Exhibition grade wood [Archive]

Dryball

12-26-2016, 01:28 AM

Sounds like a great project. One of my friends just got done building one for his grandson with ex. wood. He did a schnabel foretip and did the fish-belly stock...and checkered. I think what set his receiver and gun off is he rust blued the blued barrel and french grayed the receiver but case hardened would be just as beautiful. Who cares what others say...it's what you like.

marlinman93

12-26-2016, 02:08 AM

I've heard and read a lot about wood that has lots of figure or burl, possibly having defects that can show up later, or under recoil. I personally haven't seen much of that though. Have a number of 135+ year old guns with presentation grade wood, plus some I've built new with the same grade wood, and not had issues.
I don't personally think high grade wood distracts from a case colored frame, and I also wouldn't order a blued frame on any clone of an old style action. Case coloring was a deluxe finish, and on some guns it was a special order extra. So if I wanted a once in a lifetime special gun, I'd surely want casehardened frame, and high grade wood.
This one is birdseye maple and cased:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4985.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4985.jpg.html)

This one is high grade walnut and cased:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4737.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4737.jpg.html)

Dryball

12-26-2016, 06:17 AM

wow! Beautiful Shutzens

725

12-26-2016, 10:01 AM

stunning

021

12-26-2016, 07:54 PM

Awesome guns!!!!!!!

tdoyka

12-26-2016, 09:00 PM

:shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

wow!!! thems some nice wood!!!

johnson1942

12-26-2016, 09:37 PM

have your stock made out of oregon quilted maple, nothing more beautiful or stunning to look at than oregon quilted maple. buy a piece of it off of the internet and then have a co. that precuts stocks for your gun cut the stock for you then you can finish it. my CPA 45/70 has a tiger stripe maple stock with a solid ebony fore stock . i made the fore stock my self and finished the tiger stripe stock my self. check out oregon quilted maple, it is beautiful.

Don McDowell

12-27-2016, 01:09 AM

The wood CPA puts on their rifles is awfully nice wood.http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/Ranch137/004_zpsb1b5369f.jpg

Elias Graves

12-27-2016, 12:31 PM

While figured wood is definitely harder to work, any weaknesses in the wood caused by the figuring won't affect the function of the gun. You're not asking it to hold up 400 pound fannies all day lol.

LynC2

12-27-2016, 01:53 PM

MY CPA 38-50 has some nice wood on it also.

183594

183595183596

Chill Wills

12-27-2016, 04:09 PM

Very nice Lynn! Even CPA standard wood is a grade better than what one would expect and this, of course is great wood.

Lynn, Did you complete it yourself? Any plans for checkering?

dave roelle

12-27-2016, 04:31 PM

Make a call to Cecil Fredi in Las Vegas before you finalize your choice

http://www.gunstockblanks.com/

Dave

LynC2

12-27-2016, 05:56 PM

Very nice Lynn! Even CPA standard wood is a grade better than what one would expect and this, of course is great wood.

Lynn, Did you complete it yourself? Any plans for checkering?

Yes, I got it unfinished and did a bit of sanding and applied enough finished to shoot it. I am going to wait for warmer weather to do the last bit. I am up in the air about checkering.
Lyn

marlinman93

12-27-2016, 09:42 PM

Although I have occasionally supplied the wood to the stock maker to do a 90% inletted stock, I was always warned that any imperfections inside the wood would be my problem, and I'd have tio pay for his inletting work regardless of whether the wood was good or bad.
The advantage of buying your wood from those who will be shaping it, is if it's got a bad spot the stock maker tosses it, and eats the loss. Unless you're sure the wood you have is perfect, I wouldn't supply my own wood.
Then add to the cost of that wood, shipping to the stock maker, and it gets even spendier! The 3 stocks I supplied wood for were all free blanks from a friend, so no cost to me. Made it a little easier to accept whatever might come of the work later.

oldred

12-27-2016, 10:40 PM

Sometimes even a bit of firewood looks decent, the wood for these guns came from a tree that was in the process of being chopped up for firewood when I happened up on it! I managed to get several good pieces out of it but unfortunately I was too late to save it all.

