762 shooter
07-20-2014, 08:08 AM
After my wife’s father passed several years ago, she came into possession of several firearms that were left after the rest of the family picked over them. I un-wrapped the blankets to see what she made it home with.
A couple of single shot shotguns, 12 and 410., a pump 22, and a Speedmaster.
I unrolled the last firearm and this popped out.
http://i59.tinypic.com/2qvzaxd.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2ds4lkl.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2ynmkux.jpg
A Winchester 1873.
Now this old girl had been rode hard and put up wet. My first thought was that this was Little Annie Oakley’s favorite rifle, LA. Then maybe a first draft of a presentation piece for the governor of Louisiana, LA. Alas, I could find no provenance for either.
As you can see, a previous owner had taken it upon his self to engrave his initials in the firearm to cement his ownership. Yes, that is right. A cold chiseled “LA” in each side of the forearm, the receiver, and the stock.
A few particulars. Caliber is 38-40 (30 WCF). 23” octagon barrel. Dust cover intact. The original magazine tube had apparently been the sight of an in tube explosion and looked like a snake that had swallowed an M-80. The stock has maybe a quarter inch of varnish/bear grease/lacquer build up.
The rifle seemed to function, chamber and eject rounds fine. The barrel was a sewer pipe. There was nothing shiny in there at all. Too many black powder loads and no cleaning I suspect.
I ran a few halfhearted oiled patches through the barrel and put it in the back of the safe.
Fast forward to three weeks ago. While I was going through the safe checking the queens, I pulled out said rifle and decided to waste an afternoon. I had gotten another tube and installed it with the original spring. I decided to try some Sweets 7.62 to see if I could get through the crud to find some rifling. One hour later I could see a dull shine and what I hoped was rifling. I still wasn’t getting clean patches, but the rifling was there. Dried out the Sweets and applied a little FP10.
I bought and installed a Lyman Peep and headed to the range with some REM-UMC factory rounds. Old stuff also. I discovered that if I wore my reading glasses while looking through the peep, I could clearly see the front blade and the target. It’s on like Donkey Kong.
Shooting the old gun with elderly ammo produced about a 1 1/2 inch group at 50 yds.
http://i58.tinypic.com/28iyfm0.jpg
I am now looking forward to playing around with this classic rifle and some cast.
762
A couple of single shot shotguns, 12 and 410., a pump 22, and a Speedmaster.
I unrolled the last firearm and this popped out.
http://i59.tinypic.com/2qvzaxd.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2ds4lkl.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2ynmkux.jpg
A Winchester 1873.
Now this old girl had been rode hard and put up wet. My first thought was that this was Little Annie Oakley’s favorite rifle, LA. Then maybe a first draft of a presentation piece for the governor of Louisiana, LA. Alas, I could find no provenance for either.
As you can see, a previous owner had taken it upon his self to engrave his initials in the firearm to cement his ownership. Yes, that is right. A cold chiseled “LA” in each side of the forearm, the receiver, and the stock.
A few particulars. Caliber is 38-40 (30 WCF). 23” octagon barrel. Dust cover intact. The original magazine tube had apparently been the sight of an in tube explosion and looked like a snake that had swallowed an M-80. The stock has maybe a quarter inch of varnish/bear grease/lacquer build up.
The rifle seemed to function, chamber and eject rounds fine. The barrel was a sewer pipe. There was nothing shiny in there at all. Too many black powder loads and no cleaning I suspect.
I ran a few halfhearted oiled patches through the barrel and put it in the back of the safe.
Fast forward to three weeks ago. While I was going through the safe checking the queens, I pulled out said rifle and decided to waste an afternoon. I had gotten another tube and installed it with the original spring. I decided to try some Sweets 7.62 to see if I could get through the crud to find some rifling. One hour later I could see a dull shine and what I hoped was rifling. I still wasn’t getting clean patches, but the rifling was there. Dried out the Sweets and applied a little FP10.
I bought and installed a Lyman Peep and headed to the range with some REM-UMC factory rounds. Old stuff also. I discovered that if I wore my reading glasses while looking through the peep, I could clearly see the front blade and the target. It’s on like Donkey Kong.
Shooting the old gun with elderly ammo produced about a 1 1/2 inch group at 50 yds.
http://i58.tinypic.com/28iyfm0.jpg
I am now looking forward to playing around with this classic rifle and some cast.
762