Bullard Repeating Rifle
Bullard Repeating Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1886
Also known as: Bullard Model 1886, Bullard Large-Frame Repeating Rifle
Overview
The Bullard Repeating Rifle was a lever-action repeater notable for its unique rack-and-pinion action, widely regarded as the smoothest and one of the strongest lever mechanisms of the 1880s. Chambered in cartridges up to .45-70 and the proprietary .40-90 Bullard, it was an exceptionally well-engineered big-bore repeater. Its high cost and mechanical complexity, however, kept it from competing with the mass-produced Winchester and Marlin rifles.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4536 g (160.0 oz) |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Muzzle Velocity | 545 m/s (1788 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2753 J (2031 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45-70 Government · primary — also known as .45-70 Govt, .45-70, .45-70 Springfield, 11.63x53mmR
- .40-90 Bullard — also known as .40-90 Bullard, .40-90
- .32-40 Winchester — also known as .32-40 Ballard, .32-40 WCF, .32-40
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Rack And Pinion Lever Action, Tubular Magazine, Bottom Loading Gate, Octagon Barrel
Variants
- Bullard Small-Frame Repeating Rifle — Small Frame
- Bullard Carbine — Carbine
Production
Estimated total produced: 11,000 · Production years: 1886-1890
Roughly 10,600 to 12,000 repeating rifles produced before the company dissolved
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: James H. Bullard
Discontinued: 1890
Notes
Built in Springfield, Massachusetts. The action used a rack on the bolt driven by a pinion linked to the lever, with a rolling block lockup. The company dissolved around 1891.
Background
James H. Bullard, a former Smith & Wesson master mechanic with over 100 patents, built what many consider the smoothest lever action ever made; at around $35 in 1886, roughly twice the price of a Winchester, it was engineered out of the mass market.