Hunting Rifle For Role Play Character?

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

     The character was a French Canadian frontiersman but has been drafted into the military and is now a sniper. His main armament is some kind of hunting rifle. I have described him in my last post in the HMAS Marigold OOC thread.

[Dr. Ironbeard]

I would go with the "Quigley Down Under" modified Sharps 1874 Model Rifle. Nothing quite says "you can run but you'll only died tired" like a 1,000 plus yard shot.

[Damnd of Hell]

One of the problems with being conscripted or drafted, is you don't have a choice of firearms.

[Wolf410]

if he was a sniper then he would have used the rolling block by remington or a Carcano Rifle which was one of the first bold action sniper rifles around

[DeathlySolace]

if he was a sniper then he would have used the rolling block by remington or a Carcano Rifle which was one of the first bold action sniper rifles around

True enough but being a lowly conscript, I'd venture a guess that he would get a trapdoor because of availability of the firearm and the cheap cost. On the plus side is it's still 45-70 Government calibre and the carbine has a handy dandy saddle ring. Besides I like this rifle because on the nickelodeon you see these dime store cowpokes carrying Winchesters and Sharps and such. The trapdoor really won the west. Besides the 45-70 Government was the common Buffalo hunting round, making it more available the the carcano round.

[Dr. Madd]

Some other great choices would be the Krag/Jorgensen, The Lemat Revolver rifle, and the Colt Volcanic.

[pakled]

Krag/Jorgenson, I think is pretty late in the Victorian era (just prior to the Springfield, almost Edwardian). What about the Whitworth? Civil War era, but supposedly did get some time on the line.

[ElecTinker]

Krags are nice, I'd also look at a Savage 303, nice dependable rifle with nice power to her. I have one that was made around 1893 and still fires as if she was new.

[MWBailey]

I'd think it woudl depend on which country conscripted the fellow; a Canadian would most likely have been scooped up by the British, or by a provincial unit sent to support the Crown's troops. (Canada still being primarily a British protectorate during the relevant period). Thus, it would most likely be a British marque. If I'm not mistaken, the British were using the Martini-Henry Rifle in the mid-1880s, and it was still in service in some units as late as WWI. I think...

If he were drafted on the American side of the line, then the trapdoor guns would be the most likely, since they were the military norm after the civil war (hollywood notwithstanding) and before the adoption of the bolt-action rifle sometime in the 1890s (I could be wrong on my dates, however).

But...this is Steampunk, which is Science Fiction, so it's OK to "Play fast and loose with the facts." Have fun with it!

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

     Deleted Post.

[YesILiek]

if he was a sniper then he would have used the rolling block by remington or a Carcano Rifle which was one of the first bold action sniper rifles around

True enough but being a lowly conscript, I'd venture a guess that he would get a trapdoor because of availability of the firearm and the cheap cost. On the plus side is it's still 45-70 Government calibre and the carbine has a handy dandy saddle ring. Besides I like this rifle because on the nickelodeon you see these dime store cowpokes carrying Winchesters and Sharps and such. The trapdoor really won the west. Besides the 45-70 Government was the common Buffalo hunting round, making it more available the the carcano round.

Not necessarily true, about having to be assigned a weapon. If times are desperate enough, they may conscript people that own their own guns, maybe make them choose one and confiscate the rest to issue to other conscripts.

But anyways, if he is a sniper I wouldn't give him any sort of repeater rifle. The Sharps, Rolling Block, and Trapdoor all work well, but I voted for the Remington Rolling Block since it's another bison hunting gun and saw service into the 1900's.

[D.Oakes]

I'd think it woudl depend on which country conscripted the fellow; a Canadian would most likely have been scooped up by the British, or by a provincial unit sent to support the Crown's troops. (Canada still being primarily a British protectorate during the relevant period). Thus, it would most likely be a British marque. If I'm not mistaken, the British were using the Martini-Henry Rifle in the mid-1880s, and it was still in service in some units as late as WWI. I think...

If he were drafted on the American side of the line, then the trapdoor guns would be the most likely, since they were the military norm after the civil war (hollywood notwithstanding) and before the adoption of the bolt-action rifle sometime in the 1890s (I could be wrong on my dates, however).

But...this is Steampunk, which is Science Fiction, so it's OK to "Play fast and loose with the facts." Have fun with it!

I second this.  Also the Martini-Henry designated to the "Rifles" had a different placement of the strap.  (I'd do a mock-up with mine, but it is currently sitting at my friend's pawn shop....)  Mine was made in 1887 it's a MkIV.  Second line troops did use them up into World War I and some were used to shoot down balloons. 

[Darkhound]

Have a look at the John Bodine Rolling Blocks at Navy Arms. An exact copy of a period long range competition rifle, a weapon that could easily be the pride of a civilian's hunting collection, and a first class sniper rifle too. Being a single shot, a Webley or Adams revolver might also be issued. Or not, as the case may be.

[jemamus]

I personally like the steampunk look of the Mosin Nagant. Lots of wood and black steel, and talk about a sniper rifle.  Maybe a little too modern for your uses but I love the look of it.  Holding one feels like your holding an anvil.

[D.Oakes]

I personally like the steampunk look of the Mosin Nagant. Lots of wood and black steel, and talk about a sniper rifle.  Maybe a little too modern for your uses but I love the look of it.  Holding one feels like your holding an anvil.

Interesting enough the Finns are finally ditching their sniper rifles built around the 1891 action.  And when I say built around the 1891 action...I mean many of the guns are built using an 1891-1917 receiver.  Steampunk?  If the definition is using antique parts to make something new...well....then perhaps.   

http://weapondirectory.blogspot.com/2012/03/762-tkiv-85.html

[jemamus]

I personally like the steampunk look of the Mosin Nagant. Lots of wood and black steel, and talk about a sniper rifle.  Maybe a little too modern for your uses but I love the look of it.  Holding one feels like your holding an anvil.

Interesting enough the Finns are finally ditching their sniper rifles built around the 1891 action.  And when I say built around the 1891 action...I mean many of the guns are built using an 1891-1917 receiver.  Steampunk?  If the definition is using antique parts to make something new...well....then perhaps.   

http://weapondirectory.blogspot.com/2012/03/762-tkiv-85.html

I say this mainly because I actually use a mosin nagant for deer hunting every year.  I like the flashback look I get from other people at the ranch when they see what I just bagged my deer with.  It makes me feel a little steamy yes.   

[inigo jameson-gatling]

French Canadien frontiersman and a steampunk. Sounds like a recipe for a gratuitously large and fabulous weapon of his own construction. The fact he has been a sniper only adds to this need and as a conscript this fellow may have been requested to keep his own weapon to save the army's meagre resource for someone who doesn't actually have a gun of their own.

Saving all that a flint or wheel lock with lots of black powder!