Not a very good pic of the big one and the figure at the rear of the stock is washed out by the light, I chose to have figure in the butt portion only and straight grain in the wrist because of fear of cracking from recoil. The little one is only a 22 mag so strength for recoil was not an issue.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/dwmiracle/1513a1f2-51a8-4dc2-b1ac-831ef16a64e5_zpshlnqiie9.jpg (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/dwmiracle/media/1513a1f2-51a8-4dc2-b1ac-831ef16a64e5_zpshlnqiie9.jpg.html)

[/URL]http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/dwmiracle/02305dc0-2993-4c09-80ab-855dcf6d8f62_zpsid6kfjpz.jpg (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/dwmiracle/media/02305dc0-2993-4c09-80ab-855dcf6d8f62_zpsid6kfjpz.jpg.html)

M-Tecs

12-27-2016, 11:11 PM

Make a call to Cecil Fredi in Las Vegas before you finalize your choice

http://www.gunstockblanks.com/

Dave

Didn't know of him. Thanks.

Mossy Oak

12-28-2016, 07:56 AM

That is mighty fine looking wood you all, thanks for posting them.
Joe

Wayne Smith

12-28-2016, 09:31 AM

Generally, the fancier the wood the less you want checkering, the plainer the wood the more you want checkering.

Chill Wills

12-28-2016, 11:53 AM

I don't consider a rifle complete until it is checkered but I respect everyone's point of view.
For me, the fancier the grade, the more it needs checkering to be a complete rifle.

marlinman93

12-28-2016, 01:53 PM

I don't consider a rifle complete until it is checkered but I respect everyone's point of view.
For me, the fancier the grade, the more it needs checkering to be a complete rifle.

I would agree that a really fine piece of wood deserves to also get some fine checkering. I do have one Hepburn I built up from an original action, but the rest is new barrel and wood; and never checkered. I've contemplated having it checkered numerous times, but just end up not going ahead with it. I do love the feel of the smooth pistol grip and forearm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/hepscp2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/hepscp2.jpg.html)

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

country gent

12-28-2016, 05:07 PM

When I ordered my Shilouette model with fancy wood Paul Or Gail offered to send me pics of the blanks to pick the set I wanted, One plus with the upper grades is a matching stock and forearm which dosnt always happen otherwise. I told them to pick a nice set and that would be fine. After fitting Gail sent me pics of the stock set and they are beautiful. Rifle is 3 years old now and as the wood ages the grain is showing even more with more "glow" coming out. I didnt opt for checkering on mine but that is a personal thing. On these rifles built to orfer get what you want from the start. In the long run its cheaper than sending it back for mods.

GARD72977

12-28-2016, 06:19 PM

I talked to Paul and he wants the wood when he starts on the gun. I plan to sell some stuff to pay for the gun but I need to save for the wood. I have seen some English and Turkish walnut in the 1000-1500 range that I really like. I'm going to get the stock blank before I put a deposit on the rifle.

LynC2

12-28-2016, 09:34 PM

I don't consider a rifle complete until it is checkered but I respect everyone's point of view.
For me, the fancier the grade, the more it needs checkering to be a complete rifle.

To me checkering is functional in providing an improved grip, especially in hot sweaty conditions. I most likely will get it checkered, or at least the pistol grip. After all this is my new silhouette rifle and checkering most likely will help control the torque with the 1x12 twist barrel and the 360 gr. BACO bullets at 1320 fps. BTW, I was out testing it today trying to find the "sweet spot" and I believe I have found it. 6 shots in 1.050" at 100 in less than ideal conditions. It was in the 40's with 10-15 mph winds changing from 3 to 12 o'clock. I was going to do more testing but I was freezing my tail off and my frozen hands said "enough"! Yes, I know that would be nice conditions in many parts of the USA but I admit I have become a pansy in my old age. :^)

Nobade

12-29-2016, 11:04 AM

Nice! Looks like I am going to have to work hard to keep up with you this year. I am glad it's working so well, and sure looks the business!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Chill Wills

12-29-2016, 10:29 PM

I was out testing it today trying to find the "sweet spot" and I believe I have found it. 6 shots in 1.050" at 100 in less than ideal conditions. It was in the 40's with 10-15 mph winds changing from 3 to 12 o'clock. I was going to do more testing but I was freezing my tail off and my frozen hands said "enough"! Yes, I know that would be nice conditions in many parts of the USA but I admit I have become a pansy in my old age. :^)

WOW! That sounds like match winning accuracy from the CPA rifle and your ammo! You are going to be the man to beat in the 2017 silhouette matches.

