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Thread: Here ya go. A dormant 150 year old gun gets a makeover.

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Sep 2012
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    Here ya go. A dormant 150 year old gun gets a makeover.

    An Allen Wheelock drop breech in 44 Henry. Aggressive 25 twist, 430 groove, 411ish bore. 3 lands and grooves.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Converted the breech to centerfire from rimfire using Uncanny American Savvy.

    Rechambered to 44 special. Case head the same (or "close enough") so no extravagant extractor work.

    Used the 200gr FN bulllet mold I got here. Charged a case with FFFg less enough to seat the bullet, and voila.


  2. #2
    Boolit Bub
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    That is sweet. Try a FF load!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Moleman-'s Avatar
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    That rifle is in great shape, congrats on being able to shoot it again. I'd have to use it for at least a deer hunt or two.

  4. #4
    Boolit Bub
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    Without a doubt.

    I'll shoot some groups this weekend perhaps if the wife permits. The inset pic is a internet photo, but the one I have is in that good of shape or better.

    I had swore off doing gun projects until I caught up on the house work, but I seen this poor thing at the fun store, with very little hope of ever tasting the acrid flavor of burnt powder again. Shame seeing something so simplistically crafted way before any of us were taking air just standing in the corner.

    I see SW Michigan for your location.

    I miss Cass County...Lots of time in the woods near Marcellus.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Moleman-'s Avatar
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    I'm in Southern Kent County but hunt in in a nice quiet spot in Barry County. I've been overloaded with project lists and haven't done much firearms stuff out in the shop all summer. Haven't even made it to the range since may or june. One of the projects has been to wall up and insulate the barn/shop which should help with use ability during the winters when things are slow. Have about 36' of wall left to go before doing the ceiling.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy hendere's Avatar
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    Cool! Thanks for sharing.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    jrmartin1964's Avatar
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    Great to see an old timer rescued and returned to the land of the living! Thanks for sharing!


  8. #8
    Boolit Bub
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    Since very few have seen this gun in operation, information on it is kinda lacking.

    So, during repeated fire shooting, I was pleasantly surprised of this little quip of working the action....


  9. #9
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    Cool rifle ! That is exactly what I would have done to shoot it again. Good Job !

    Jedman

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master


    missionary5155's Avatar
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    Greetings and well done ! Great to see this fine old lead spitter back in action !
    Mike in Peru
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    texassako's Avatar
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    Good job, I love seeing old guns put back into use. Especially unusual ones most people have not seen.
    Back in the land of boolits.

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
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    I got my Lee Loader for the 44, and took the 5 rounds I've test shot so far and did the magic voodoo on them. Made a custom powder measure out of a 7.5x55 piece of brass (because that was the 1st one I grabbed in my box of arcane scrap).

    Bullet will sit on a full load with only mild compression and a playing card wad.

    Bullets lubed with beeswax.

    I need a new front sight, but I managed a 3" group at 40 yards. Hope to tighten it up with a nice flat blade instead of the odd point filed on the current one.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    And as an old 13F, I appreciate the way it sounds like a howitzer...
    Last edited by RWE; 10-12-2017 at 10:12 AM.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    an easy way to fix the front sight, get some shrink tubing, make sure it has the adhesive in it
    put it over the front sight, heat it to shrink it, us pliers and flatten the tubing while hot, cut to point of aim....works fine on my Vetterli 41 Swiss
    this also gives a wider front sight so us older people can almost see it

  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4060MAY View Post
    an easy way to fix the front sight, get some shrink tubing, make sure it has the adhesive in it
    put it over the front sight, heat it to shrink it, us pliers and flatten the tubing while hot, cut to point of aim....works fine on my Vetterli 41 Swiss
    this also gives a wider front sight so us older people can almost see it
    That's what I need, chief. Wider is better....

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    marlin39a's Avatar
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    I love seeing those antique firearms made in my old city of Worcester, Ma. Sure wish I found it first.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    nekshot's Avatar
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    Sheeeeez, that is neat!! Congrats and thanks for showing it. Yup a few deer hunts will do that gun good!
    Look twice, shoot once.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    2ndAmendmentNut's Avatar
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    Very cool! I like the way it pokes the empty cases up. Perfect action for a hand loader.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "I don't want men who miss." -Capt. Leander H. McNelly

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master Artful's Avatar
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    Great project done right - congratulations
    je suis charlie

    It is better to live one day as a LION than a dozen days as a Sheep.

    Thomas Jefferson Quotations:
    "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check