The Miller Action was developed by a Master gunsmith named Dean Miller from St. Onge South Dakota. Frank DeHass was blind, he designed an Action close to the Miller on paper. Miller then made improvements and built less than a thousand of them. After Dean passed away his family sold the patent to Dakota. It is the closest single shot action to perfection that you can get. Neil Rice also a Master gunsmith built Miller's triggers and levers I believe.
Very interesting Wayman - certainly unique and mine were all accurate beyond belief. The striker is a fine feature - an actually the whole action, is, as you note, excellent.
One pull on the lever and you know your got a work of art in your hands. My Miller was barreled up by Dean Miller himself. It's a Douglas barrel. Easily the Coors Match would usually have 23 of the top 25 score were shot by guys shooting a Miller. With a Ballard and a Borschardt in amongst em. Back in the 1980's most of the people with Miller's would be seen wearing a t-shirt that said if Dr. Hudson were alive today he'd be shooting a Miller. Hudson had the record for the hundred shot match for over 125 years. These shirts were good advertisement.
I believe the patent has expired. Along with the e.a.brown patent. And the ruger #1,2&3. Or more to the point- I do not think there are any falling blocks protected by any patents today.
This is one of the best channels on you tube. I wish this guy was my neighbor so in the evening we could share some good whiskey and discuss good firearms. Neighbors today don't talk and treat each other like stranger's.
Thanks for the video, I love my Ruger #1 in 22hornet, my BSA 22lr and I've enjoyed all of the Winchester (and copies/variants) falling blocks I've fired. The Martinis are particularly addictive. I also find original and vintage aperture sights and externally adjusted scopes to be an absolute joy. Everything kind of slows down when I use them, even when I was competing in metallic silhouette, and there is a sense of satisfaction that I miss out on when I shoot some of my other higher end bolt actions.
I'll have to order one, one of these days - made in New Zealand I think. I like the original Gibbs - which is where I started years ago and the Holland & Holland Woodward - I had one restored and the Ferlach gunmakers rebored and rerifled to 35 Winchester - there are pictures of it floating around the web. I sold it eventually. Anyway, I liked all the British falling blocks. At least the Soroka looks like a British gun. Very fine workmanship as well.
I'll second what waymanjohnson said. Dean Miller was a big fan of his self made custom 30/348 Ackley Improved Sharps Borchardt elk rifle. Notice any similarities? I was lucky enough to spend a year working for Dean and Cyle building the Miller rifle. Amazing the accuracy of the Miler Schuetzen rifles in competition. Coughing little chunks of lead in rainbow trajectories into tiny little groups over and over and over....
Meaningful my friend. Nothing quite like those big bullets coming down at long range - arriving so close to one another. You had a great experience. Fine rifle - the Miller - I still have one left. Cheers.
Dean Miller designed that gun, he lost his FFL and got in business with frank Dehas so he could keep building, I met dean in 1967 and ordered a 270with a 28 inch barrel, it took a long time to get because of his legal problems. I think his son got involved with Dakota when dean got very sick. It is first class....
I sent Ruger a gratis design for faster lock time. They actually got back to me and explained the hanger in front of the action could not be changed and the hammer spring and consequent lock time would remain the same. Sort of : "There will be no change because there will be no change." Still a great rifle. At least they looked.
Beautiful Rifles, the one You reviewed is very nice, but I just couldn't take My eyes off of the one You had in front of it with the set triggers. I really like that rifle.
USOG Hello Sir, keep them coming. I am working some long hours right now, I like to watch Your Videos after work when I am relaxing. Your Firearms reviews are great.
I came across a form on rolling blocks (my latest interest) and a complaint that someone made was the slow hammer action of the rolling block when fired as compared to a striker fired rifle. I can appreciate that a fast striker fired action would be an advantage, particularly with off hand shooting (off hand rifle shooting is my passion), where it is challenging to hold on a specific point of aim for any length of time. I watched the BRNO K1 video and the subject came up again. After thinking about it for a time, my conclusion is that yes a striker fired rifle would be an advantage, as long as the striker does not fall so violently that it would add vibration to the rifle at the moment of discharge, particularly with a very light rifle. And given that off hand shooting requires so much input from the shooter, on a bad day I could screw up just as much with striker fired rifle as with any other type of rifle. Doesn't that sound optimistic! Thank you for the great videos.
You must be a great shot : offhand shooting is the real deal. You make a good point about issues involving hammers and strikers. Fortunately, strikers have insignificant mass as the spring that powers them is the "mass replacement" and consequently there is little or no perceived vibration; although sometimes one can hear the spring. Glad as always, that you like my work.
