Getting real close to the first shot!! I am starting this in a new thread, but there is a lot of progress description and pics under "ejector or extractor" thread

I had a local machine shop thread my monoblock and barrel. They did a very good job as the faces meet tight enough to hide the seam ( 1" 20 threads if you were wondering) I spent the weekend machining the barrel from the 1.25" unturned blank....A LOT OF MACHINING) and fitting the Anson latch block on the bottom of the barrel. The forearm fits nice and snug and there is no wobble at the hinge when the action is open. It isn't too tight either, the barrel gently falls open when the top lever is released. Now all of the mechanical functions are complete with exception of refitting the extractor where the barrel comes through to the breach. I do need stronger springs for the locking slide, but that is an easy adjustment. The barrel needs to be crowned and the chamber reamed and it is ready to test.

These pictures aren't too great, will shoot more quality shots when the action is polished more.

That is going to be one very sweet rifle.

Thanks for the view

Some nice eye candy right there!!!!

Man, what an impressive project you've created so far. Once again, nice to see someone following their own recepie. I think you made a very sound choice of chambering as well.

Were is mine!!!

Moorepower,

Yours.......probably six months after I get my FFL :-)

Really superb work, but not surprising to those of us who know your knife work.

The stock turned out much better than I would have thought from the blank, really nice.

I might as well throw my one rock while I'm at it, I think your trigger guard looks kind of clunky and doesn't fit in either with the size or "flow" of the rest of the rifle, but that's my opinion and you know what that's worth. However, it is a very easy fix if you so desired.

Gatogordo,

I appreciate the input on the trigger guard. It is rather thick, and I think the front radius is a little large. I will be addressing it soon enough. I do like the rear shape of the guard.

The stock is nice for a $275 piece of wood. The original layout tracing from Hunterbid.com was upside down. It was pretty obvious as soon as I had the blank in hand.

Thanks again

Bailey,

Since you seem to take them the right way, here's another rock... well more of a dirt clod (for what it's worth):

It's hard to tell the scale of the action, but it seems like you could bring the belly of the stock up by .5-.75" the whole way. Not necessarily to get rid of the beauty mark, but to balance better with the proportions of the front half.


Are you planning on milling some talley dovetails into that rib?

Ian,

I do believe you are right.......Something did look off a little, and I couldn't quite place it. Will go ahead and do that over the weekend. It will take care of my balance issue too.

I will machine the doevetails for Talleys, but won't mount a scope right now. It's the smart thing to do, as my eyes will eventually need a scope, and that way i don't have to go back and machine on a finished gun.

So when are you getting your FFL?

Why in the hell would you use an ugly ass mount like a Talley. The only mount that rifle sould have on it is a EAW saddle mount. Talley's belong on American bolt actions and that's about it.

Ian,

I just couldn't stand it....I was sitting at my engraving bench, the rifle propped up next to it, and since you pointed out the needed area to trim, I hauled it to my shop and took care of it. Reshaped the bottom of the grip and "chin strap" too....already have it sanded to 400 and it made a HUGE difference.

Thanks again for the "fresh eyes"

Moorepower,

I am working on my application now. Not sure what the actual time frame will be, but I hope it will be sooner than later.

Well I've been a fan of your project since you started it and I'm glad to offer naive objectivity anytime I can

I'll be posting soon on the single break action that I'm doing (chambered it last weekend in 6.5x52R) and will ask for your fresh eyes in return.

Can't wait to see it!!

Grenadier,

Thanks for the compliments. It's been very rewarding thus far. I considered the 7X65R, but availability on this side of the pond just isn't there. 7X57R is rare enough, as I don't reload.

I have the chamber reamer on order, got a box of norma ammo for the first round of shots. Getting close to the momnet of truth!!

Great day today!!

I received the chamber reamer today and immediately set about chambering the rifle. Got that complete without a hitch, and decided to go ahead and do the first couple of test shots. Straped it to a tire, ran some line for the trigger, and BOOM. No problems on the outside!

I placed a clean white rag around the action to see if there would be any residue from gas leakage. There wasn't any. The top lever moved just as it did before and didn't shift at all.
BUT...when I tried to open the action, it was stuck. I pushed it down over my leg and it came free. Turns out I need to make a new firing pin and inlay some steel in the slot of the striker bushing. The primer had expanded into the slot and into the hole for the firing pin. The tip of the pin is tapered, and when retracted it has a gap. The loads were only Norma factory with 156gr fmj ( they were on sale at Midway for $20). I will make a new pin that will seal the hole better and inlay steel into the slot where the primer sits. Should be no problem.

After the first shot, I measured everything, and checked for any change in dimension, fit or function. No changes, so I doned some safety gear ( eye/ face protection ) and let one go from the shoulder. Same result with the primer, but still no other problem. It felt like a 20ga!

