Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots .500-450 #1 Blackpowder Express, or...

...another example of the British having the best names for cartridges. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I bought mine a few years ago, probably paying too much for it at a dealer. It was the first affordable British single shot I'd found, and it is an intriguing bit of hardware. It is a Field's Patent falling block, made for Rodda and shipped to India. The barrel is stamped "RB Rodda & Co, #6 & #8 Dalhouise Square, Calcutta".

When new it was a fancy rifle, with engraved tigers, lions, leopards, and antelope, but that embellishment has long since worn away, now only just visible. It was obviously someone's favorite hunting rifle, as it is worn the most at its balance point. Maybe more than one person's favorite. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Like most of the British stalking rifles, it is handy and easy to carry.

I have unsuccessfully searched for the history of Rodda, it would be interesting, and even spectacular if someone could turn up the factory records for it. Pardon the old cliche, but this one could tell some stories.

A chamber cast by my smith confirmed the caliber, and a bore size of .455. I acquired the nerve to shoot it, respecting the massive breechblock and the newer loading data that was out. The breehblock has about .010" of play fore and aft, and the bore is on the rough side. Bullets sized .447 didn't shoot well, and I found myself wishing for a mentor who speaks paper patches. I never was wholely satisfied I was doing it right, as accuracy would deteriorate after the first group. The best load turned out to be patched .452 dia 300 gr .45 Colt hard cast SWC's, with 4198, topped by a wad and 10 grains of dacron filler. This load ran 1900 fps and shot perfectly to the fixed sights' point of aim. At 50 yards, the first three shots would usually go in 3 inches, but the rough bore would cause subsequent groups to open.

I am here with this elegant old piece wondering if I should try some of the soft jacketed Hawk Bullets, try better patching, lapping the bore, rebore it to .500 BPE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />, talk a machinst buddy into making a new breechblock, or just bite the bullet and retire it. Of course, it probably does have three more good shots in it, and that would be good enough for one more Nilgai, now wouldn't it?

Think about having the Breech block industrial hard chromed, and than surface ground to a proper tolerance...., that's a good play . A well strategized breechblock insert may be another way to eliminate the shuck.

The old pelter would thank you for a lapping, or a re-bore.

Let the ' collectors snivel, whine, and gasp........you and that old rifle sound like the perfect pair, and you should be in the field together.

there's a good thread on PP slugs running on the BP forum, right now.

Best regards, GTC

Re. the breechblock play: is it possible that you have thin-rim brass, and the rifle is set up for thick-rims. That could explain the extra play that you see. I have seen many Ruger No.1 rifles which exhibit fore and aft movement of the breech block when the chamber is empty, yet have none when a cartridge is in place.