Picked up another Ross mk2 3*

Tinman204

Tinman204

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Well after several sleepless nights I finally got to pick up another Ross mk2 3* today. It's complete right down to its original US issue sling.

Here's some photos



As you can see its not sanded or messed with much. Been in a safe for a long time. Longer then I've been alive that's fr sure.

The sling on it is a ww1 Era Buckless sling which to my knowledge is correct for a US property marked Ross.

The sad part is the bore on this one is pretty ratty. She's been shot a lot over the years. I'm not concern as complete Ross rifles don't get plunked in my lap very often so this one was a welcome discovery!!

Here's my other 1910 manufactured mk2 3* that is marked OCRA which I'm still researching as to its meaning.



Here's both together


Anyhow thought I post some is of these as I know there's other Ross nuts like me on its site.
 
Kerr Sling

Good Day,
That is nice Ross Mk2. The sling is called a Kerr sling and were initially manufactured during WW1 by the Kerr Adjustable Strap Co in NY. The slings were not rifle specific and could be issued with any rifle (M1903, M1917, Trench shotguns, etc). There was a slightly shorter Kerr version that was meant for the Thompson SMG. The only was to distinguish between the two was to measure them, however the Thompson slings tended to be more mustard/yellow in color.

The sling on your rifle is only half complete. It is missing the short extension (strap) that attaches around the rear swivel and the metal keepers.

Here is a link that describes the proper way to install and adjust a complete Kerr sling. http://www.armscollectors.com/17sling/

Regards,
Michael
 
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That's a nice stock on the new one Tinman!

Barrels are usually easy enough to change on these you could source another to shoot it with, swap it in 1/2 hour and swap it back when you store it, just check your headspace!
 
The problem I've found with the barrels is, no two are the same it seems. They all seem to have a different sight base and pins etc.

But be on the lookout for a nice sporterized Mk II 3 Star. They seem to be the most common one.
 
Non-original barrel though Cantom. Tinman has the tooling to make it work too as long as a new barrel headspaces with his bolt and receiver. Could always just flop in another whole barrelled action too though and cheat a bit.
 
flying pig said:
Non-original barrel though Cantom. Tinman has the tooling to make it work too as long as a new barrel headspaces with his bolt and receiver. Could always just flop in another whole barrelled action too though and cheat a bit.
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Yep heads pace is no issue here. The swapping a good barreled action into this stock would probably be what I'd do.

Or swapping the barrel would be good to that way the original receiver is in the right stock. Call me silly but I like these things to be correct even if they have no serial numbers to prove other wise.

I know I'm weird. For all I know this action doesn't go with this stock. Chances are it does because of the year and comparing it to my other identical mk2 3*.
 
That would be nice. That LH buttress thread quick replacement barrel on the short rifle is nice for swaps. With a strap wrench it should come out nicely.
The thing is finding the right barrel...I had one once, beautiful barrel but wrong sight base.

And the bases are held on with these little pins/rivets. Not sure how to deal with them.
 
cantom said:
That would be nice. That LH buttress thread quick replacement barrel on the short rifle is nice for swaps. With a strap wrench it should come out nicely.
The thing is finding the right barrel...I had one once, beautiful barrel but wrong sight base.

And the bases are held on with these little pins/rivets. Not sure how to deal with them.
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Thanks for the info Cantom I appreciate it.

I took the barrel off my other mk2 in the picture as it also had some issues. Mainly a ring in the bore under the front sight base. I chucked it up in my good old colchester master and counter bored it 1" which may make some cringe but I figured I took an unusable Ross and made it shoot again.

Also the bore on my original mk2 is almost new except for the bulge. Though it was a crying shame that it had a ring.

Shoots good now!!
 
I forget the name, but there was a member on here who had braved machining a brand new Ross barrel with the buttress thread...a year or so ago.

He had had timing etc. problems but like most things you get better the more times you do it.

A new barrel, with the chamber reamed at the end of the installation for tight headspace, and with a .308 bore that can use modern available bullet sizes...would be a nice upgrade for the scads of them with worn out dark bores.

How nice it would be to have someone that could machine new Ross barrels. There are so many pooched ones.
 
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cantom said:
I forget the name, but there was a member on here who had braved machining a brand new Ross barrel with the buttress thread...a year or so ago.

He had had timing etc. problems but like most things you get better the more times you do it.

A new barrel, with the chamber reamed at the end of the installation for tight headspace, and with a .308 bore that can use modern available bullet sizes...would be a nice upgrade for the scads of them with worn out dark bores.

How nice it would be to have someone that could machine new Ross barrels. There are so many pooched ones.
Click to expand...

I remember the YouTube video of that. Man was that apron moving fast at 3 tpi!!
 
I'd still love to figure that thread out one day. It would be a really tough one on the lead screw on my little Clausing, plus I'd have to build a banjo and combo gears to get things set right. Anything is doable though. Once the economy picks up and I'm not living in the bush 90% of the time anymore...

One other thing to watch for if you do a barrel swap Tinman, make sure you don't wind up with one of the US ones that was set back 7/8 of an inch. They are a little light at the chamber!
 
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