Getting a qoute on a new rifle

[country gent]

Hello gentleman, I recently contacted DZ Arms for a quote on a Hepburn rifle. caliber 38-55, barrel half octagon contour 1-12 twist 32" long. Case hardened receiver. walnut wood mercury recoil reducer and pachmeyer butt pad. Drilled and tapped for tang sight, dovetail cut for front globe. But will also have one of the DZ Arms 8X scopes and rings on it. Double set triggers.

Did I miss anything? Anyone have experience with DZ Arms? Thanks for an information

[Nobade]

Great outfit to work with. I'd recommend them highly. Unless it's just for balance I'd leave out the mercury tube, that rifle isn't going to kick anyway.

[kokomokid]

Dan is the man or his son Rick. I usually send him a Krieger blank and have it full length octagon. Dan has a reamer for a 38-50 also.

[country gent]

I have thought about doing that Kokomokid. but adding the lead time of getting the Krieger blank to DZs lead time makes for very extended project. I would like to try one of Krieger's Alexander Henry rifled blanks but I think they are available in 45 cal only. I also considered 38-56 but don't really want the chore of forming the brass. I also considered 40-70 ss but again forming from 30-40 or 405 win would be a chore.

[kokomokid]

Nice thing about getting custom made is you get what you want. My last DZ gun was a 32 inch and you get more fouling problems and need taller scope blocks for longer range and taller cheek rest. Wish I had made it a 30" but I do have a hacksaw.

[Boz330]

I have thought about doing that Kokomokid. but adding the lead time of getting the Krieger blank to DZs lead time makes for very extended project. I would like to try one of Krieger's Alexander Henry rifled blanks but I think they are available in 45 cal only. I also considered 38-56 but don't really want the chore of forming the brass. I also considered 40-70 ss but again forming from 30-40 or 405 win would be a chore.

I believe that Starline makes 40-70 brass and it is properly marked.
I did a 40-50 last year and it was a real learning process making brass for that puppy. Now that I have some though I'm really happy with it.

Bob

[Jon K]

38-50 brass is available from BACO

I just looked and didn't see 40-70 @ Starline.

[sharpsguy]

Starline has 40-65, but don't show 40-70 SS. To the best of my knowledge, Starline has never made 40-70 SS. Jamison made some that was properly head stamped for the 40-70, and it was excellent brass. Sadly, I only got 200 pieces of it before Jamison closed their doors. Build your rifle in 40-65. You won't regret it.

[country gent]

I have a 40-65 in a CPA shilouette model that's a great shooter. Shooting from my wheel chair is part of the reason behind the 38-55 and the added recoil reducing. Havent heard back yet from DZ. I did hear back from C Sharps on their Hepburn set up like I want less scope and sights. It was $3200.00 roughly depending on wood choice. Another $1000 for scope and 600-700for sights if I go with them also.

[country gent]

The DZ scope will be a dedicated scope for this rifle since all my rifles currently are drilled and tapped for 17" centers instead of the 7.2 for the shorter DZ Scope. If I go with a set of Irons it will probably be MVA long range soule rear and front globe with spirit level. And a Haley eye cup.

[bigted]

Nice. Can't wait to see photo's and hear your range report.

[GrumpyBear]

Looking at pictures on DZ's website they are beautiful guns and have a reputation of being very well built.

Can't wait to see yours.

[GARD72977]

I'm envious. I have been wanting a DZ Hepburn in 40-50 for a while.

Do the barrel you want. You will not remember the lead time but the rifle last forever.

[country gent]

Currently as far as barrels go I have on my BPCR rifles 2 Green Mountains 1 45 cal 1-18 twist 1 38 cal 1-12 twist, 1 douglas 40 cal 1-14 twist, 1 McGowan 38 cal 1-12 twist, and one Al Story 45 cal 1-18 twist. Last is a 45 cal 1-18 badger barrel. So the green mountain blank isn't a big issue for me. With the upper end makers now I think its more how they are chambered contoured and machined more so than maker.

I can remember the Old timers from 40s 50s and 60s telling of hummer barrels being saved for big events only. Getting barrels that didn't shoot or fouled badly. One of the first top maker was Hart Barrels. Now with todays market and the competition the next new barrel is as good or better than the last, If all the above mentioned is done correctly.

[country gent]

I'm going to order the DZ rifle next week. 38-55 1-12 barrel tapered round 32" long double set triggers and their scope mounted plus dovetail for front sight and tang drilled and tapped for MVA base. 13 1/2 length of pull and a recoil reducer. Shooting for 11 lb weight finished. Should hold good and be easy recoil from my wheelchair.:p.

[rfd]

those DZ guns look real good. having messed with mercury tubes in .45-70 gun stocks, i agree with andy. ain't needed for the .45-70 let alone a .38 gun.

[country gent]

I talked with Dan at AZ Arms today. Discussed the rifle in detail and Monday or Tuesday will be ordering it. Changed to half round barrel 32" long. And Am thinking Pachmeyer recoil pad instead of steel. Chambered for long brass. He is getting back to me on the throat if any. Front dovetail will b cut and a blank installed, tang drilled and tapped for mva base. Case hardening is done by Doug Turnball and I'm not sure about bluing. double set triggers.

