jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,606
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Post by jeffh on Oct 18, 2023 8:28:47 GMT -5
I've tried the buckshot/round-ball trick in 30, 35 and 44 several times over the years and never got it work as well as others have.
MAYBE I could get a rabbit-sized group at ten yards, but I never managed to get squirrel-head accuracy. Probably a curse on me, because I've tried all the recommendations supplied over the years. NOT to say it doesn't work - it just never worked for ME. Not holding my mouth right when seating the ball?
Ironically, round-balls were MUCH more accurate in my Ruger Old Army than the conicals were.
Since I cast, I gave up on the spheres and cast soft (50/50 Wheel-Weights/Pure Lead) and stick with at least 158 grains, especially if I'm going to shoot at 50 or more yards.
Still, if a fella doesn't cast, I've always thought this was a viable option for low-powered loads - buy a bag of buckshot or box of round-balls, for much less than a box of bullets and go have fun.
No Mil-Dot scopes. I never ventured that far, but I have developed one load, which serves a lot of purposes, which shoots tiny groups to POA at ten yards and one inch high, one-inch groups at 50 yards. Far from the lightweight balls, it does use up some lead at 184-185 grains, 4.5 grains of Unique. This one load saves me from deciding whether I head out the back door with a cat-sneeze load or a more potent load. Sometimes, by the time I get some boots and a hat on, the offender has wandered a ways from where I spotted it when causing trouble.
I have to ruminate this thought of the Mil-Dot scopes now. It does make sense for this application. One scope I used to used for this, if you can find one, was the Bushnell Command-Post, on which you could flip a lever under the windage cap or turn what looked like a power ring to flip a tapered post up or back down. UP, for lower light situations, and DOWN, to allow a finer wire for hold-over. Sold my last one a while back - 6X and too much for what I do with these, but had a couple neat 2.5s in the mid-eighties which would be nice to have now.
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Post by Encore64 on Oct 24, 2023 10:39:13 GMT -5
I don't cast, but this rifle does exactly what I'd hoped.
It shoots the 150-165 grn the same velocity as the 30 Reece does the 125-135 grn.
But, this one really smokes the jacketed bullets too. It'll prove very versatile in the long run I believe.
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cdf41
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
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Post by cdf41 on Oct 30, 2023 19:11:21 GMT -5
I wish that I still had that little 300 Blk Handi Rifle!
I had sent it to a gunsmith in OK.to have it cut to use 357 magnum or 300 blk brass. Can't seem to find him online anymore.
That little rifle almost felt like a toy rifle, sure was fun to shoot!
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,606
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Post by jeffh on Oct 30, 2023 19:59:21 GMT -5
I wish that I still had that little 300 Blk Handi Rifle! I had sent it to a gunsmith in OK.to have it cut to use 357 magnum or 300 blk brass. Can't seem to find him online anymore. That little rifle almost felt like a toy rifle, sure was fun to shoot!
Mine was handier than my Red Ryder BB gun!
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cdf41
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
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Post by cdf41 on Oct 30, 2023 20:01:38 GMT -5
Yep that's it! I did the Krylon camo treatment to my stock Lol.
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Post by txtrout on Nov 6, 2023 9:26:32 GMT -5
So...
This whole topic made me reach back out to John Taylor on my previous thoughts on a build. I have Hopkins and Allen 44XL falling block shotgun that I've considered for some time making into a 32 S&W Long, 32-20 or 38 special. The 32-20 was an original option and John has worked on these in the past and says he would be comfortable with even up to normal, but not +p, 38 special.
I spent some time cleaning up the action yesterday while watching some football and it still has some of the original case coloring on it. Overall in pretty good shape. I'll have to make some new stocks for it, since the wrist is bad on the butt stock.
So he thinks we save the curren good condition barrel and line it for 32 S&W. So I guess we'll go that way.
I may not follow this build to an exact rook build. I'm thinking a bit more towards a mini Ruger/farquison looking build. Currently looking for some wood I like. Perhaps some nice and simple claro and add an ebony tip. Thinking about a 22" barrel. Drill and tap and put a 3/4" Refield scope on it.
What's one more project to spend money on? Besides I have a bunch of 32 S&W Long ammo.
I've waved back and forth for a while in the 32 vs 357. Decided I need two rifles for this argument.
