I am going to build on one of these Wesson #1 actions:

http://www.assra.com/feature-n...er_december-2004.htm

Has to be a rimmed cartridge. I'm thinking about .45-70, but I'm also considering 30-40 Krag and 30-40 Krag Improved. I will probably build it light as a hunting rifle, so it won't be an ideal BPCR rifle (if I ever looked at doing that). But if I did, the .45-70 would be a competitive round.

And barrel? Thinking of using Badger or Green Mountain. Also thinking about round even though I originally was leaning towards the octagon. But some of the Alexander Henry actions on the web with round barrels look good (Wesson #1 was a copy of the Henry).

Finally, target tang sights or more standard buckhorn or express sights?

Thanks for any ideas,
Steve

I'll try to get a picture of what I have done so far. They are cool actions. Mine is going through a transformation to a "Henry". I went with .450 3&1/4". I guess some of your decisions will be based upon what you want the outcome to look like. I like round barrels on hunting rifles, but it is all personal preference. Close range hunting I like express sights, longer range tang sights, you can do both with a folding express.
Steve

.450 3.24", Wow!

I like that cartridge, too. Would love to see pictures.

I'm really on the fence about the tang sight. I like the idea of it for precision shooting, but it's likely that I'll never shoot this in a match. And the tang site seems slow and in-the-way for any sort of hunting. Haven't used one though. Anybody have a different experience?

Steve

32/40,Pope 33/40, or .38/55.....

a partially reshaped hammer and talking safety in process. More pictures later.

Wow. Thanks for the pic. What's the book shown in the photo?

winfers alexander henry book

I am slowly building one now in 333 Jeffery Rimmed.

I have a half octagon/half round barrel from Wind River Rifles with an integral quarter rib, and a very nicely figured walnut stock carved at Treebone.

I've been waiting to put it all together until the engraving is done on the receiver.

I think the ideal hunt would be for red stag in Scotland.

Garrett

Garrett,

What are you doing for sights?

Steve

I am using a banded front sight from NECG (purchased from Brownell's).

As you probably know, the 333 Jeff. rimmed case is formed from 450-400 brass, that Hornandy now makes.

This may be heretical to some, but I had my chamber reamer custom made for .338 bullets (the original Jeffery used .333 bullets).
There are so many good .338 bullets nowadays, I couldn't resist cheating just a little.

I am working out some custom bases for the integral rib to allow the use of a scope as well.

Steve, you did well to purchase one of these actions. It's the best made action (of any type) that I've ever owned. More like art than a machine.

I hope you'll keep us posted about how your project goes.

Garrett

Steve Earle is a master craftsman, and his girls are so cute. He has them helping in the shop, they count and bag various small parts. Good Christian family! Mine is on order, by year's end I think!

Consider a 38-90 wcf. Great supply of .375" bullets, and the brass is made by necking 9,3x74R cases UP .009". CH4D has dies.

I have one on a Shiloh Sharps, and it shoots!!

Rich
Buff Killer

Garrett,

Any rear sight, other than the scope setup?

Garrett and Rich, I agree: Steve Earle's not only a great guy, but an artist with metal. The action is absolutely beautiful.

Ed Deguello, did think about .32-40 or .38-55. I'll have to look up the .33-40 Pope, or look at Garrett's .338 Jeffery . I have a nice Kreiger .338 barrel that was for a different project that I was thinking about using. Or Rich, I actually thought about the 9.3x74 necked down to .338.

And here I was afraid all you guys were going to try to talk me out of the 30-40 Krag Improved as too hard to find/form brass for...Still leaning towards the Improved Krag or the .45-70, though.

Steve

Steve,

I go back and forth on the rear sight.

I've seen a folding tang sight on a Wesson #1...not sure if I like it.

The quarter rib screams out for a V-notch sight.
A true classic would have folding leaves as well.

However, while I do shoot at 100 yard targets with open sights, I cannot picture myself ever shooting at game with them beyond that distance.

I am leaning towards a simple deep V sight, that would be custom made for the rifle.

If I ever had to finish wounded game at a distance over 100 yards, I would just rely on Kentucky Windage.

If you do decide on the 333 Jeffery, let me know and you can borrow my reamer.

Regards,

Garrett

Garrett,

I'm also not sure I like the looks of the tang sight, especially with a round barrel. I thing tang vernier sights are really cool mechanical devices, but I'm not sure I like the look. And I think that messing with it while trying to hunt might be a pain.

I don't know, Tom Selleck didn't seem to have a problem in Quigley Down Under.

If I built an octagonal barreled target rifle, I'd probably use the tang sight. With a round-barrelled hunting rifle, I'd probably go banded front and 3 leaf rear.

Hey, thanks for the offer on the reamer. Where can I find load data/ballistic data for the Jeffery? Saw the Kynoch site. Any of the reloading manuals? Graehme Wright's book didn't have any, did it? Pet Loads doesn't have it.

Steve

Steve,

The book "Custom Cartridges" (Ken Howell) shows a case capacity of 117 grains of water for the 333 Jeffery Rimmed, vs. 120 grains of water for the 338 Win Mag.

I plan on using ordinary Win Mag data, although I won't try to push the cartridge to it's absolute maximum (not that the Wesson action isn't strong, just that maximum handloads isn't the point of this rifle).

The original rimmed cartridge was just a shade slower than the 333 Jeffery rimless, due to it being made for double rifles in particular.

It should be an easy cartridge to load for.

Garrett

it has been a slow build but fun. I went with a round barrel and a Nock form.

SKB,

Sorry, but what's a Nock form? Is it related to a Nock volley rifle?

Nocks form

Skb,

Your rifle is looking great.

Who turned your wood on the stock?
I had Treebone Carving do mine.

Keep us posted....

Garrett

Pattern stock came from Treebone, I had to add material in several places to get the shape I wanted, behind the grip cap and the right side of the stock to get enough cast mostly. Thank you for your kind words. These are great actions, but benefit greatly from reshaping a few area if you are building a sporter.
Steve

Mine is being reshaped and chambered in 450-400 3 1/4. Will attempt to shoot lead and full NE loads. Action will be recontoured and will use nice French walnut. Comb over top strap. Fun project.

Nice Rigby flats, skb. Takes a lot of work to get those right. Should really compliment your rifle. George at Treebone is a friend and really goes the extra step to accommodate.


Dutch

Gentlemens;

Here is another Wesson, this one in .45-70.

Glenn Fewless

Glenn,

Beautiful. Can you post pictures that show the sights?

Thanks,
Steve

Mr. skl1:

I will see if I have a picture of the rifle with sights, but it is a target rifle and so has no rear barrel sight. The tang sight and fron globe sight are both from Distant Thunder.

http://www.distantthunderbpcr.com/


Glenn Fewless

Garrett, Glenn, SKB;

What length barrels did you go with?

Steve

long....28" and it seems like it is going to handle very nicely. I expect to come in right around 10lbs, just about right for .450 3&1/4". I'm almost moved into my new shop and hope to get a fair bit done by summers end.
Steve

Glenn, that is a beautiful rifle. Next time you talk to Mike Lewis, tell him to make mine look like that.

josh

26 inch barrel, and 28 inches would have been
a better choice.

Garrett