Maynard 1873

[Battis]

I recently bought an 1873 Maynard that has a shotgun barrel. The muzzle measures .61". I made a dummy round out of a plastic 20 ga shell (no powder or shot) and it slid in easily, and fired the primer on the first try.
So, are the Magtech 20 ga brass shells the same size as the plastic shells? I can't find any online but I'm sure they'll be available at some point.

[6pt-sika]

Cool I’d like to see the gun ! I had thoughts of getting one of the Romano renditions of a Maynard and went to Winchester VA to the North South Skirmish thing one year just to look at their product . Guns were nice but wow they were expensive ! An original was less costly !!! http://www.romanorifle.com/

[Battis]

Here's a pic. I can't find out if this 20 ga shotgun barrel is an original, or a custom barrel made much later. The barrel doesn't look old, but apparently many of the original shotgun barrels weren't used much.
I think I'll use a 20 ga plastic shell for now. Magtech brass shells aren't available anywhere.

[6pt-sika]

When I still was a member of the ASSRA there was a guy that lived not to far from me that had several original Maynards of which a couple had extra barrels . Seems to me one gun was a five barrel set of which one was a shotgun barrel .

[6pt-sika]

FWIW , there’s an article in the 2004 Gun Digest beginning on page 107 written by George Layman . If you can lay your hands on an 04 Gun Digest might be worth reading . The guy I mentioned earlier wrote an article that was in the ASSRA magazine perhaps ten years ago . I’m sure I still have the magazine but god knows where it’s at .

[6pt-sika]

If you go on the ASSRA website look for a guy called I believe it was “Green Frog” . He puts on the schuetzen match at the Brushy Mountain Club in Virginia . He’s the fellow that wrote the article in the ASSRA magazine .

[Battis]

I did some research on that site. I also got some good info from John Bly, who is known for making quality Maynard barrels.

Is this the Gun Digest you mentioned?
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-20.../dp/0873495896

I just bought a copy on ebay for $7.00

[6pt-sika]

I did some research on that site. I also got some good info from John Bly, who is known for making quality Maynard barrels.

Is this the Gun Digest you mentioned?
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-20.../dp/0873495896

I just bought a copy on ebay for $7.00

Yes sir that’s the one !

[missionary5155]

Good morning
With that "long range tang sight" that was a rifle.

[elk hunter]

Maynard made interchangeable shotgun barrels for some of their rifles one of which they called the 64 Maynard and it is very nearly the same as a 20 gauge. I wonder if that is what you have.

[Battis]

I removed the barrel and found a stamped serial number that matches the gun.
I just got a box of 20 ga Magtech brass shells. They're too wide to fit. Any ideas on how to size them down?

[Battis]

Maynard made rifled barrels and the buyer had the option of adding a smoothbore barrel, either a 55 or 64, or both.

[swamp]

Didn't the Maynard us a brass shell with a very large diameter rim, that filled the gap between the barrel and action?

[Battis]

The 1873 Maynards used the case with the large head to fill that gap. In 1882 they closed that gap and used a more conventional case. Brass is available but it's kinda pricey. One company wants abut $10 per case with a 50 case minimum. I emailed another company that makes the brass and asked if their brass will fit the gun I have. Their cases are about the same price but they don't have a minimum order.
The problem is the unsupported part of the case base that sticks out of the breech. I'm going to try and fit a bushing over that exposed section to support it. It's the kind of thing that once I figure out how to shoot it safely, I'll move on to the next obscure oddball firearm. But I do want to shoot this gun.