Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Mid-Range Creedmoor

E. Remington and Sons · Rifle · Discontinued · 1880

Also known as: Remington No. 3 Hepburn Mid-Range Creedmoor, Hepburn No. 3 Mid Range

Overview

The Remington-Hepburn No. 3 Mid-Range Creedmoor is an American single-shot, falling-block target rifle designed by Lewis L. Hepburn and produced by E. Remington and Sons from 1880. Built for the mid-range matches at the Creedmoor range, it was chambered for the .40-65 black-powder cartridge and fitted with a 28-inch half-octagon barrel, a shorter vernier tang rear sight than the long-range model, a wind-gauge/spirit-level front sight, and a checkered walnut stock.

Specifications

Barrel Length711 mm (27.99")
Action TypeFalling Block
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSet Trigger
Magazine Capacity1 rounds
Muzzle Velocity396 m/s (1299 fps)
Muzzle Energy1678 J (1238 ft·lbf)
Effective Range500 m (547 yd)
Maximum Range900 m (984 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Base model

Remington-Hepburn

Service history

Operators

Production

Estimated total produced: 10,000 · Production years: 1880-1907

Estimated 8,000-10,000 No. 3 rifles across all configurations; the Mid-Range Creedmoor target grade was a small subset.

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Lewis L. Hepburn

Discontinued: 1907

Notes

The Hepburn action is a side-lever-operated falling block. The Mid-Range Creedmoor grade is distinguished from the Long-Range Creedmoor primarily by its shorter 28-inch barrel and a shorter-staffed vernier tang sight suited to the mid-range distances. Only a few thousand No. 3 rifles of all configurations were produced across the roughly 1880-1907 run.

Background

Lewis Hepburn, superintendent of Remington's mechanical department, was himself a member of the American Creedmoor international rifle team, and designed the No. 3 falling-block action to compete against the Sharps and Ballard rifles that dominated 1870s target shooting.