New to Me 45cal Rifle

[sabotloader]

And the worst part now - I really like it!

This all occurred because I was looking for a empty Thumbhole stock that I could send down and get a new camo pattern applied to... CoHiCntry, listed a thumbhole in the classified but at that time the price was to high for me to move on. But then CoHiCntry decided to sell the whole rifle at what I considered a bargain basement price. In our communication he was completely forthcoming in that it had some pitting in the bore and some on the floor of the breech. I really did not want another pitted rifle because the MK with a Wiseman Barrel frustrates me enough as it is. For the price I was going to get the TH I wanted and a complete rifle... so when I computed it all out I thought I could make by scrapping barreled action and selling the good used parts. Then the seal on the deal came when Sqezer pm'ed me that he might be interested in the barreled action for a build he was contemplating. That sealed the deal...

Chris sent the rifle out and I was surprised at the overall condition... Deeply dark blued - it looked almost brand new - in fact I think the stock is new! The rifle is near mint condition. Well until I looked at the floor of the breech and the throat of the bore... just those two spots had what I will call minor pitting. That is when things really started to get brighter. The pitting on the floor of the breech is nothing! And the pitting in the throat will have nothing to do with accuracy. It is all below the powder level and on the bottom side of the bore. I am sure I can clean up the bulk of the worst and then when I do shoot it I only need to remember to clean the pitted area really well. Yes it will take a little extra effort but look at what I got or made - it is really nice looking...



A few years ago Sqezer and I completed a trade or I bought a rifle I can not remember for sure what but I ended up with a walnut stock from him. The stock has never really peaked my interest because I do prefer composite...but when I remembered I had it I felt it really just belonged on a deeply blued rifle... The stock would really show the beauty of the rifle... Almost take me back to the old centerfire days... At this point I am not sure I care if the rifle shoots well or not - I think it looks good!!!

 

[Shrek]

That does look good ! Hope it shoots well and gets to see some field time.

 

[sabotloader]

Thanks... I am really liking it also. Just put a scope on it changed the FPJ out to a Lehigh NFPJ, set for W209's. Also put in a Lehigh/Knight new bolt housing.

I am ready to go shoot it - well sight it in anyway...

 

[CoHiCntry]

sabotloader,

Glad you like the gun and glad it went to somebody who can spend the time on it. Looking forward to seeing the thumbhole stock after you get it dipped too. That gun gave me some heart burn and I lost $$$ on it but that's the way it goes!

 

[sabotloader]

sabotloader,

Glad you like the gun and glad it went to somebody who can spend the time on it. Looking forward to seeing the thumbhole stock after you get it dipped too. That gun gave me some heart burn and I lost $$$ on it but that's the way it goes!

The pitting in the bottom of the barrel is really unfortunate... As good as the rifle looks on the exterior I can not imagine that it was not taken care of on the inside as well. The only good part of the pitting is that it is all at the breech end.

Couple things might have caused you some problems when you had it. The FPJ breech plug looked well used, I did not run a pin gage in the 'flash hole' but it looked very large. I replaced it with a Lehigh NFPJ.

Do you by the thumbhole stock or di it come with the rifle? The stock looks like it just came from the factory! Actually the stock was or could have been the majority of your accuracy problems - if that was a problem. The barrel does not sit in the barrel channel correctly - it is very sticky - in that each time you shoot it - it might or did change position in the stock. It never returns to the same spot.

I will end up sanding the barrel channel to fit the barrel of the rifle I put it on, have not decided that yet either. Also I have to get the area where the recoil lug inserts milled out to accept a 'forked' recoil lug. The LOP of Knights DISC stocks is to long for me, especially in hunting clothes - so I want to either replace the recoil pad with a thinner Limb Saver pad or cut about 5/8" off the rear of the stock and install a regular 'Limb Saver.'

Between, tinkering with the rifle and the stock I have some spring time work to accomplish with it that will be fun to do...

thanks - mike