I was looking at the thread about everybody's favorite single shot and found it interesting to see that the Hepburn was designed for long range target shooting.  My only experience with Remington single shot rifles is the smokeless rolling block and the triggers are obviously not match quality the way they left the factory. What is the normal Hepburn trigger like?  Are they adjustable or easily modified to get a light crisp pull?  My current roller has a 3# pull but it feels like 7#.  I like shooting it off the bench as there is no lever that when opening the action disturbs the rifle in the bags.  How does the cramming action of the side lever compare to a high wall?  Thanks for your insight on a rare or at least rare to me rifle.  Tom

Yes, the single trigger can be worked down to a crisp & reliable <2# pull by a good gunsmith. The 'standard' crescent buttplate stock on the originals is considered by many, including me, as uncomfortable to shoot in the heavier calibers. However, the rifles were offered with other styles of stocks and they were as comfortable as their competitors. Three of mine have shotgun buttplate stocks with raised cheek-piece and are very comfortable. The other is 'yet to be determined', but being a 32-40 I can feel a Schuetzen buttplate in its future.

The Hepburn is very handy for prone shooting with the side lever and I find it fits 'just right' for same. However, like the Sharps action, there is essentially zero camming action with a Hepburn as the block goes straight up & down. The block does have a small bevel centered at the top that provides just a bit of help, but not a great deal. Also, the short lever does not give one a great deal of leverage. I carry & use an Arizona Sharpshooters 'cartridge loading tool' (which he also offers for the Sharps & High Wall) when shooting long-range in order to chamber a 426gr/66gr 40-65 load. Have found that I am able to 'thumb-seat' cartridges about 1/16" into the rifling with 20-1 lead and reduced-band bullets (Money style) and they are just as accurate as loads that require the tool, except for the long-range loads (800, 900, 1000yd). 

Check out some of the pictures of Hepburns in the Rifle Photo forum here. The Creedmoor model will give you a good idea of what the originals were like. I'll have the honor of shooting it next weekend, though the 44-100 chambering full-load gives me pause. 

That is very light on your DSTs. I've got four DST rifles (3 original & 1 DZ Arms repro) and shoot with someone who has a CSA repro and none of our set triggers will go reliably below ~1#, which is about where we've found them to set reliably. Have you done any work in particular on yours to get it to work down at 3oz?

No question about the hammer. But, as I only shoot a Hepburn these days, I don't even notice about cocking the hammer. Just part of the routine, as it would be on a CPA Stevens or a Sharps or most any other of our single-shot rifles other than a 1885 or a modified Ballard.

"The Hepburn was designed for LR shooting when 3# triggers, 10# rifles and no artificial support were the rule of the day. I have never owned one, but having handled them, the stock is horrible for offhand shooting.  Having shot back rest positing unsupported out to 1,000 yards, as soon as I saw my first one, I could see what LL had in mind when he designed that rifle.  Lay with one; the fit is undeniable  Grin 

Edit:  The way LR is currently shot, all of LL's attributes are of no consequence"

No the Hepburns were not designed for Long Range Shooting. The standard A Grade Sporting models were designed for off-hand shooting out to 200yds, that's why there's so much drop in the stock. There are also B Match rifles with Schuetzen butt-plates. The Long Range, or Creedmoor rifles, have a different stock configuration, no cheek piece, high comb, and shot-gun butt-plate.

There is very nice Creedmoor model chambered in 44-100 posted in the Photo's thread. 

Believe the Remington #3 "Hepburn" was designed specifically as a long-range Creedmoor rifle and competed successfully in several of the earliest matches. Not only was LL Hepburn the designer, he was a member of the U.S. Creedmoor team and a fine shot. The other iterations (mid-range, Schuetzen, etc.) are later derivations of what started life as a long-range target rifle.