Black Powder Cartridge Rifles

Black powder cartridge rifles (BPCR) have attained great popularity, and stem from single-shot rifles used from the Civil War through the development of the American West. They were mainly falling block actions (the Remington Rolling Block is an exception) with outside hammers, chambering the largest and most powerful cartridges of the time. Examples are the Sharps 1874, Ballards, Remington Rolling Blocks, and Stevens.

The revival of these rifles has also led to the development of BPCR silhouette matches, wherein heavy steel animal silhouettes of the chicken, turkey, pig and ram are set at ranges of 200, 300, 385 and 500 meters. The object is to knock them down. Therefore, a cartridge must have sufficient energy to do that. Rifles may be shot offhand, or using cross sticks. Sights are of the period, or modern reproductions. No scopes allowed.

Cartridges typically used are the 38-55, 40-65 and the venerable 45-70. The most popular of these is the 40-65 as it delivers the prerequisite power without the 45-70’s recoil. Modern cartridges like the 444 Marlin and the like are illegal.

Rules call for a single shot rifles of the period, or modern reproductions with outside hammers That eliminates rifles such as the Ruger #1, Fraser, and Farquharson which have internal strikers.

The stocks on BPCR rifles are usually period stocks featuring straightforward, lean and functional designs.