I figure if i made it this far and with such a minor problem, I am way ahea dof the curve, so despite hurricane Ike looming on the horizon, I am pretty happy!!

Nice rifle, I have really enjoyed your build. The typical repair for your firing pin issue is to make a bushing for the breech block with a smaller hole. That may be because the rest of us are not engravers, but I wonder how an inlay will hold up to use under high pressure. Either way, I'm sure you will figure it out. A lovely build, really.
Steve

Great news on the test fire, well done Bailey!

Made a new firing pin today, and inlaid steel in the striker bushing slot where the primer makes contact. Ran two more rounds through it and it did great. The gun opens with no problem and the primer retains the dent from the firing pin like it should. So, now that she is firing with no problems, it's time for sights.....was thinking of a two blade express sight. sight it in for 100 and 200yds. 200 yds is probably the limit I will shoot it around here.

Any opinions?

Yep, I would stop at a 100yd and a 200yd blade. After all, they call them stalking rifles for a reason



Also, I'm curious as to whether you're going to gray, case, or blue the reciever?

Ian, I will engrave the whole action in deep releif sculpted scrolls with gold accents and a sculpted Fallow buck on the bottom of the action. The sketch is a concept, and the scrols will look similar to the engraving on this knife I recently finished.





I will blue the action and go back and french grey the scrolls with naval jelly. It leaves behind a little bit of corrosion resistance and makes a nice dark grey on the scrolls. Use will make the engraving look better as it burnishes the top of the scrolls and gives more contrast.

Here is the latest. I have the rifle shooting pretty nice. Did a 2" group at 100yds with a seriously hard trigger, factory ammo and the uncertainty of a new gun/shooter familiarity. I have since tuned the trigger to pull about 3 to 4 lbs. That's a good hunting weight, but probably too hard for you bench shooters.

There is still a good bit of work to do, but it's all odds and ends. The major stuff is done and I can hunt with it, which I will go do in about an hour ( pigs beware!!)

The forend still needs to be checkered, some of the internal parts need to be polished and I still need to figure out what I want on the butt of the stock. Then there is the engraving.....That will probably not be complete for another year.

Here are the pics. Sorry for the poor pictures. I will try to shoot some in the sunlight tomorrow.

Hello Bailey

Congratulations on a very stylish and practical rifle. I think that the good old guys up in Ferlach would be impressed - and I am very envious of both your talent and the result.

May I ask what the weight of the rifle is now it is completed ??

Cheers - Foster

Foster,

it weighs just under 7 lbs. Balance is right on the hinge pin.

Any updates on the progress of this rifle? Just curious if it was finished

Bailey

Looks good.

Been working on the engraving over the last couple of months in my spare time. At this point, I have the background removed, but the scrolls are not yet sculpted. LOTS of work left to do, but it's getting there.

The oval on the bottom will have a Fallow buck carved in it.

Hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I have enjoyed making it.

Bailey

Looking better all the time.

I listened to a wonderful series of classical music tonight on NPR while driving home from my girlfriend's house. Genius composers and genius musicians produce great joy in the beholder. I have no doubt that those genius makers of beautiful sounds would welcome you into their circle of artists. You have amazing gifts. I think that your art transends time and place. Damn... you are a wonder.

The rifle is shaping up great Bailey. I remember your intro to it over on BF. Can't wait to see how the falling block shapes up.

Take care, Craig

Marvelous work. I'm sure photos don't really do it justice. I can't wait to see the finished product. As was said earlier, you have a talent for this type of work. Thanks for sharing it with us.

A work of art in all respects!

Great post, thanks for sharing.

So my Father in law set up a feeder to bring in the hogs that have been rooting up his pasture....the very same pasture that is 20yds behind my shop. We have been seeing them almost daily and He shot a smallish one two days ago. I finished my work about 7:45 this evenning and decided to take my rifle for a look at the feeder. As I was walking down the fenceline towards the gate to get into the pasture, I heard the hogs on the far side still in teh woods. I scampered up to a flatbed trailer parked at the edge of the field about 50yds from the feeder. About 2 minutes later, 15-20 of these four legged bull dozers came out. From what I could tell, the largest saw separated herself and I gave her a charge. She rolled right over and I have my first kill with this rifle.

Ain't life sweet.....

Congratulations, looks like excellent results with a fine rifle!

That is absolutely awesome!

A beautiful single shot rifle puts meat in the pot. What more could a man ask for!

Cheers! That may be one of the most beautiful rifles I've seen in some time and to know (somewhat) how it came together makes it more special.
Well done. I will hoist a glass of port tonight in your honor.

That rifle is indeed awesome! I would be very loathe to take it outside for fear of damaging it!

Bailey, when you set out to build a rifle, you really build a rifle, don't you?! What a little jewel you've created. The only thing better than the final product is seeing you live a rich life by using it well.

Kudos.