Handled a Dakota Miller just the other day. The action is very smooth compared to the venerable Model 10. However, I think my next rifle will still be a Model 10, simply due to the efficient action size. The Miller is definitely bigger and bulkier, and seemed like overkill for the 7x57mm I was thinking about getting one chambered in. I do wish the Model 10 action was a bit easier to open though. I planned on ordering one on the spot, but it made me want to come home and think about it a bit, which I'm still sorta doing.
I like the Model 10 better - even if the Miller is striker fired. The Model 10 firing pin can't take dry firing though - not that one usually dry fires. Somewhere in my videos is a Model 10 in .45 ACP that Don Allen put together for me years ago. The Model 10 is elegant and extremely well balanced - handles like an upland shotgun.
Hello! Oh yes - brilliant and bold fellow - I spoke with Glenn. Glenn incorporated a most ingenious mechanism of his own design in order to accomplish in-line ignition. I recommend the Soroka rifles without hesitation or exception; this is an old-world gunmaker : the best kind.
Nice video Some sweet rifles , just been offered a mint tikka 690 European continental medium heavy Barrel in 2506 , its my hunting buddy's rifle I would say he's fired 300-400 rounds though it from new, what's you opinion on them and do you have one in your collection atvb Steve
I had to laugh at De Haas - he described the Farquarson as having way too many parts - and then lauded the Ruger No. 1 which has dozens more parts! NMH syndrome ... Not Made Here
manatoa1 There is a fabulous book on British rook rifles by a lot of their premier makers, it is very well Put together, and is a wealth of knowledge on the subject you are looking for.You should find a copy on eBay as I did .Regards Gerald Swain.
Sure it was called MIller and not Mueller? There is an action that I think looks similar to that published in a book called "Building a single shot falling block rifle action" by Walter B Mueller.
The Mueller in my opinion looks like as though remington had tried to make a falling block using similar tooling to their line of auto loading or pump action rifles
The Miller Action was developed by a Master gunsmith named Dean Miller from St. Onge South Dakota. Frank DeHass was blind, he designed an Action close to the Miller on paper. Miller then made improvements and built less than a thousand of them. After Dean passed away his family sold the patent to Dakota. It is the closest single shot action to perfection that you can get. Neil Rice also a Master gunsmith built Miller's triggers and levers I believe.
Very interesting Wayman - certainly unique and mine were all accurate beyond belief. The striker is a fine feature - an actually the whole action, is, as you note, excellent.
One pull on the lever and you know your got a work of art in your hands. My Miller was barreled up by Dean Miller himself. It's a Douglas barrel. Easily the Coors Match would usually have 23 of the top 25 score were shot by guys shooting a Miller. With a Ballard and a Borschardt in amongst em. Back in the 1980's most of the people with Miller's would be seen wearing a t-shirt that said if Dr. Hudson were alive today he'd be shooting a Miller. Hudson had the record for the hundred shot match for over 125 years. These shirts were good advertisement.
I believe the patent has expired. Along with the e.a.brown patent. And the ruger #1,2&3. Or more to the point- I do not think there are any falling blocks protected by any patents today.
This is one of the best channels on you tube. I wish this guy was my neighbor so in the evening we could share some good whiskey and discuss good firearms. Neighbors today don't talk and treat each other like stranger's.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the video, I love my Ruger #1 in 22hornet, my BSA 22lr and I've enjoyed all of the Winchester (and copies/variants) falling blocks I've fired. The Martinis are particularly addictive. I also find original and vintage aperture sights and externally adjusted scopes to be an absolute joy. Everything kind of slows down when I use them, even when I was competing in metallic silhouette, and there is a sense of satisfaction that I miss out on when I shoot some of my other higher end bolt actions.
Have you ever seen a Bullpup Martini ? My collection has Serial number 2 prototype Bullpup Martini...
Beautiful rifles!
I too like falling block rifles , and trapdoors.
Very nice!
From the title I thought we were going to see a Soroka.
I'll have to order one, one of these days - made in New Zealand I think. I like the original Gibbs - which is where I started years ago and the Holland & Holland Woodward - I had one restored and the Ferlach gunmakers rebored and rerifled to 35 Winchester - there are pictures of it floating around the web. I sold it eventually. Anyway, I liked all the British falling blocks. At least the Soroka looks like a British gun. Very fine workmanship as well.
I'll second what waymanjohnson said. Dean Miller was a big fan of his self made custom 30/348 Ackley Improved Sharps Borchardt elk rifle. Notice any similarities? I was lucky enough to spend a year working for Dean and Cyle building the Miller rifle. Amazing the accuracy of the Miler Schuetzen rifles in competition. Coughing little chunks of lead in rainbow trajectories into tiny little groups over and over and over....
Meaningful my friend. Nothing quite like those big bullets coming down at long range - arriving so close to one another. You had a great experience. Fine rifle - the Miller - I still have one left. Cheers.
Very nice.
Very cool.
That vest goes good with a single rifle review.
I agree!
