A new break action single

[odonata]

I wasn't aware the K95 was ever available in 375H&H. Maybe special order? I've only seen up to 9.3x74R and not sure I'd want something in the higher mid-bore range in a lightweight rifle like a Kipplauf.

Most of the Kipplaufs I've seen normally stop around the 9.3x74r / 300 WM range. You could get the K95 in 10.3x60r but unless you plan to hunt in Switzerland, I'm not sure how practical that would be. I really like my Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r but when I make the jump to 375 H&H and 405 Win, I use a noticeably heavier Winchester 1885 with a 28" octagon barrel. The only Kipplauf in 375 H&H that I remember seeing was a Prinz Waffen No. 1 but I wouldn't be surprised if there were others.

 

[BeeMaa]

@odonata - Agreed on using larger cartridges with the Kipplauf (break-action) rifles in larger cartridges.

The Ruger No. 1 design of using a falling block action is much stronger than a Kipplauf and capable of shooting cartridges up to 500NE. I've only taken shots with one up to .30 caliber, and it was not fun for me. The stock dimensions combined with the light weight made it rather unpleasant at the time. I'm not up for the level of punishment dolled out by the big bores like this guy.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If I am spending your money I would lean toward the Bailey Bradshaw or Fanzoj. I would not consider a TC.

For the $1-$2K range it’s definitely the Ruger.

Fanzoj Kipplauf KB-1 - Johann Fanzoj

Fanzoj Kipplauf KB-1 - A Beautiful Traditional Rifle—And A Modern Precision Tool. - Johann Fanzoj

fanzoj.com

 

[AZDAVE]

This is an interesting subject. Since you ruled out the Encore to get into a true break action Kipplauf style rifle you are now stepping up in the $$$ department. and ruger #1, browning 1885, parkwest model 10 and british Farquharson style rifles aren't break actions that you can change barrels on.

Luxus Arms brake action kinda fits the bill, however it has a sidelever cocking system for it's small hammer.

The Blaser K95, Merkel K1 and others are a possibility.

Then the Fanzoj and Bradshaw customs

Most all you would need to be specific on the barrels you want and have them made and fitted when the rifle is built. adding barrels my understanding is that the action would have to go back so that the new barrel could be fit.

Will be interested in what you decide on.

 

[odonata]

The Blaser K95, Merkel K1 and others are a possibility.

Then the Fanzoj and Bradshaw customs

Since they're made in the USA, might as well add the rifles by Reto Buehler to the list! Like earlier mentioned Kipplaufs, this one tops out at 9.3x74r.

 

[AZDAVE]

@odonata Nice catch I forgot about him.

 

[318AE]

As others have said, there is a world of compromises trying to get one firearm to go from small bore rifle, to large bore rifle, to shotgun by changing the barrel alone. Even drillings are a compromise. Some platforms do it better than others of course.

I often thought this approach was driven by firearms licensing in countries that limit the number of firearms owned (or make it onerous to own many) and allow these contraptions to be registered as a single firearm. I think that’s part of the reason these combination guns, drillings, switch barrels etc have always seemed more popular in continental Europe than the US.

 

[1dirthawker]

my thought would be,

single shots are cool, but in the larger calibers (read that as DG calibers) more than one shot is an asset. a light weight rifle in a heavy recoiling rifle that only shoots once and at a dangerous animal, hmmmmm.

 

[rookhawk]

my thought would be,

single shots are cool, but in the larger calibers (read that as DG calibers) more than one shot is an asset. a light weight rifle in a heavy recoiling rifle that only shoots once and at a dangerous animal, hmmmmm.

Generally, I agree. I do think there is a place for the medium bores: 9.3x63, 9.3x74r, 375 Flanged, 375HH, 450-400NE. In a single shot, they are wonderful do-all plains game rifles. If someone is going to take a leopard from a blind, or a croc, or bison, or eland, or giraffe, or even brain a hippo in the water, those are appropriate “bonus uses” if you might take one of each of those in a lifetime.

