Enjoying Black Powder Episode 12: The Model 1885 Remington-Lee

Published on June 28, 2025
Duration: 16:33

This video provides an in-depth review of the Remington-Lee 1885, a significant early magazine-fed rifle. The hosts highlight its innovative detachable box magazine, its lineage from James Paris Lee's designs, and its role as a precursor to the Lee-Enfield. The review includes practical demonstrations of its functionality, including single-loading without a magazine and its surprisingly fast rate of fire, showcasing it as a remarkably advanced rifle for its era.

Quick Summary

The Remington-Lee 1885 was a pioneering rifle featuring a detachable box magazine, influencing later designs like the Lee-Enfield. It could also function as a single-shot rifle when the magazine was removed, thanks to a deployable shelf in the feedway. Chambered in .45-70, it represented a significant advancement in firearm technology for its era.

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Remington-Lee 1885 a significant rifle for its time?

The Remington-Lee 1885 was significant for being one of the first series of rifles to feature a detachable box magazine, a design that heavily influenced later firearms like the Lee-Enfield. It also demonstrated advanced functionality for its era, including a smooth bolt action and the ability to function as a single-shot rifle even without its magazine.

How did the Remington-Lee 1885 handle ammunition without a magazine?

Remarkably, the Remington-Lee 1885 could function as a single-shot rifle even when its detachable magazine was removed. A spring-loaded shelf would automatically deploy into the feedway, catching a single cartridge and allowing it to be chambered and fired, preventing rounds from simply falling through the action.

What was the caliber and historical context of the Remington-Lee 1885?

The Remington-Lee 1885 was a black powder rifle chambered in the powerful .45-70 Government cartridge. It represented a crucial step in firearm development, bridging the gap between single-shot black powder arms and the emerging smokeless powder magazine-fed rifles that would dominate the 20th century.

How fast could the Remington-Lee 1885 be fired?

During a demonstration, the Remington-Lee 1885 proved capable of a surprisingly rapid rate of fire. One shooter managed to fire eight rounds in just 18.49 seconds, showcasing the efficiency of its detachable magazine system and smooth bolt action for its time.

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