- Falling block action
A falling-block action (also known as a sliding-block action) is a
single-shot firearm action in which a solid metalbreechblock slides vertically ingroove s cut into the breech of the rifle and actuated by alever .When in the top position, it is locked and resists the force of
recoil while sealing the chamber. In the lower position, it leaves the chamber open to be loaded by a cartridge from the rear. After loading, the lever returns the block to the top position to lock the breech in place to seal the chamber.Rifles using this action include the
Sharps rifle ,Krag-Petersson ,Ballard rifle ,Farquharson rifle , 1890 Stevens,Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 , andRuger No. 1 . Falling-block action military rifles were common in the 19th century. They were replaced for military use by the fasterbolt action rifles, which could reload from a magazine. Falling-block action rifles are still manufactured and used forhunting andtarget shooting .The falling-block action is closely related to the
Peabody action , used in theMartini-Henry rifle, which uses a pivoting rather than a sliding block.ee also
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Bolt action
*Lever action
*Pump-action
*Break action
*Rolling block References
External links
* [http://www.chuckhawks.com/falling_block_action.htm The Falling Block Action]
* [http://www.yostaction.com/ Yost Single Shot Schuetzen Action]
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