[Don McDowell]

That's going to be a nice rifle. Hope to see some pictures of it.

[M-Tecs]

I am doing my own builds on original Winchester High Wall actions with Krieger barrels. For lead only Krieger recommends a 50/50 land/groove. For jacketed or both they recommend a 70/30 since the 50/50 raises pressure. I went with 50/50 in SS for both of them.

The Henry style rifling is mostly for paper patch.

https://www.kriegerbarrels.com/caliber#henry

Henry Style Rifling

Description: This is an early style of rifling meant for paper patched cast lead bullet's in early metallic cartridges.
Standard Contour: 29" Blank x 1.300" Diameter. Chrome Moly Steel.
Calibers: These are currently available in .32 thru .40 calibers, and also .458 and .577 calibers. Please call (262) 628 - 8558 for availability of other calibers.

[kokomokid]

I am doing my own builds on original Winchester High Wall actions with Krieger barrels. For lead only Krieger recommends a 50/50 land/groove. For jacketed or both they recommend a 70/30 since the 50/50 raises pressure. I went with 50/50 in SS for both of them.

The Henry style rifling is mostly for paper patch.

https://www.kriegerbarrels.com/caliber#henry

Henry Style Rifling

Description: This is an early style of rifling meant for paper patched cast lead bullet's in early metallic cartridges.
Standard Contour: 29" Blank x 1.300" Diameter. Chrome Moly Steel.
Calibers: These are currently available in .32 thru .40 calibers, and also .458 and .577 calibers. Please call (262) 628 - 8558 for availability of other calibers.
Most accurate bbl I have is a Krieger cm 17 twist wide land but the lands are not as wide as the grooves. I got this bbl for a special Jones 550 grain bullet but it sure likes a Baco 530 gr money bullet. Back when I got this bbl they told me that Mr Krieger was rifling all the wide land bbls himself.

[M-Tecs]

Most accurate bbl I have is a Krieger cm 17 twist wide land but the lands are not as wide as the grooves. I got this bbl for a special Jones 550 grain bullet but it sure likes a Baco 530 gr money bullet. Back when I got this bbl they told me that Mr Krieger was rifling all the wide land bbls himself.

He still is. I went with wide land in SS. One is a 17 twist and the other is a 16 twist. Should be shooting them this spring. As to what the width is the sales person stated 50/50 or 70/30 were the options.

[kokomokid]

He still is. I went with wide land in SS. One is a 17 twist and the other is a 16 twist. Should be shooting them this spring. As to what the width is the sales person stated 50/50 or 70/30 were the options.

Great to know he is still doing bbls. I have a 17 twist SS wide land on order for BPTR that will be a #5 weight Winchester bbl.

[kokomokid]

I talked with Dan at AZ Arms today. Discussed the rifle in detail and Monday or Tuesday will be ordering it. Changed to half round barrel 32" long. And Am thinking Pachmeyer recoil pad instead of steel. Chambered for long brass. He is getting back to me on the throat if any. Front dovetail will b cut and a blank installed, tang drilled and tapped for mva base. Case hardening is done by Doug Turnball and I'm not sure about bluing. double set triggers.

That should be a very nice gun. What does Dan say about having any throat or free bore?

[country gent]

I ask how his reamer was set up and He didn't remember is going to check it. and let me know when I call next week. I have a 38-55 reamer ground by Manson its the McPhearson version and it has .350 throat between case mouth and leade. I haven't used it yet.

[country gent]

Well now its the longest 4 months to ever be. Ordered and paid for the rifle today. Buy the hard case for $XXXX.XX and they send it with a free rifle in it. Like CPA buy the ball cap for $XXX.XX and get a free rifle.

Ordered it with 32" half octagon barrel 1-12 twist. 13 1/2 LOP, scope. Fancy walnut matching stock and forearm. Pachmeyer pad and recoil reducer. double set triggers. fore end tip.

Scope uses unertal posa mounts. at 7.2 spacing its 1/2 moa per graduation. ( I have a few of these from small bore and other things on various heights ) Scope is 8X and NRA allowed. No "clicks" in the rear mount.

[country gent]

Well almost 1 month down on the build time.

[EDG]

You might check the neck/mouth diameter of the reamer you will be using.
The SAAMI chamber permits a case mouth so small that you can't chamber WW brass when loaded with a .380 or larger bullet.
What groove diameter barrel do you expect to use?


I ask how his reamer was set up and He didn't remember is going to check it. and let me know when I call next week. I have a 38-55 reamer ground by Manson its the McPhearson version and it has .350 throat between case mouth and leade. I haven't used it yet.

[country gent]

They use Green mountain blanks so it should be close to the dimensions of the last blank for the rolling block and the mc gowen on my high wall .375-.376. I had thought about a CM Krieger but didn't want to add to the wait time that much.

[country gent]

Now 2 months in to the build time o this rifle. They way its looking Ill get the rifle and new building up about the same time.