The firearm thread

[Mr Merde]

So a suitable compression spring of the right diameter from a machine shop would suffice? Slightly longer or same length but harder to compress perhaps?

Would probably work if you had a slightly longer spring. There must be specialist spring shops in NZ who could match what you have or need.

A Ruger SA pistol has a similar spring and again you can lighten the hammer fall by shortening the spring.

Shouldnt cost too much to try.

Chris


PS From all accounts I have read this riflem of yours is a fun little shooter. Came out with an octagonal barrel version and also there were various barrel lengths. Production stopped in 1913 and there were approx 30,000 made. It was updated in 1897 then again later to become the Model 39A.

[sAsLEX]

Chris

Talking to Dad about that rifle I was telling you about, and he had done some research on it and according to the types of screws etc used around it he puts it at 1905....

Ha, he has a bit of help from a weka we have who some dumb plonker shot with a crossbow.
Poor fellow was in a poor state when we got him, but is doing much better and is cheeky as hell.

So how about DOC killing 60% of Weka populations in areas they 1080 and deeming that acceptable? A much crueller death.

Or 40% of monitored Kea ?

And they say deer are ruining our bush, only saw two of the fuckers of over my week away and that was without ammunition in the gun....... some very lucky deer.

[Mr Merde]

Talking to Dad about that rifle I was telling you about, and he had done some research on it and according to the types of screws etc used around it he puts it at 1905....



......

you told me it was in 38-40. You cant get ammo very easily for it but you can get reloading equipment for that calibre. 1905 it should be OK for modern powder but just to be sure I would shoot it with blackpowder as it generates lower pressurres in the barrel.

Tell him I am going green with envy.

Two people in a week with my type of firearm. Doc then you. I'm going to have to sit down and read my books some more. This weekend feels like a cleaning and reloading weekend.

Need to get some more BP and some shotgun wads or maybe do it the old fashioned way with felt and cardboard.

Shame about the deer.

DOC have a lot to answer for but what else can you expect when they are run by the tree huggers.

Look what they are doing to the Thar in the Southern Alps. 1080 is severly resticted everywhere else in the world and this is the only one that allows it to be distributed by air. Its all a cost thing. 1080 costs about 2 cents an acre where the next type of poison costs about 10 cents.

Chris

[The Pastor]

Talking to Dad about that rifle I was telling you about, and he had done some research on it and according to the types of screws etc used around it he puts it at 1905....



So how about DOC killing 60% of Weka populations in areas they 1080 and deeming that acceptable? A much crueller death.

Or 40% of monitored Kea ?

And they say deer are ruining our bush, only saw two of the fuckers of over my week away and that was without ammunition in the gun....... some very lucky deer.

so you didnt bag anything? damn I hope indy and I are a bit more lucky!

[emaN]

Seriously: what does the 6.5x55 shoot like compared with the .308 and .243? (I've fired both but not the 6.5)

I've not shot a .308 or a .243 (although there's a couple in the group of mates I go "smelly-shooting" with - gonna have a go next time), but I love my 6.5!

Crisp trigger, 'controlled' recoil (for want of a better description), shoots nice 'n true & drops 'em!
My first 'big' gun & she's a keeper. The boys have become rather envious. Another bonus is she weighs less than the .308.


Chris (& others), cheers for all the info/tips/pics!

[Mr Merde]

...

Chris (& others), cheers for all the info/tips/pics!

This is one instance where I can truely say that the pleasure has been all mine.

I always very much enjoy talking firearms, shooting and hunting.

The only thing about me is that I do tend to burble along a lot.


Chris

[doc]

The attached exploded parts diagram is for the 1894 but from what I have seen the mainspring (part no 40) is the same on your rifle the 1892.

This friend of yours may have shortened the spring by a few coils in an attempt to lighten the hammer strike.

Fixed the problem. the lever type spring was loose and not aligned properly.

Found another problem it's not ejecting properly. Suspect that the ejector is missing. Thanks for the diagram. Got me thinking, Google is my friend.

[Mr Merde]

Fixed the problem. the lever type spring was loose and not aligned properly.

Found another problem it's not ejecting properly. Suspect that the ejector is missing. Thanks for the diagram. Got me thinking, Google is my friend.

Glad I was of help getting that fine old rifle operational again. Yep "Google" is your friend. I have books here at home but no scanner. A little search and suddenly a wealth of information.

Chris

[Mr Merde]

For those of you who have been to my little shooting area out back.

You should see it today.

After a night of torrential rainfall the valley below is just water from one side to the other.

The road you turn into to get to my house is under a foot of water and there seems to be no let off in the rain yet.

Needed the rain as the tanks were a little low.

The firing point is high and dry as is the backstop\cliff but the ground just in front of the firing point is now calf deep in mud.

Bloody hell what a night.


Chris

[Mr Merde]

I thought that I would just write up the condition of this project.

I have almost finished the woodwork.

I carefully rub in about 1/2 a teaspoon of boiled linseed oil every two days now.

That little oil will cover the whole stock and the forearm. I continue rubbing it in until the wood feels dry. I then leave it to sit for a couple of days and repeat.

This action seems to be bringing out a veep finish.There is a shine to the wood that seems to penetrate further than just the surface of the wood.