I have a friends 38-50 Hepburn - loading and shooting it, trying to help him get it shooting - to develop a match load.. A most temperamental rifle it is! I find something that shoots well and go back and shoot it again and it groups well - but with flyers! I have gone through the rifle A to Z looking for all the reasons. I think the 38-50 Rem-Hep can be kinda cranky! I have heard that from other friends too. Some have given up and moved on. Not Rick Moritz tho - he keeps whipping us with his 38-50! Sorry he moved to Washington a few months ago - he is a good shooting friend but wont miss trying to beat him in the monthly matches.

OK - sorry all - got off topic.
I should post a picture of a high grade rifle with checkering to repent.

marlinman93

12-30-2016, 01:19 PM

I have a friends 38-50 Hepburn - loading and shooting it, trying to help him get it shooting - to develop a match load.. A most temperamental rifle it is!
OK - sorry all - got off topic.
I should post a picture of a high grade rifle with checkering to repent.

Guessing a temperamental caliber more than the Hepburn being temperamental. I have three Hepburns in .45-70, .40-70SS, and .32-40, and all shoot well. Still working up a perfect load for the .32-40 as it's new here, and haven't done a bunch of shooting yet. But so far it looks promising. It's a 34" half octagon Match B with original barrel, and needs a .324" bullet, and plenty of lube for the barrel length!

Chill Wills

12-30-2016, 05:31 PM

Guessing a temperamental caliber more than the Hepburn being temperamental. I have three Hepburns in .45-70, .40-70SS, and .32-40, and all shoot well!

I can only guess too because I have not solved the problem with this rifle yet. It is a sometimes very accurate rifle.

The caliber- maybe?, loose or broken sights or firing pin, reamer design, and how well the rifle was assembled would be the order of my suspicion index. Never would I think Hepburn's, as a design, cant be accurate rifles. I know better than that.

In fact, I am on the Hepburn 12 step program. I just never met a Remington Hepburn I did not want to own.

This one, however, is a stinker.
Glad it is not mine. It would cost me $$$ from the get go. I would start by setting the barrel back and rechambering with a known accurate 38-55 reamer and see how it goes from there.

Chill Wills

12-30-2016, 05:34 PM

Still working up a perfect load for the .32-40 as it's new here, and haven't done a bunch of shooting yet. But so far it looks promising. It's a 34" half octagon Match B with original barrel, and needs a .324" bullet, and plenty of lube for the barrel length!

Hmmmm - I would be very interested in seeing a chamber cast or print data on it if you have done it. Do you think the chamber is un-messed with?

marlinman93

12-30-2016, 09:56 PM

Hmmmm - I would be very interested in seeing a chamber cast or print data on it if you have done it. Do you think the chamber is un-messed with?

The gun in all respects appears to be very original, and very minty. Not restored minty, but Tom Rowe looked at it for me prior to purchase and put his "blessing" on it being unmessed with, for what it's worth. He also told me it was the only Match B he'd ever seen with a 34" Creedmoor length barrel.
I did do a chamber cast, and slug the bore at both ends. It surprised me at being .324", but it wont be the first, or the last to surprise me! I bought a Ballard last year that is also .32-40, and has a .315" bore with a 1:15" twist rate. Odd size and twist rate for a Marlin Ballard, but barrel serial numbers to the gun, and is original throughout. Most of my .32-40 Ballards have bores around .319"-.321" and twist rates are all 1:16" Had to check it several times, and it still comes out a faster 15" twist.
Have a Schoyen Ballard in .32-40 that has the same .324" bore size. Not unusual for a custom barrel maker to be different, as I'd guess Schoyen made them whatever a customer wanted. May have even been "cleaned up" by deepening the rifling if the owner competed a lot.

Texas by God

12-30-2016, 10:17 PM

My opinion only- I don't care for checkering though I appreciate the hard work and artistry involved in it. I understand the gripping aspect but I've never had a gun squirt out of my hands because it's stock was uncheckered. Thanks for showing us your beautiful rifles!

LynC2

12-31-2016, 11:35 AM

WOW! That sounds like match winning accuracy from the CPA rifle and your ammo! You are going to be the man to beat in the 2017 silhouette matches.

