Muzzle clamp or barrel vise? Does this idea work?

[roscoe]

I was reading the Loading & Shooting Paper Patched Bullets by Randolph S. Wright and on page 78 he describes the use of a "muzzle clamp" with a photo. Viewing the photo, it looks like a light weight barrel vise.

164490

He uses it to rest on his front rest in order to;

1. "It keep the rifle plumb from shot-to-shot while mitigating some of the rifle torque generated during firing."

2. "It helps to consistently reposition the rifle on the front rest from shot-to-shot."


Anyone tried this approach?

I know that Gene Beggs from Benchrest Central makes something similar to these for his custom .22's, but I have really never seen any discussion on them.

[marlinman93]

Harry Pope thought it worked, and sold them in his catalog. They looked like this one I own:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4842.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4842.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4841.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4841.jpg.html)

Pope didn't build things that didn't work. So if he built and sold them, it's always been good enough for me!

[roscoe]

Is that one brass?

What exactly were they called?

[JSnover]

If I didn't have so many other 'necessities' in my range box I'd be tempted.

[marlinman93]

Is that one brass?

What exactly were they called?

Yes, the Pope's were brass. They were called barrel rests.
They also made "machine rests" which held the whole gun, and were adjustable. And "sleds" which held the whole gun, but usually not clamped into the sled like a machine rest is.

[marlinman93]

PS-A barrel vise bolts to your bench, and is used to remove barrels from their action.
https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/226/226100.jpg

[roscoe]

PS-A barrel vise bolts to your bench, and is used to remove barrels from their action.
https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/226/226100.jpg

That's true, however some designs I have seen looks like they could be used in the same manner as the Pope rest.

[country gent]

I made one very similar to the one in Randolph S wrights book from Hard maple 1" thick 4" tall and 5-6" wide. used studs with wing nuts to clamp it to the barrel. It does work well to maintain level and tourque. On a rest with a narrow plate it can and does fall off the back under recoil occasionally. A 2 1/2"-3" drop isnt pretty either. A wider base plate on the rest solves this. They do allow for a much less stressed position though. My Sharps has a half round barrel so the hole wasnt a big deal, Octogon barrels would be more work to accomplish. I used wood as I wanted to keep it lighter hoping to not affect harmonics as much. I also made mine with 2 bearing pads 3/4" wide on each end and the center relieved some so that it could sit flatter on the rest.It can and does help, expect some point of impact changes. I have a set of bench sticks I made I use more.

[roscoe]

I made one very similar to the one in Randolph S wrights book from Hard maple 1" thick 4" tall and 5-6" wide. used studs with wing nuts to clamp it to the barrel. It does work well to maintain level and tourque. On a rest with a narrow plate it can and does fall off the back under recoil occasionally. A 2 1/2"-3" drop isnt pretty either. A wider base plate on the rest solves this. They do allow for a much less stressed position though. My Sharps has a half round barrel so the hole wasnt a big deal, Octogon barrels would be more work to accomplish. I used wood as I wanted to keep it lighter hoping to not affect harmonics as much. I also made mine with 2 bearing pads 3/4" wide on each end and the center relieved some so that it could sit flatter on the rest.It can and does help, expect some point of impact changes. I have a set of bench sticks I made I use more.

Pictures??

I was thinking about making one out of wood as well as a prototype. I could tweak the wooden one and then make another one out of aluminum.

[Mk42gunner]

Actually, if making one from wood for an octagon barrel, two 90 degree vee's cut with a saw should be sufficient for the notches. Laying out the 45 degree lines to make the 90 vee would be doable with most any small square.

Robert

[marlinman93]

Actually, if making one from wood for an octagon barrel, two 90 degree vee's cut with a saw should be sufficient for the notches. Laying out the 45 degree lines to make the 90 vee would be doable with most any small square.

Robert
That's exactly what I do when I make blocks for my barrel vise. Blocks for octagon barrels are much easier to cut on my bandsaw, then drilling round holes large enough for most bigger single shot round barrels. On the barrel vise an octagon V cut for each block also fits a larger variety of barrel sizes too! Round openings need to be very close to clamp when removing a barrel.