Remington No. 2 Sporting Rifle

E. Remington & Sons · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1873

Also known as: Remington Model 2, Remington No. 2 Rolling Block, Remington Gem Rifle

Overview

The Remington No. 2 Sporting Rifle is a single-shot, breech-loading rolling block rifle built on a small-frame action scaled down from the larger No. 1 Sporting Rifle. Manufactured by E. Remington & Sons from 1873 to around 1910, it was chambered for a wide range of small rimfire and centerfire cartridges, including the .32-20 Winchester. Typical examples carried 24- or 26-inch octagonal barrels, a distinctive 'perch belly' walnut stock and a crescent buttplate, making it a popular and affordable small-game and target rifle of the era.

Specifications

Weight (empty)2720 g (95.9 oz)
Overall Length1020 mm (40.16")
Barrel Length610 mm (24.02")
Action TypeRolling Block
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity1 rounds
Muzzle Velocity457 m/s (1499 fps)
Muzzle Energy677 J (499 ft·lbf)
Effective Range150 m (164 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWalnut
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 1873-1910

Produced in large numbers as an inexpensive sporting and small-game rifle; exact totals not recorded.

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Joseph Rider

Discontinued: 1910

Notes

Introduced in 1872 as the 'Remington Gem Rifle' and renamed the No. 2 Sporting Rifle by March 1873. The No. 2 used a smaller receiver patterned after the 1871 Army rolling-block pistol and was offered in cartridges from .22 up to roughly .44 caliber.

Background

The rolling block action that made Remington's reputation was based on the 'split breech' patents of Leonard Geiger and refined by Joseph Rider; the diminutive No. 2 brought that rugged, drop-block design to youth shooters and small-game hunters at a low price.