LOL, as you well know it takes more than an accurate rifle to win a match. Besides I need to duplicate that performance and check it out at 300 and 600 yds on paper to see if it groups there also.
BTW, I ran into Rick Moritz at Raton a few months ago at my first silhouette match. I had been planning on building a 38-50 and talking to him convinced me to give it a try. I have heard they can be finicky also, so I bought a Green Mountain .40 cal. bbl and have a reamer coming from Manson as a back up.
Lyn

Nobade

01-02-2017, 05:31 PM

Now all you will need is a decent spotter who can give you good wind calls. That's my secret, my spotter is better!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

-Nobade

GARD72977

01-02-2017, 06:37 PM

A lot of good advice here. I'm thinking the best wood CPA has in stock. This would solve a lot of issues.

Just need to make a few more decisions before I put the deposit down. (Have to quit buying guns!)

dave roelle

01-02-2017, 07:46 PM

Good wood makes em shoot lots better :)

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/drroelle/20151205_195237.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/drroelle/media/20151205_195237.jpg.html)

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/drroelle/20151123_150455.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/drroelle/media/20151123_150455.jpg.html)

Dave

GARD72977

01-03-2017, 01:45 AM

That is a very nice rifle you have. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

dave roelle

01-03-2017, 05:23 PM

Thanks

That's piece of English Walnut from Cecil Fredi
Sent directly to Shiloh for that rifle build
Both great folks to deal with
Dave

Chill Wills

01-06-2017, 07:25 PM

I want to post some checkering on good wood and factory plain wood with checkering. I think it really makes the rifle.
Good grain in the wrist area does not have to be lost but I admit it does reduce the ability to really see it. The checking does overwhelm it.184536184537184538
I will post a plain wood Remington in the next post.

Chill Wills

01-06-2017, 07:44 PM

Eddie Southgate

01-06-2017, 07:51 PM

Gunlaker

01-08-2017, 12:20 AM

Here are a couple more CPA's with upgraded wood. The single prong one is English Walnut. I should really take some better pictures, but I think the fancy wood looks good with checkering and case colors.

http://www.bcsingleshot.com/photos/Rifles/CPA-1-Prong/CPA-1-Prong-small.jpg

http://www.bcsingleshot.com/photos/Rifles/CPA-2-Prong/CPA-2-Prong-small.jpg

Chris.

saleen322

01-08-2017, 03:45 AM

Life is too short for ugly wood.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt98/saleen322/Center%20Fire%20Rifles/Right.jpg

kbstenberg

01-08-2017, 08:49 AM

All of those stocks are beautiful. But I would be afraid to take one out and shoot it. For fear of putting a nick in the wood. I have a CZ527 that I hate to take out of the house.

marlinman93

01-08-2017, 10:25 PM

I not only take mine out to shoot, but hunt with some of them too. They hold up well with a proper finish, and a little wax before heading out in the rain.

oldred

01-09-2017, 10:08 PM

I not only take mine out to shoot, but hunt with some of them too. They hold up well with a proper finish, and a little wax before heading out in the rain.

I too tend to shoot mine and to hunt with them, I have no use for a gun I am afraid to use.

I have seen some REALLY nice, well potentially nice anyway, walnut wasted here by timber cutters and for firewood! I have told those dummies repeatedly that those crotch pieces they throw away are worth more than the logs they cut from them but they ruin them anyway. I have sorted through numerous crotch sections from old trees that were ruined because these idi,,,,,err "fellows" cut them too close and ruined them for much of anything except for maybe pistol grips or knife handles. I have asked them repeatedly to leave just a few more inches, which would be almost nothing in lost money for the log, but they just won't listen and cut them down to the last usable inch of the log! I run into these guys often since I do logging equipment repair and I have offered to buy what they throw away but either they don't take me serious or just don't want to bother but in any case the few that have called had already ruined them! I have managed to collect a few good pieces and every single one of them had been destined for firewood except for a couple of them I cut myself in exchange for removing them from the owners property when they wanted rid of them.

marlinman93

01-10-2017, 12:38 PM

Marlinman93, this is for you because of our conversation about Hepburns.:)

184539184540184541If the wood showed much grain 135 years ago I don't know but if it did it has changed and darkened over time and now is slightly even looking. Darkish and not much contrast. The rest of the rifle is in good shape.

