alkanet root for some of the reddish color that I enjoy.






And here it is this weekend during the initial test-firing. It looks like it will be plenty accurate: the Hornady factory loads consisting of a 162gr. �SST� bullet grouped at 1.5� while a mild hand load of Sierra�s 130gr. SP and 41.0 gr. Of IMR 4064 grouped just under 1� for five shots with the 1.5-5x20mm scope during break-in. Without scope, but with sights on the 25� barrel, it weights 5 and � lbs. In the coming weeks I�ll polish and rust-blue the metal and teach myself to checker the stock (with the steep part of the learning curve happening on some scrap wood first). I have to say that I really like the way it�s shaped up at this point though. I think this is going to be one of the few rifles that I�m constantly reaching for when headed out for a hike.



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That is very fine work there. Beautiful rifle! That alkanet root gives a nice tint to the walnut, very natural looking.

Ian,

You sure don't post much, but when you do.... OMG! that is one beautiful rifle... Kudos for your choice of chambering, as well! To say I'm envious, is an understatement...

GH

Bravo! Thank you for sharing!

What a terrific little rifle! Nice work.

Outstanding! Very well done!

A beautiful rifle. I especially enjoyed seeing the progress stage pictures.

Ian,

Beautiful rifle, and your skill in building it intimidates the living hell out of me.

Very impressive and thanks for the story and pics.

Steve

The work of an artisan.

Thank you for showing.

What a sweet rig! Nicely done!

Super. Checkering will be interesting. Tried it once, never tried it again. Came to the conclusion that I have ten thumbs.

In my opinion you have the perfect single shot Ian..

That is what my vision of a downsized Ruger #1 that we have quibbled about here in the past should look like..
Thanks to Bailey we can now have one in the caliber of our choice (as long as it is on a rimmed case)..

Nrut,

Yes. IF we have the skills and machine shop and a few loose $ laying around. Even then, no way that platform will manage the true big bore calibers.

Ian,

Your work raises the bar for everyone so high that there are no challengers.

1B

1B,
I was referring to the threads that were posted by people wanting Ruger to make a smaller version of their #1 for the cartridges most commonly used for small to medium game.
My contention then and still is that if Ruger made a smaller version that it would out sell their one they presently make..
BTW Baileys rifles can be had in various states of completion so you don't need a machine shop to complete one..
I ordered a barreled action with 1/4 rib and sites early last year and sent him a two piece blank from Cali'Co Hardwoods, Inc. which he rough shaped and fitted to the metal work..
I will finish the stock myself and have a friend engrave it and brown it..
You can buy one already completed but now that his Falling Block double rifles are in great demand I imagine that the price and the wait times for single shots have gone up from when I ordered mine..
The rifle action size the Ian shows above can handle up to the 9.3X74R case size..
As far as handling true big bore calibers we already have the Ruger #1 for which I am thankful..
But if you prefer something more refined than a Ruger #1 Bailey also offers a larger action size that will accommodate cartridges up to the 500 NE..
I agree with you that Ians work on his rifle is top shelf and only hope that my Bradshaw ABF will turn out half as nice looking as his..
I am really looking forward to seeing more photos of his rifle esp. after he does the checkering..
Baileys website..
http://www.bradshawgunandrifle.com/Farquharson_single_shot.php

How does that action compare to a Ruger #1 in strength?

Don't matter really...I'll take it!
Can I forward an address?

Very nice.

Ian:

What a beautiful rifle! Thanks. Great work.

- Tom

Ian:

Beautiful work! I am aggravatingly envious!

Thanks for all the kind words, guys. It made my week.

Ed, yeah, I tend to not say a whole lot on the forums unless I feel like I have enough experience to offer an opinion or something noteworthy. I plan to participate more activly going forward though. Seeing all of the member's rifles and sharing projects is a great time for me. Working on rifles, especially single shots, is what I enjoy more than anything else. The encouragement I've gotten from the folks here and on other forums has me thinking about transitioning this from something more than just a hobby.

Dennis, I'd be interested in your perspective as a custom rifle commissioner on whether or not our area could make use of another builder. I'll send a PM.

Thanks again for the positive feedback.