But generally, everyone should own a 375HH bolt gun (it should be their best gun) since a magazine adds to its utility on DG.

But the idea of a 22 hornet or .222 barrel for a single shot that normally lives life as a do-all small bore would be a nice novelty.

 

[IvW]

A German or European make yes....
Calibers for multiple barrels for me would be...
7x65R
6.5x57R
28ga 28 inch

 

[skydiver386]

Gentlemen, perhaps it would be best if I provided some information on my shooting and hunting background, and more sharply define the rifle I'm attempting to describe.

I'm 62 years old, have owned at one time or another over 200 firearms and airguns. I am the current RSO and Range master of my local German shooting club, as well as past Schutzenkonig. My gal Tina is the current Schutzenkonigen. I am thoroughly familiar with all types of Germanic firearms and air rifles, and have owned several of the rifles many of you have suggested.

I have owned several Ruger #1's, but what I'm describing is not a falling block action, but a break action.

I am familiar with switch barrel bolt actions, but again, what I am describing is a break action, not a bolt gun.

This:

 

[PerH]

Sauer Tell .32-20 Single Shot Pecar Scoped

Sauer Tell .32-20 Single Shot Pecar Scoped for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Sauer Tell is a well known type of action also .

 

[skydiver386]

Also, I am not describing a Germanic Kipplauf, or small lightweight stalking rifle. Instead I'm trying to describe a full size and weight general purpose hunting firearm.

This is the idea:

 

[skydiver386]

 

[rookhawk]

Gentlemen, perhaps it would be best if I provided some information on my shooting and hunting background, and more sharply define the rifle I'm attempting to describe.

I'm 62 years old, have owned at one time or another over 200 firearms and airguns. I am the current RSO and Range master of my local German shooting club, as well as past Schutzenkonig. My gal Tina is the current Schutzenkonigen. I am thoroughly familiar with all types of Germanic firearms and air rifles, and have owned several of the rifles many of you have suggested.

I have owned several Ruger #1's, but what I'm describing is not a falling block action, but a break action.

I am familiar with switch barrel bolt actions, but again, what I am describing is a break action, not a bolt gun.

This:
View attachment 664218

I believe everyone in the thread completely understood what you were describing and asking, we are just presenting that there are better options available to handle the recoil forces (falling blocks) than a grotesquely over-built (and probably ugly) largebore kipplauf rifle.

I'm not being negative about Kipplaufs, they are magnificent. I / We think its the wrong action for the use case described and that's why they don't exist in that format.

Your pictures are nothing but economical, through-bolted, mass manufactured kipplaufs. The T/C custom shop built the contender and the encore and there are relatively large calibers available. There are stunning custom stocks available for those too. They are unpleasant to use and shoot in the larger calibers and the quality is just "good quality mass produced".

 

[skydiver386]

Nitro Express calibers need not apply. Double rifles are more suitable for these types of cartridges. Anyone wanting a Nitro Express rifle for Dangerous Game would not chose a single shot break action rifle.

Rim diameters from .378 (.223), up to .579 (460 Weatherby), plus 12 and 20 gauge could easily be housed in a moderately sized receiver. This would allow the rifle to be built to house the overwhelming majority of cartridges in use today

Many of us started hunting with break action single shots in 12 or 20 gauge, and although those rounds are by comparison low pressure, the receiver need not be inordinately large to accommodate them.

 

[DieJager]

Blaser K95.
Barrels are interchangeable, but need to be fitted by factory - best is to order the rifle with set of desired barrels.
Calibers range from 222 rem, up to 9.3x74R and 375 H&H and many in between.

Be different and get it in 10.3x60r. Large enough and with handloads (marginal) for DG. Just saying

 

[Red Leg]

Gentlemen, perhaps it would be best if I provided some information on my shooting and hunting background, and more sharply define the rifle I'm attempting to describe.