That's a gorgeous Hepburn, and wonderful condition! Sorry I didn't see this post until now! Looks like an unusual buttplate for a Swiss buttplate on a Remington? My Hepburn Match B has a similar sized buttplate, but doesn't have the little return curve on top and bottom. Mine has a fairly sharp point on the top instead. My stocks are about the same shade of dark walnut., and have 4 point full checkering on the buttstock, and 5 point on the forearm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4896.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4896.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/marlinguy/DSCF4897.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/marlinguy/media/DSCF4897.jpg.html)

Finnmike

01-13-2017, 06:14 PM

Just had to post a pic of the buttstock on my Ruger Schuetzen .

M-Tecs

01-13-2017, 06:32 PM

Just had to post a pic of the buttstock on my Ruger Schuetzen .

Oustanding!!!!!!!!!

GARD72977

01-13-2017, 06:45 PM

That is very nice

marlinman93

01-14-2017, 12:54 PM

Just had to post a pic of the buttstock on my Ruger Schuetzen .

Now that's a proper looking Ruger No. 1! I've always thought the Ruger could look a lot better with a nice stock, and octagon or half octagon barrel!

oldred

01-14-2017, 07:29 PM

I am just about finished with my next (and last) full size HighWall and since several pics of really nice wood have been posted I thought I would post a few pics of the stock for this rifle, this wood too was salvaged from a firewood pile. Kind of poor quality pictures because I am using just the shop lighting and k-r@%y camera of my phone, both sides have about the same amount of figure and it pretty much runs full length but I couldn't do the lay-out angle the way I would have liked because of the way they had cut up the log,

Sorry about the large size, I guess I need to figure out how to properly post pictures as well as get a different camera!

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/dwmiracle/0114171604_zpsavtqcktv.jpg

(http://s258.photobucket.com/user/dwmiracle/media/0114171604_zpsavtqcktv.jpg.html)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh269/dwmiracle/0114171543_zpsr2j4bele.jpg

(http://s258.photobucket.com/user/dwmiracle/media/0114171543_zpsr2j4bele.jpg.html)

Bill*B

01-15-2017, 10:38 AM

Beautiful wood like the examples shown certainly can turn a rifle into a work of art! Oddly, though, the guns that I've hung on to, and shot and enjoyed the most over the years, have all been plain ones. I'm not sure why.

Blackwater

01-19-2017, 05:38 PM

FWIW, the subject of wood is always ... well, just subjective. A friend of mine has a CPA and its wood is not too far from ordinary. Good, solid piece of wood with a little figure, but not much. He LOVES that gun, and took a deer with it this past year. Worked like a charm in .38/55 on that deer. One shot, bang/flop. You'll like that CPA, I believe. Lots of care has gone into them, and they get silkier with time.

I dote on really great wood, and love it all, as long as it's REAL wood. Walnut, curly maple or curly cherry are the best, IMO, but there are others. I just have a prejudice towards walnut for rifles. It's been a staple for that purpose for a long, long time, and it's not without reasons. It works better than curly maple, and a little better than cherry. I'd go with "marblecake" figure, with lots of color contrast, or feather crotch American walnut if you like that. English, "French," or Turkish are supposed to be the best of the harder species, and there's always Bostogne, which can be beautiful as well.

I wish I could be of more help, but whatever you choose, you'll have one FINE rifle. And I think you've got the right idea in spending what you can afford on the stock. Guns like that will become treasures for the rest of your life, and hopefully for your progeny after that. And if it's sold, it's highly likely to wind up eventually in some connoisseur's hands, so it'll be a real treasure for as long as it exists to someone. Hopefully as "Grandaddy's old rifle." And guns like that will ALWAYS teach the young that the things they THINK they know about guns, just aren't quite what they thought they were. If one takes a deer with that rifle, they'll be hooked forever!

Good luck, and I'm envious of you!

PatMarlin

01-28-2017, 01:34 AM

Good wood makes em shoot lots better :)

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/drroelle/20151123_150455.jpg (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/drroelle/media/20151123_150455.jpg.html)

Dave

What brand and model scope and mounts do you have there Dave?

PatMarlin

01-28-2017, 01:40 AM

Just drop dead gorgeous rifles… I'm a sucker for wood.

I've made more purchase decisions on wood that sealed the deal for me.

My old Hawk Shop find years ago for example...

