BPCR - and my Winch Hi-Wall .38-55...
I have a #4 barrelled Hi-Wall, .38-55 which I bought in the mid 50's! Originally, it was a straight but-stock but I had the long gone Charlie Parkinson of London, Ont. put a Schutzen stock on it along with a forend sporting a folding palm rest. About 1956-58, there was a small number of shooters around Thamesville, just east of Chatham, ON and we had a small club, the Canadian Single Shot Rifle Club. We had about 20 members, 1/2 of them from Detroit. At that time, I did not have a tang sight or scope. I water-clamped on at the wrist an antique tang site. I had not changed the stocks at that time nor added the Lyman (#57 ?) receiver sight, using epoxy resin.
The club rules were very few:
-plain base cast bullet, any calibre, no gas check and black powder or one of the smokeless shotgun powders that were then available for reloading.
If my memory is correct, I was shooting about 14 grains of 4759 with a 275 grain lead bullet, lots of grease grooves.
The lads from Michigan had some beautiful old rifles, Ballards, Stevens etc. some with Pope barrells.
Anyway, off the bench I could more than hold my own against the fancy stuff, 20 power scopes etc.
We all used bullet starters, which set the bullet into the lands, used only one catridge case, repriming and using a powder measure with a pleget of kapok pushed down on top of the load. The case was then inserted, rotating so that headstamp was always the same.
Sit down set the double set trigger, take aim and fire.
I had hoped to spend my retirement year playing with this rifle, the two original Winchester bullet molds and various powders. Thanks to Mr. Rock and the Liberals, this has not been possible because here in Ottawa, decent, easily accessible ranges are not available. Oh! to have the Coast Marksmen range in Burnaby here.
I now have target bases on the rifle, with a 12 power scope of the 1950's mounted in the recoil mounts.
This is a the rifle which started out as straight shotgun syle but stock with a rather plain fore stock. I obtained the Schutzen stock and Charlie Parkinson in London, On. bent the loading lever and fit the stock. The barrell I believe is a #4, that is the heaviest that Winchester put on the 1885s.
This shows the Unertyl 12X scope in the target mounts. On top of the barrell, just below the right end of the scope recoil spring, can be seen what appears to be an open sight; it is not an open sight but a level. At 200 yds. with the rainbow trajectory, a canted rifle would throw the slug sell off the aim point, thus the need for level. This was not so important with the scope because a cant could be seen but was necessary if using the iron sights.
This better shows the level on the barrell. Also the adjustable single set trigger. The palm rest of course rested in the left hand with the elbow set onto the hip bone. The hook but plate with horns,went onto the upper arm and with the heavy barrell, the rifle was muzzle heavy. The rear sight is a Lyman (57?) filed flat and expoxy resined to the breech.
The hook but shows well here. If the breach block were dropped in the picture, it would be apparent how the cast bullet would be set just into the chamber, always orienting the sprue marks exactly the same. Consistency, at the bench at least, being very important.
And here we have the business end. The front sight is not vintage but a Lyman. The original sight was just a rather simple post or a barleycorn.
This case, if it were of the age of the rifle, would be better made and even more functional. I build it to carry the tools and fodder. Two bullet blocks one at left and other at the right show the two weights of bullets. I think those on the left are about 255 gr. whereas those on the tight are wll over 300 grains. The block swing out so that on closing the box, the bullets are held in place.It can't be seen but in the case is a small box, with a hole on the top. A fired case may be placed on top of the box, the depriming rod placed in the case and a tap of the mallet would drop the spent primer into a small slide out box, keeping it out of the way. The tong tool showing on left of cover was used to reprime only.
In the case will be seen the bent short bullet started, made from an old brace with a .38-55 case bolted to its end. The starter is bent because the but comb is directly behind the center line of the chamber and barrell.
I have had an exchange with the moderator of this group and he agrees a series of images of the loading sequence for these fine old rifles would be of interest. So, don't hold your breath but ASAP, I will be posting a series with a new thread.
Sly Old Fox
