Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Match Rifle
E. Remington and Sons · Rifle · Discontinued · 1883
Also known as: Remington No. 3 Hepburn Match Rifle, Hepburn No. 3 Match Rifle
Overview
The Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Match Rifle is a single-shot, falling-block target rifle built on the side-lever action designed by Lewis L. Hepburn and introduced by E. Remington and Sons in 1883. Fitted with a heavy 30-inch half-octagonal barrel, vernier tang rear sight and a wind-gauge front sight, it was chambered for period match cartridges from .25-20 Stevens up to .40-65, most commonly the .32-40 and .38-55 Winchester. Offered in plain A Quality and deluxe checkered B Quality grades with optional double-set triggers, it was a favored off-hand and mid-range Creedmoor match rifle of the black-powder era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1180 mm (46.46") |
| Barrel Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 435 m/s (1427 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1011 J (746 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 900 m (984 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .32-40 Winchester · primary — also known as .32-40 Ballard, .32-40 WCF, .32-40
- .38-55 Winchester — also known as .38-55 Win, .38-55 WCF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Half Octagonal Barrel, Vernier Tang Rear Sight, Wind Gauge Spirit Level Front Sight, Checkered Walnut Pistol Grip Stock, Cheek Rest, Double Set Triggers Optional
Variants
- Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Match Rifle A Quality - Plain Grade
- Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Match Rifle B Quality - Deluxe Grade
Base model
Service history
Operators
- American competitive target shooters · adopted 1883
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,000 · Production years: 1883-1907
Match Rifle grade estimate; approximately 10,000 No. 3 Hepburn rifles produced across all grades
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Lewis L. Hepburn
Discontinued: 1907
Notes
Part of the No. 3 Hepburn family, which also included Sporting, Long-Range and Mid-Range Creedmoor, Schuetzen and Long-Range Military grades. Roughly 10,000 No. 3 Hepburn rifles of all types were built between 1883 and 1907; the Match Rifle grade accounts for only about 1,000 of them.
Background
Lewis Hepburn was superintendent of Remington's mechanical department and a member of the American Creedmoor international rifle team, and he designed his falling-block action to give American marksmen a Remington platform capable of winning long-range and Schuetzen target matches.