Primer Blasts

 

Lee Enfield 1916 No. 111* SMLE .303

Posted on 31st March 2017 in Uncategorized

A couple of months ago I purchased a 1916 Lee Enfield No. 111* SMLE… I purchased this rifle site unseen… When I picked it up I was surprised to see that stock had been altered, cut down, and was missing several pieces… None the less I paid the agreed amount and took the rifle home… I explained to my wife this was not exactly what I thought I was getting and set it aside for a few days and licked my wounds…

After getting over the surprise of what I had purchased I went to Google to see what I really had… I did a search and was pleased to find these “sporterized” rifles are a legit thing… Many were converted by the factory, in my case Birmingham Small Arms,  because they were no longer fit for military use… This conversion made it more acceptable for civilian use… I was also pleased to note the price I paid was about $200 less that many of the sale prices, which I was quick to point out to my wife…

After a little research I was able to find a few parts, the rear site protector and rear hand guard, which I purchased from Numrich Gun Parts, to make the rifle a  little more “eye” friendly… The rifle came with a 10 box magazine… The bolt, action and barrel all have matching serial numbers… It has a brass butt plate and I added a “period correct” sling…

Included in my purchase was a period correct bore cleaning devise (something like our modern day cloth bore snakes), a 5 round clip, a couple of bandoleers and a muzzle cover… The bore was clean and the bolt very smooth… All in all this has been a fun  and learning experience…

We have yet to have our “day at the range” with my new acquisition but that will be coming soon… What I have found is the ammo is a bit pricey… Expect to pay, for 20 round boxes,  in the $20 to $25 range for good quality ammo in either 150 or 174 grain bullets…

 

Circa 1820 .36 Cal. Cap and Ball

Posted on 9th June 2015 in Uncategorized

SPITZER SHOP ATTRIBUTED, NEW MARKET, SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA KENTUCKY-STYLE LONG RIFLE, tiger maple full-stock with brass patchbox, inlays including thumb plate and cheek-piece and double set triggers. Later percussion conversion. Has ramrod. Probably Henry Spitzer (1767-1840), New Market, Shenandoah Co., VA. First quarter 19th century. 45.5? barrel, 60.5? OAL. Very good condition. Fully functional… Provenance: Property of John Gray of Lebanon, Russell County, VA. By descent from John Gray to his son John Tevis Gray Sr to his son John Tevis Gray Jr.to his son Wilbur (Sandy) Gray to me. The rifle was in need of repair when I received it… The restoration was done by Paul Horowitz, an archival restorationists, thru Little John’s Gun Shop in Santa Ana… All work was done using the same tools and materials which were available when the rifle was manufactured back in the very early 1800’s.

 

A Ruger 10-22 – .22 Cal Tack Driver

 

 

The Ruger model 10-22 is one of the most widely purchased, and recognized, .22 cal. rifles in America… It got its start back in 1964 and has never lost its popularity… In its stock condition, shown above, it is a very accurate rifle and very affordable at about $225… The rifle also comes in a number of stock configurations and in pink as well as with stainless steel barrel models… It utilizes a 10 round magazine that is superior in its design to create a “jam free” shooting experience…

 It is also one of the most customized sporting arms around… Recognizing the potential in this rifle shooters began to tweak every little part to make a real “tack driver” out of it…

Adding scopes and changing stocks was just the beginning… It didn’t take long for “after market” companies to get involved and start producing custom stocks in both civilian and tactical styles, target barrels, bolts and firing pins, buffers, trigger housing groups, bipods, receiver rails for mounting scopes and quick magazine releases…

There are even attachments to use with the 10 round Ruger magazines whereby you can mount 3 or 4 magazines together for a more enjoyable shooting experience… The 10-22 mags and the quad holder runs around $12 each. You can catch them on sale and they are a great investment… [Editors note] If you plan on purchasing a high capacity mag note the less expensive ones, with the plastic lips, will not work very well. They will stove pipe your rounds. Spend a little more and get the better quality mags with the metal lips for smooth feeding.

About 6 months ago my Cousin Paul and I were talking about building a “tack driver”… He knew I owned a Ruger 10-22 and suggested we do something with it… I told Paul I already owned a Remington “513T” target rifle (which we will explore in another blog) and was not sure if that was the direction I wanted to go… After a lot of prodering, from him and my wife, I finally broke down and said OK…

Paul presented me with a list of parts that included a stainless E.R. Shaw barrel in  .22 long rifle .920? diameter 1 in 16? twist 18? long, upper and lower receiver parts, a stabilization module (muzzle brake) from Volquartsen, a Tapco 10-22 black Intrafuse tactical trainer stock with pistol grip and grip forearm barrel cover, Weaver 1? tactical rings for a Picatinny mount, a Simmons Whitetail Classic Rifle Scope 6.5-20x 50mm adjustable objective and a Leapers Tactical OP1 bipod… A word of caution… We were going to add a Power Custom Competition Extended Bolt handle. Paul was concerned about this part and I contacted the factory and was assured it would fit without a hitch, NOT! The bolt was too short and even if it had fit properly it would have needed a lot of finishing work to run smoothly so we left the shock charging handle in tact and returned the part without an issue… [Editors note] The extended bolt handle may have worked in a new model. Mine was manufactured in the 70?. Lots more metal and less plastic… All of the parts were purchased from Midway USA and Cheaper Than Dirt at very affordable prices… The entire project, from start to finish, took about 2 weeks… The cost of the parts were about $350… Remember I already had the rifle…

 



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