remington hepburn

[blackbahart]

just recently aquired a Remington hepburn that has Mashburn Arms Co stamped into the barrel .The Caliber is M 219 zipper improved .Was able to form up brass with using dies from other calibers and fire form from 30-30.Now just have to locate a set of dies for it
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_3422_zpscisgy4iy.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_3422_zpscisgy4iy.jpg.html)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_3421_zpsxmkwu3i5.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_3421_zpsxmkwu3i5.jpg.html)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_3420_zpshagjcjmv.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_3420_zpshagjcjmv.jpg.html)

[Tatume]

Wow! What a nice find. Congratulations.

[marlinman93]

Nice old rework! Many of those old reworked single shots were poorly rebuilt, with ill fitting wood, and amateurish fit. Yours appears to be very well done, and professionally done. C&H 4D has dies for the .219 Improved, but there are so many variations you'll need to either send them a fired case, or know which variation you have for sure!
https://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?filter-col=caliber&filter=219

[old turtle]

i feel that the Remington Hepburn is on of the most under rated actions. I have a Hepburn all original in 32-40. About 1978 or so i purchased a Winchester highwall in R-2 Lovell. I would have kept in R-2 except at the time I could not find any R-2 brass or any thing i could make it from. I had the barrel rebored to 32-40. My butt stock is a very nice piece of walnut. The workmanship is excellent, The forearm looks exactly like your forearm. I wonder if you're Hepburn and my Highwall may have been made by the same gunsmith.

[justashooter]

very nice looking piece of hardware. we are green with envy.

[blackbahart]

not sure where it came from or how it wandered into Canada ,the maker is Mashburn Armsco.The Caliber marking is M.219Zipper IMP ,Called Ch4D and was told there are 28 versions so best to send case to get correct dies .
Just a bit confused on the version ,but it is a nice rifle and happy to have bumped into it up here
Peter

[Bent Ramrod]

The .219 Zipper was "improved" out the wazoo, with everybody having their own ideas, so a few fired cases, or, better still, a chamber cast, should accompany your order for loading dies. Chamber casting is kind of a PIA, but you'll be using those dies a long time and it's best to get them exact.

You might check your breechblock and main spring. The Hepburn has a rebounding hammer that rocks back into the half cock position after firing. With a low- or medium-pressure cartridge, this was OK. With a high-pressure cartridge, the lack of support by the firing pin would sometimes induce blown primers.

When converting Hepburns to varmint rifles, some gunsmiths addressed this problem by bushing the breechblock, and some also ground the mainspring to remove the "rebound" effect and keep the hammer down on the primer. If this was done, the shooter would have to half cock the hammer by hand before opening the breechblock.

[blackbahart]

the firing pin does not appear to have been bushed and it does rebound off the pin after firing .

[quail4jake]

Congratulations, what a nice rifle! Please, if you kill a groundhog with it, post photos on "groundhog showcase" in hunting with cast boolits.

[dtknowles]

The .219 Zipper was "improved" out the wazoo, with everybody having their own ideas, so a few fired cases, or, better still, a chamber cast, should accompany your order for loading dies. Chamber casting is kind of a PIA, but you'll be using those dies a long time and it's best to get them exact.

You might check your breechblock and main spring. The Hepburn has a rebounding hammer that rocks back into the half cock position after firing. With a low- or medium-pressure cartridge, this was OK. With a high-pressure cartridge, the lack of support by the firing pin would sometimes induce blown primers.

When converting Hepburns to varmint rifles, some gunsmiths addressed this problem by bushing the breechblock, and some also ground the mainspring to remove the "rebound" effect and keep the hammer down on the primer. If this was done, the shooter would have to half cock the hammer by hand before opening the breechblock.

Mine does not rebound, so I guess it must have been modified. It is 25 Krag AI

Tim

[blackbahart]

took it apart to do chamber cast ,and clean .Turns out that the firing pin is bushed and turned down ,and the hammer does rebound to leave space between it and pin.Changed out butt pad and put some loads together
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_3423_zpsy5hm9gi2.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_3423_zpsy5hm9gi2.jpg.html)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_3427_zpsoieimzzp.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_3427_zpsoieimzzp.jpg.html)

[marlinman93]

That new butt pad looks much better, and fits the Hepburn's style better too!

[blackbahart]

Sent out the fired case and the chamber cast to CH4D to get the proper loading dies .Also just out of curoisity what would be a proper selling price for one of these hepburns that have been varmitized .I paid 1540 CDN for it delivered .
Cheers Peter

[old turtle]

In my opinion you got a GREAT deal. This appears to be an excellent level of workmanship. The action alone I would say is worth 1,000 USD then add barrel, stock, blueing, and scope you would would be looking at 2500 to 3000 USD at least. My Hepburn was my grandfathers hunting rifle and i would not part with it. I would give you what you paid if my wife would approve. You have a fine rifle which I am sure will give many hours of enjoyment

[marlinman93]

Hepburns can bring huge money in original good condition, but as with any old single shot, a modified gun reduces value. Still, as old turtle mentioned, the action alone is worth $1,000. I doubt the gun as a reworked sporter will see $2500-$3000 as I've seen too many for sale that didn't get any bids at that kind of reserve. But I do think it would sell in the $1800-$2000 range, so you got a great deal at that price!

[blackbahart]

thank you old turtle .As I said I paid 1540 for the rifle ,I added the scope ,rings,and base (modified a talley base to fit existing holes ).Replaced the recoil pad and gave it a good cleaning .The butt stock appears to be original to the receiver as it is #ed to it and the work was done by Hashburn Arms Co as that is stamped into the barrel.

You answer is what I was looking for as it is varmitized ,I could only find a few in higher condition starting starting in the 3500usd but nothing modified/reconfigured .I have no intentions of parting with it as it took me almost 10 years to find one like this (in a varmit caliber)that wasn't instantly sold,and was looking for a value for insurance and my thoughts were at aprox 2500 cdn
tks Peter