Bullard Single Shot Target Rifle
Bullard Repeating Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1886
Also known as: Bullard Single Shot Rifle, Bullard Schuetzen Rifle
Overview
The Bullard Single Shot Target Rifle is a 19th-century American single-shot target rifle designed by James H. Bullard and produced by the Bullard Repeating Arms Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. Built on a comparatively thin, finely finished frame, it used a lever-operated falling-block action and was chambered in target cartridges such as the .38-45 Bullard. Offered with part-octagon barrels, tang-mounted aperture sights and Schuetzen-style fittings, it was prized for its smooth action and accuracy but was expensive to manufacture and produced in far smaller numbers than the company's lever-action repeater.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3629 g (128.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1170 mm (46.06") |
| Barrel Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 396 m/s (1299 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 965 J (712 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Rifled |
| Rifling Twist | 457 mm (17.99") |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38-45 Bullard · primary — also known as .38-45, 38-45 Bullard
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock
- Features: Part-Octagon Barrel, Lever-Operated Falling Block Action, Tang-Mounted Aperture Sight, Schuetzen-Style Butt Plate Options
Production
Estimated total produced: 600 · Production years: 1886-1891
Single-shot Bullards were assigned the serial-number block 3501-4100, indicating no more than ~600 were made (highest known serial 4076); far fewer than the company's lever-action repeater.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: James H. Bullard
Discontinued: 1891
Notes
James H. Bullard's single-shot rifle was patented on July 6, 1886, and chambered in calibers including .32, .38, .45 and .50. Its high cost and labor-intensive construction contributed to the company's dissolution around 1891.
Background
Bullard rifles earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and a glassy-smooth, gear-driven action, but their premium pricing left them unable to compete with cheaper Winchester and Marlin offerings, and the firm folded after only a few years.