Marlin · Rifle
Ballard No. 8 Union Hill
Falling block · .32-40 Winchester · introduced 1884
Also known as Marlin Ballard No. 8 Union Hill, Ballard Union Hill No. 8
About the Ballard No. 8 Union Hill
The Ballard No. 8 Union Hill is a single-shot falling-block target rifle produced by Marlin Firearms from 1884 to 1890. Built on John M. Marlin's improved Ballard action, it was marketed as a moderately priced offhand and Schuetzen rifle for the working man, offered chiefly in .32-40 and .38-55. It came standard with a part-round, part-octagon barrel, double set triggers, a checkered pistol-grip walnut stock with cheekpiece, a nickel-plated offhand buttplate, an adjustable tang peep sight, and a globe front sight.
Named for the Union Hill range, the No. 8 and its sibling No. 9 were Marlin's bid to put a genuine match-grade Schuetzen rifle within reach of the ordinary shooter; the .32-40 cartridge introduced for these rifles became a benchmark black-powder target round.
Ballard No. 8 Union Hill specifications
General
- Type
- Rifle
- Action
- Falling block
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Double set
- Calibres
- .32-40 Winchester
- Magazine capacity
- 1 rounds
- Magazine
- Internal
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 762 mm (30.0 in)
- Overall length
- 1170 mm (46.1 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.38 kg (9.65 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 439 m/s (1440 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 1030 J (760 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 200 m
History
- Introduced
- 1884
- Discontinued
- 1890
- Production status
- Out of production
- Country of origin
- US
- Designer
- John Mahlon Marlin
Features
- Double set triggers
- Tang peep sight
- Globe front sight
- Checkered pistol grip stock
- Cheekpiece
- Nickel plated buttplate
- Part octagon barrel
- Color case hardened receiver
Safety
- Half cock hammer
Sold for $37.50 in its first year and $34 thereafter; a windgauge front sight and improved mid-range peep sight were available for an extra $3. Numbered alongside the closely related No. 9 Union Hill in Marlin's Ballard target line.
This is a variant of the Ballard Rifle.
Similar models
Ballard No. 1 Hunter's Rifle
Falling block · .44 Long Rimfire
Ballard No. 10 Schuetzen Junior
Falling block · .32-40 Winchester
Ballard No. 1½ Hunter's Rifle
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Ballard No. 4 Perfection
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Ballard No. 5 Pacific
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Ballard No. 6 Schuetzen
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Ballard No. 6½ Rigby
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Ballard No. 7 Long Range Creedmoor
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