I'm 62 years old, have owned at one time or another over 200 firearms and airguns. I am the current RSO and Range master of my local German shooting club, as well as past Schutzenkonig. My gal Tina is the current Schutzenkonigen. I am thoroughly familiar with all types of Germanic firearms and air rifles, and have owned several of the rifles many of you have suggested.

I have owned several Ruger #1's, but what I'm describing is not a falling block action, but a break action.

I am familiar with switch barrel bolt actions, but again, what I am describing is a break action, not a bolt gun.

This:
View attachment 664218

A lot of your respondents have owned at least as many firearms, and have every bit as much practical experience - some quite a few years more (I am 72). I do not believe anyone misunderstood the term break action. It is their experience that has colored their responses with respect to the utility of that design over too broad a range of chamberings.

 

[rookhawk]

Nitro Express calibers need not apply. Double rifles are more suitable for these types of cartridges. Anyone wanting a Nitro Express rifle for Dangerous Game would not chose a single shot break action rifle.

Rim diameters from .378 (.223), up to .579 (460 Weatherby), plus 12 and 20 gauge could easily be housed in a moderately sized receiver. This would allow the rifle to be built to house the overwhelming majority of cartridges in use today

Many of us started hunting with break action single shots in 12 or 20 gauge, and although those rounds are by comparison low pressure, the receiver need not be inordinately large to accommodate them.

Single shot options in the marketplace of notoriety in the past 20 years:

Thompson Contender break action single shot, mass marketed - Cancelled due to lack of demadn in 2000.

Dakota Model 10 falling block single shot - Dakota fell into bankruptcy 8 years ago because they couldn't make the math work in relation to demand at $6000 MSRP.

Ruger Number 1 falling block - Bill Ruger had control of his company and wanted a modern replica of the Gibbs Farquarson action. Bill lost money on every single one he made but he didn't care, it was his show and his company. The second he was no longer at the helm of the company, they discontinued the factory configurations. Over the subsequent years there have been Lipsey's exclusives for one distributor, purely meeting the niche demand at an MSRP of around $2500 or double what Bill Ruger was charging for them.

Luxus Arms Model 11 - Probably as close to your requirements of any semi-custom firearm that will ever be made. It was a break action, had bespoke options, a nice array of calibers, and stunning wood. They shuddered years ago because there wasn't enough demand for a break action at their $4000 pricepoint.

This thread has answered your question of why what you want doesn't exist. There isn't enough demand to keep the single shots that we deem "excellent for their purpose" going, much less to create a new offering for an unpleasant to shoot, overbuilt largebore alternative.

Don't hate me, hate the economics. I don't think your wish-list is going to get satisfied unless you get a custom gun built by a maker for over $15k just for your whims, but it will never enter broad production.

P.S. - Your notion that Nitro Express cartridges need not apply solves nothing for you. You cite 460 Weatherby as the top caliber size you'd like. That's 65,000 PSI, you'll never hold it together in a break action single shot, at least not in one that isn't hideously overbuilt. A 470NE by comparison is a meager 35,000psi which you thought would be too big for a single shot break action. (it is, they both are)

 

[VertigoBE]

Nitro Express calibers need not apply. Double rifles are more suitable for these types of cartridges. Anyone wanting a Nitro Express rifle for Dangerous Game would not chose a single shot break action rifle.

Rim diameters from .378 (.223), up to .579 (460 Weatherby), plus 12 and 20 gauge could easily be housed in a moderately sized receiver. This would allow the rifle to be built to house the overwhelming majority of cartridges in use today

Many of us started hunting with break action single shots in 12 or 20 gauge, and although those rounds are by comparison low pressure, the receiver need not be inordinately large to accommodate them.

You want to shoot a 460 Weatherby in a lightweight, kipplauf rifle?

I'm not even sure I'd want to see that...