Dean Miller designed that gun, he lost his FFL and got in business with frank Dehas so he could keep building, I met dean in 1967 and ordered a 270with a 28 inch barrel, it took a long time to get because of his legal problems. I think his son got involved with Dakota when dean got very sick. It is first class....
Excellent as always. The ruger no.1 has a long lock time i find. But as with the glock pistol, striker ignition is probably better.
I sent Ruger a gratis design for faster lock time. They actually got back to me and explained the hanger in front of the action could not be changed and the hammer spring and consequent lock time would remain the same. Sort of : "There will be no change because there will be no change." Still a great rifle. At least they looked.
Beautiful Rifles, the one You reviewed is very nice, but I just couldn't take My eyes off of the one You had in front of it with the set triggers. I really like that rifle.
Hi Rick! So many guns so little time : )
USOG Hello Sir, keep them coming. I am working some long hours right now, I like to watch Your Videos after work when I am relaxing. Your Firearms reviews are great.
the block assembly kinda reminds me of the sharp bochardt block. But the overall action seems so much bigger.
I have to get one of those Borchardts - not easy to find.
Ruger number1 is slower but very positive ignition I've a 416 Rigby in one ,I want it to go boom every time!
I came across a form on rolling blocks (my latest interest) and a complaint that someone made was the slow hammer action of the rolling block when fired as compared to a striker fired rifle. I can appreciate that a fast striker fired action would be an advantage, particularly with off hand shooting (off hand rifle shooting is my passion), where it is challenging to hold on a specific point of aim for any length of time. I watched the BRNO K1 video and the subject came up again. After thinking about it for a time, my conclusion is that yes a striker fired rifle would be an advantage, as long as the striker does not fall so violently that it would add vibration to the rifle at the moment of discharge, particularly with a very light rifle. And given that off hand shooting requires so much input from the shooter, on a bad day I could screw up just as much with striker fired rifle as with any other type of rifle. Doesn't that sound optimistic! Thank you for the great videos.
You must be a great shot : offhand shooting is the real deal. You make a good point about issues involving hammers and strikers. Fortunately, strikers have insignificant mass as the spring that powers them is the "mass replacement" and consequently there is little or no perceived vibration; although sometimes one can hear the spring. Glad as always, that you like my work.
Almost thought that Dakota Miller was a Ruger NO.3 at first glance
Handled a Dakota Miller just the other day. The action is very smooth compared to the venerable Model 10. However, I think my next rifle will still be a Model 10, simply due to the efficient action size. The Miller is definitely bigger and bulkier, and seemed like overkill for the 7x57mm I was thinking about getting one chambered in. I do wish the Model 10 action was a bit easier to open though. I planned on ordering one on the spot, but it made me want to come home and think about it a bit, which I'm still sorta doing.
I like the Model 10 better - even if the Miller is striker fired. The Model 10 firing pin can't take dry firing though - not that one usually dry fires. Somewhere in my videos is a Model 10 in .45 ACP that Don Allen put together for me years ago. The Model 10 is elegant and extremely well balanced - handles like an upland shotgun.
The ones made by Dean Miller were better. Didn't have no ringing in the dryfire
Have you heard of Soroka Rifles?
Hello! Oh yes - brilliant and bold fellow - I spoke with Glenn. Glenn incorporated a most ingenious mechanism of his own design in order to accomplish in-line ignition. I recommend the Soroka rifles without hesitation or exception; this is an old-world gunmaker : the best kind.
Nice video Some sweet rifles , just been offered a mint tikka 690 European continental medium heavy Barrel in 2506 , its my hunting buddy's rifle I would say he's fired 300-400 rounds though it from new, what's you opinion on them and do you have one in your collection atvb Steve
Hi Steve - I had the same rifle in .270 - superb rifle; I still feel stupid for having sold mine. I hope you buy it.
USOG thanks for advice yes I can safely say it will in the gunsafe for the new year, you and your family have great Christmas and new year atvb Steve
I had to laugh at De Haas - he described the Farquarson as having way too many parts - and then lauded the Ruger No. 1 which has dozens more parts! NMH syndrome ... Not Made Here
I know what you mean. Sometimes I see things in funny ways too though. All the best.
Have you got any rook rifles to show and talk about? They look like great little guns, but there's hardly anything on the internet about them.
Yes - I will make a video - great idea. Thanks.
manatoa1 There is a fabulous book on British rook rifles by a lot of their premier makers, it is very well
Put together, and is a wealth of knowledge on the subject you are looking for.You should find a copy on eBay as I did .Regards Gerald Swain.
Sure it was called MIller and not Mueller? There is an action that I think looks similar to that published in a book called "Building a single shot falling block rifle action" by Walter B Mueller.
Pretty sure it was Miller - but I'll check.
The Mueller in my opinion looks like as though remington had tried to make a falling block using similar tooling to their line of auto loading or pump action rifles