tanstafl10
06-01-2008, 09:23 AM
just wanted everyone to know (although you probably already do) that this Board is a big help!
I have been around for a couple years mostly lurking. I try to soak up knowledge on all the topics that I can. Most attention is spent going over items dealing with active projects of mine, but I do read a lot of things and just file the info away for "future use". Well, the future arrived this Memorial Day. Our Annual Shoot 'N Cook Out.
My youngest son's significant other brought a rifle that she was just gifted by her step father. She knew I would be interested because it was a lever action! She fell in love with a M-94 Limited Ed in 45 Colt that I have. Always loves to shoot it when she comes over. So, she was anxious to share here new acquisition this year.
It is a 32 WCF Model 92 made in (from what I get using a little research) 1894. Man!, was I ever happy for her. The two of us could not wait to shoot it. We inspected it and scrubbed the bore and inspected the bore.... a little rough I think, and then went out to get some ammo. One of the dwindling calibers for which I have no dies or brass...BUT I do have a couple 32 moulds!!! And I was able to piece a few different dies together to load for the 32-20 thanks to threads I read here.
Imagine our disappointment when we got to the range and had trouble hitting the 50 yard backstop. Some were bouncing into the backstop at 40 yards. It did not matter what sight picture or sight adjustment we tried. Luckily we noticed the key-holing on some big cardboard pieces we managed to hit. It was this moment that I saw the light of Cast Boolit! Undersized boolits will keyhole I read in one of the threads. I figured the R-P lead bullets were sized .312 at best. Recovered bullets shwed very little signs of engraving in grooves. I was in a panic, the barrel is shot out, the rifle no good. It would ruin the value of the rifle if we re-barreled it.
After the initial panic, I gathered my thoughts and no $h!t, I said to myself, "Self, what would the guys on Cast Boolit do?" "Well,"I answered myself "they would just reach up on the shelf and start casting the correct size Boolit to do the job."
It was now a challenge to keep this piece of history shooting for Sara, a member of the next generation of shooters. Guns are of little use if they cannot be shot. My job was clear, slug the bore and find out what diameter Boolit was needed to allow this prize to please yet one more generation.
I drove a .312 soft lead bullet through the barrel and was not too surprised to see very little in the way of rifling engraved on it. I pulled some as cast ACWW 32 's from an RCBS mould and ran them through a .314 sizer to lube them. The .314 barely touched them so I figured the max was .313. Was worth a try.
Results the next day showed improvement, but not enough. Recovered Boolit only showed light rifling marks. Here again is where this site came to the rescue. Somewhere.. cannot remember where..(thank you to whoever it was), I read that linotype will cast a larger diameter compared to WW out of the same mould.
Off I went to the barn to cast a handful of the 32's with linotype and sure enough those boolits did size with the .314 sizer. Loaded a couple of test loads and off to the range. IT WORKED.. what a great feeling of accomplishment! An old rifle resurrected for a younger generation to carry on... Charlie Mike at its best.
The attached target was shot at 50 yards from the bench. It was the first group shot through a clean barrel. Also, my eyes are not the best and open sights are a challenge to me. Top to bottom is 1 1/8 inch and the top two are 3/8 ".
This same session I drifted the sights to bring them to point of aim. I did not want to move them until I had THE load for the rifle. After this target I tried standing 50 yards on some 6 X 9 " steel plates and the rifle did very well when I did my part. The steel plates are what we shoot most, so that was my goal. I think Sara will be tickled with these results and Mark, Sara and I now have a memory that will live on after I am gone. Can't beat that with a stick, as they say.
To all of you who helped me accomplish this... I THANK YOU! I have been shooting and reloading since 1977, but could not have done this without the input of this site. I mostly lurk here, cannot seem to contribute much, but I am trying to use what I learn and pass it forward.
Way to go guys!
I have been around for a couple years mostly lurking. I try to soak up knowledge on all the topics that I can. Most attention is spent going over items dealing with active projects of mine, but I do read a lot of things and just file the info away for "future use". Well, the future arrived this Memorial Day. Our Annual Shoot 'N Cook Out.
My youngest son's significant other brought a rifle that she was just gifted by her step father. She knew I would be interested because it was a lever action! She fell in love with a M-94 Limited Ed in 45 Colt that I have. Always loves to shoot it when she comes over. So, she was anxious to share here new acquisition this year.
It is a 32 WCF Model 92 made in (from what I get using a little research) 1894. Man!, was I ever happy for her. The two of us could not wait to shoot it. We inspected it and scrubbed the bore and inspected the bore.... a little rough I think, and then went out to get some ammo. One of the dwindling calibers for which I have no dies or brass...BUT I do have a couple 32 moulds!!! And I was able to piece a few different dies together to load for the 32-20 thanks to threads I read here.
Imagine our disappointment when we got to the range and had trouble hitting the 50 yard backstop. Some were bouncing into the backstop at 40 yards. It did not matter what sight picture or sight adjustment we tried. Luckily we noticed the key-holing on some big cardboard pieces we managed to hit. It was this moment that I saw the light of Cast Boolit! Undersized boolits will keyhole I read in one of the threads. I figured the R-P lead bullets were sized .312 at best. Recovered bullets shwed very little signs of engraving in grooves. I was in a panic, the barrel is shot out, the rifle no good. It would ruin the value of the rifle if we re-barreled it.
After the initial panic, I gathered my thoughts and no $h!t, I said to myself, "Self, what would the guys on Cast Boolit do?" "Well,"I answered myself "they would just reach up on the shelf and start casting the correct size Boolit to do the job."
It was now a challenge to keep this piece of history shooting for Sara, a member of the next generation of shooters. Guns are of little use if they cannot be shot. My job was clear, slug the bore and find out what diameter Boolit was needed to allow this prize to please yet one more generation.
I drove a .312 soft lead bullet through the barrel and was not too surprised to see very little in the way of rifling engraved on it. I pulled some as cast ACWW 32 's from an RCBS mould and ran them through a .314 sizer to lube them. The .314 barely touched them so I figured the max was .313. Was worth a try.
Results the next day showed improvement, but not enough. Recovered Boolit only showed light rifling marks. Here again is where this site came to the rescue. Somewhere.. cannot remember where..(thank you to whoever it was), I read that linotype will cast a larger diameter compared to WW out of the same mould.
Off I went to the barn to cast a handful of the 32's with linotype and sure enough those boolits did size with the .314 sizer. Loaded a couple of test loads and off to the range. IT WORKED.. what a great feeling of accomplishment! An old rifle resurrected for a younger generation to carry on... Charlie Mike at its best.
The attached target was shot at 50 yards from the bench. It was the first group shot through a clean barrel. Also, my eyes are not the best and open sights are a challenge to me. Top to bottom is 1 1/8 inch and the top two are 3/8 ".
This same session I drifted the sights to bring them to point of aim. I did not want to move them until I had THE load for the rifle. After this target I tried standing 50 yards on some 6 X 9 " steel plates and the rifle did very well when I did my part. The steel plates are what we shoot most, so that was my goal. I think Sara will be tickled with these results and Mark, Sara and I now have a memory that will live on after I am gone. Can't beat that with a stick, as they say.
To all of you who helped me accomplish this... I THANK YOU! I have been shooting and reloading since 1977, but could not have done this without the input of this site. I mostly lurk here, cannot seem to contribute much, but I am trying to use what I learn and pass it forward.
Way to go guys!