186421

186422

dave roelle

01-28-2017, 09:13 AM

DZ Arms. Pat
Really a good performing instrument
Dan patterned them after a Fecker he liked

Dave

LynC2

01-28-2017, 02:02 PM

A lot of great rifles with beautiful wood. I too am a sucker for highly figured wood!

marlinman93

01-28-2017, 02:06 PM

DZ Arms. Pat
Really a good performing instrument
Dan patterned them after a Fecker he liked

Dave

Heard good things about DZ Arms scopes! But it sure doesn't look like any of my Feckers with center adjustment in the tube.

dave roelle

01-28-2017, 04:51 PM

Hi Pat--------------I'm not familiar with the Feckers, that's just what Dan passed on to me at a match a couple of years ago.

I'm working with an Unertyl Small Game (6X) right now, on a HighWall------its a really nice piece as well, the 8X of Dan's is just about perfect for sillywets :)------------The DZ sets parallax with the objective---

Dave

PatMarlin

01-29-2017, 04:56 PM

Very cool Dave!

I confess… I'm a closet single shot fanatic.

Here's some shots of my...

1885 Winchester in 22 Lovell built by C.E. Roderick many, many years ago. Premier Varminter of it's day… :mrgreen:

It's got a heavy Stevens Barrel. Was my divorce present to myself 4 years ago. Ashamed to say I have not fired it yet. Mint bore.

I've made a home photo studio in my guest room to take product photos with an old Pentax DSLR I bought used. Always practicing so I'll try here with you guys…. (thumbnails)

186554

186553

186556

186557

186558

186559

186560

186561

186563

PatMarlin

01-29-2017, 05:06 PM

More natural untouched photo...

186566

https://www.patmarlins.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LovellScope2.jpg

dave roelle

01-29-2017, 06:56 PM

Very Very nice Pat-------------ya really need to dirty up the barrel tho :)

Ill get a pic of the HighWall tomorrow i hope

Stay safe

Dave

marlinman93

01-29-2017, 08:42 PM

Pat, your High Wall sporterized is a near twin to the Buhmiller .22 Hornet High Wall I owned back in the 1980's! Looks like they were made by the same person!

PatMarlin

01-29-2017, 09:34 PM

They very well could have mm93, and that's gunsmith and author C.E. Roderick.

This rifle has been in a few collections over the years, and I was fortunate to acquire it from a local family.

R2 Lovell caliber, Custom AAA walnut stocks, adjustable trigger; made in 1894 C.E. Roderick, Monett, Mo.

This was written by one of our members here a few years back...

Claude Roderick was a pretty famous shooter, gunsmith and single-shot rifle enthusiast. He wrote articles about all of those topics in the old American Rifleman, Gun Digest, and Precision Shooting. If I recall, he was the one that devised the "ladder method" of load development where you shoot one shot each of loads with gradually increasing charges at a long range target. If all goes as it should, the shots should climb up the target for a time, then start clustering, and finally start climbing again. The load in the center of the cluster is the "sweet spot" that you set your powder measure to, as slight variations will then stay in the group.

A lot of the late 40's and '50's varmint rifles had that high-comb, Monte Carlo buttstock and beavertail forend. With an outside adjustment scope necessarily mounted high, you needed to overcome the drop of the action tangs to keep your face on the stock, and of course the wide forend was all the rage with the position and benchrest shooters.

There are a couple articles about the R-2 Lovell in Rifle # 34 and Handloader #101. It was a great cartridge by all accounts, but it was never standardized. Every gunsmith had a different idea about the dimensions, so there was no particular version that the ammunition factories could be assured of a large market for. Griffin and Howe and Smith's Custom Loading managed to get a run or two of cases made for the wildcat handloaders and that was it. Now that Jamison .25-20 Single Shot brass is available again, I would think the R-2 ought to have a well-deserved resurgence.

marlinman93

01-30-2017, 03:37 PM

From the old varmint rifles I've seen built on the 1885 High Walls, very few have the quality that your 1885 does Pat! Lots in that same style, but the vast majority are pretty crude compared to yours, and the one I owned. Mine had not only the same stock design, with beavertail forearm, but equally nice wood, and the same checkering pattern.
In the past a lot of collectors bought these nicely rebuilt varmint single shots, and stripped them down to rebuild them to original specs. Fortunately times have changed in recent years, and people have begun to appreciate the guns that were done well, and not tearing them apart. They truly are a collecting/shooting segment to themselves, and should be saved as such.