Another base for a R&R rifle build would be the Turkish made Yuldiz 410 that Academy Sports carries. It would make a dandy 32/32-20 conversion. It uses internal hammer, alum frame with a steel insert for the firing pin and trust area like many striker fire pistols use. It has nice Turkish walnut in it and I was going to go that way, but decided to go with the H&A insted.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,606
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Post by jeffh on Nov 6, 2023 10:56:20 GMT -5
So... .....What's one more project to spend money on?...
If you enjoy it and have the space and time - why not?
I don't NOT have 32s because I don't like them - I think they're great. I made a decision to consolidate and reduce the number of projects. This suits MY needs and wants as well, but it sure would be cool to have an old-timey single-shot in a mild-mannered 32. I won't build one, but I sure enjoy others' projects doing so.
I hope you post your progress. This sounds like a neat project.
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 6, 2023 14:32:38 GMT -5
I've always thought the 32 Long would make a dandy little rifle.
I'd planned one, but after adding two rifles in 327 Federal I flipped.
The lightweight small game rifles really come to life with the 32s.
I hope you post as your project progresses...
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Post by txtrout on Nov 6, 2023 21:09:56 GMT -5
Issue is I was trying to consolidate... And then I found that H&A again.in my stuff.
I have a teenage daughter that shoots with me at times, so she'll end up with it anyway. She took over my Stevens 418.
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jeffh
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,606
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Post by jeffh on Nov 6, 2023 22:01:57 GMT -5
Issue is I was trying to consolidate... And then I found that H&A again.in my stuff. I have a teenage daughter that shoots with me at times, so she'll end up with it anyway. She took over my Stevens 418.
OK, a "teenage daughter who shoots with you sometimes" is an exception.
Spend what TIME and MONEY necessary to acquire and hold her attention.
The consolidation/reduction objective is out the window at this point.
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scotth
.30 Stingray
Posts: 214
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Post by scotth on Nov 14, 2023 15:55:42 GMT -5
I wish that I still had that little 300 Blk Handi Rifle! I had sent it to a gunsmith in OK.to have it cut to use 357 magnum or 300 blk brass. Can't seem to find him online anymore. That little rifle almost felt like a toy rifle, sure was fun to shoot! you must be talking about david white in ok. he died from covid stuff i think it was his hart that failed from him having covid he did some work for me way before the covid.
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cdf41
.30 Stingray
Posts: 421
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Post by cdf41 on Nov 15, 2023 6:29:18 GMT -5
That was him, hate to hear he had passed away.
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Post by pattontime on Nov 17, 2023 22:04:09 GMT -5
So I started with a dandy little Handi-Rifle in 300 Blackout, worked great with heavier bullets as it had a 1-8 twist, but I wanted a plinker 300 Blackout to shoot a lot of inexpensive bullets at the indoor range so I bought a 24"Encore barrel from MGM with a 1-12 twist, I couldn't be happier with it. I shoot mostly 125-grain bullets & use plated a lot that I buy from Accura, I pay about 12 cents each, and I have also run into deals on 125-grain FMJs from American Reloading for even less. I don't shoot outdoors as much as I used to, but I can shoot indoors a couple of times a week as it's very convenient to drop in for an hour or two. I also shoot my Contenders in 357 Magnum, 221 Fireball & 22 Hornet they are all carbines, I sold off some of my lever guns.
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Post by txtrout on Nov 24, 2023 15:56:55 GMT -5
I got the H&A Falling Block off the John Taylor. I ended up leaning towards 38 Special as the cartridge. He will look at and end the we will decide on the 38 vs 32 question. 38 has entered back into the thoughts due to the availability of 38 aamo off the shelf, and the 500 new pieces of starline brass I dug out of my stuff. I also don't want to have to load what we shoot all of the time.
John thinks that it will be ok as a 38 Special, but wouldn't suggest 38 special +p. 32 S&W or 32-20 no issue. 32-20 was an available option when it was made and runs at a slightly higher pressure than 32 S&W Long.
Will be a few months before I get it back from him.
My thought is to make it look something like the Umberti "1885 "COURTENEY" STALKING RIFLE" since the action looks a good bit like an 1885. The stalking rifle even has just about the same style butt stock with the prince of Wales grip.
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