Yesterday was a milestone for me as I decided to attempt applying the bluing from a Birchwood Casey DIY kit.

This kit was given to me as a farewell present from my friends at my last employer.

I sat down and followed the instructions to the letter. Even down to the bit about if you think it is clean enough then clean it 2-3 more times.
Wire wool and 800 grit sandpaper helped me get the flats of the octagonal barrel, gleaming. To keep the oils from my skin getting onto the bare metalwork I wore medical rubber gloves at all times.

Finally I took the plunge and applied the blueing agent. Long careful swipes with this liquid. Panic set in as it seemed to be very patchy.

Left it on for 60 seconds and rinced it off with water then wiped it dry.

Repeated this another 3 times. I wanted a deep, dark finish.

A word of warning to others who may use this product. Its not blue. It has a black finish.

After the third application I rinsed the barrel and applied the protection product supplied.

Over the next few hours I watched with anticipation and saw the finish smooth out and cover completely the flats with a uniform colour.

As the inbstructions advised I have left it over night to "cure".

This morning I have a rifle with a very nice black finished barrel. Coverage is even and there is a depth to the finish. Not as good as some jobs I have seen but enough for a rifle thats prime purpose is for use not show.

The rifle looks a little strange as i have left the action as I found it. I figure it has been around for over 130 years and has earned its patina along with all the scratches and knocks it bears.

So now I have only a few things to do to get the rifle into a working state.

I need to mount the front sight.

I need to drill and tap the upper receiver for the soule type rear sight. I need to adapt the rear sight so that when mounted it stands perpendicular to the sight plane of the barrel.

I need to drill the forend and make the tennon to which it will attach to the barrel. I need to make the escutchion that the screw holding the forend to the barrel, passes.

I need to mount the butt plate. This is 2 1/2 lbs of brass.

Witrh these things done the rifle will be ready to shoot.


I now need to get some 45-70 dies, a mould for this calibre that throws a projectile with a weight of about 520 grains when using an alloy of 1:20 tin:lead mixture. 100-200, 45-70 pieces of brass. a couple of kilos of black powder ( FFg and Fg). Large rifle primers (preferably magnum). Over powder card wads.

I also need to make a loading block and a set of cross sticks.

It never ends does it.

Once all this comes together (over the next 2 months) I will sit down and actually learn how this rifle shoots. I've purchased a mid range soule sight (3 inch travel) so the rifle should be good for up to about 800 yards with MOA accuracy ( 10 shots in an 8 inch group at 800 yards).

After two years this project is nearing the end. I'll have to find another one.


Chris


Pics to come.





b

[The Pastor]

Look foward to seeing the pics chirs.

Myself and Indy didnt have tooo much luck with the hunt over the weekend. Found heaps of tracks and deer droppings - even found what I think to be game trails - like a deer path used often.

Found some small antlers or points off some antlers which were subsequensly taped to the front of the car

We took a wrong turn at the pine tree tho - ended up going through waste deep swamp and very thick blackberry bushes! very hard going.

But didnt see any deer or pigs.

[Mr Merde]

Look foward to seeing the pics chirs.

Myself and Indy didnt have tooo much luck with the hunt over the weekend. Found heaps of tracks and deer droppings - even found what I think to be game trails - like a deer path used often.

Found some small antlers or points off some antlers which were subsequensly taped to the front of the car

We took a wrong turn at the pine tree tho - ended up going through waste deep swamp and very thick blackberry bushes! very hard going.

But didnt see any deer or pigs.

I'll lay odds that there was too much noise.

Important thing is.

Did you enjoy the experience?

You will get better next time.

What time of the day did you go hunting?

Always found that early morning and late afternoon were best for me.

Maybe Scumdog can give some advice here as he is a much more experienced hunter that I.

Next time concentrate on going for one type of animal. Deer or pig. If you see the other then that is a bonus.

Still apart from getting wet, muddy, smelly and probably cold you sound as though it was fun

Chris

[Indiana_Jones]

Yea, It was a learning experience

We had fun, even when things got fairly shit lol (a lot of colourful language was coming out lol).

Personallu myself, I think I'd be more keen to try 'highland' shooting etc.

But saying that, I'd still give bush a go again.

Just no more black berry bushes!

Also, the GPS was really helpful at letting us know where we were, but you still need a magnetic compass as the GPS has trouble updating compas etc in the bush.

-Indy

[chrisso]

Well its now Speed( Safety.....) Camera huntin season; any recommendations on weapon/calibre?? Im thinking 12 guage although id rather not be too close as these beasties are dangerous. Maybe a large cal like 30-06, .308?
Semi auto .22 could provide hours of shootin fun for the whole family

[Wolf]

Well its now Speed( Safety.....) Camera huntin season; any recommendations on weapon/calibre?? Im thinking 12 guage although id rather not be too close as these beasties are dangerous. Maybe a large cal like 30-06, .308?
Semi auto .22 could provide hours of shootin fun for the whole family

Moderated bolt-action .22lr firing sub-sonics (so the report of the rifle won't spook other game)...

And fill the hollow points with mercury (you'll need to plug the hole with wax afterwards) - just because it's so fucking spectacular!