Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

marlinman93

Extremely well done! Best tutorial on the .45-70 and it's history with Marlins I've seen. The 1881 submitted to the 1884 US Army trials did indeed perform extremely well for a very long time before it had the chain fire in the magazine tube. Despite Marlin stating their 1881 should only use UMC ammo...

marlinman93

I carry IWB and let a notch out of my belt when I'm carrying as no other way I can do it. I carry just behind my right side towards the rear. It is about the only place I can carry whether sitting in the car, or standing and feel comfortable. In the winter when I'm wearing a heavier coat I often swi...

marlinman93

So this morning I'm checking emails, and looking at my favorite forums. One is a car forum and I saw mention of a glass shop I'd had issues with. I clicked on the link and it was reviews I think were Google generated? Suddenly a bunch of spam advertisements began popping up and opening numerous diff...

marlinman93

loved his acting, especially in westerns. But my all time favorite is and always will be Secondhand Lions. RIP

marlinman93

When I remodeled my wife's kitchen we had granite counter tops made, and I asked the guy who measured for the counter top what happens to the piece they cut out for the sink? He told me they get sold for scrap to people who want smaller pieces. For a small fee I had them cut it down to a 17"x1...

marlinman93

When I remodeled my wife's kitchen we had granite counter tops made, and I asked the guy who measured for the counter top what happens to the piece they cut out for the sink? He told me they get sold for scrap to people who want smaller pieces. For a small fee I had them cut it down to a 17"x12...

marlinman93

My youngest granddaughter has been making beautiful cutting boards since she was about 13 yrs. old. She stopped last fall when she headed off to college, but still gets requests on her site for boards. She told me she recommends cleaning with salt, but rubs the boards with a bee's wax she makes by t...

marlinman93

Going to put a new scope on the Hubalek Ballard soon! I just purchased a Hubalek target scope from a shop in Texas! Can't believe my first search came up successful! https://i.imgur.com/GqK6RmMl.jpg Tom Rowe's old gun sight book states Hubalek scopes were all between 12x-30x power. Hoping this is at...

marlinman93

The stock is so broken that I don’t think it makes sense to try to repair it. The Ruger is a little different from a Remington or Winchester action. The front action screw is installed at an angle and not 90 degrees to the stock. So metal tubing isn’t really going to work. What is needed is a firm ...

marlinman93

Piller blocks made from heavy wall tubing would help avoid this from happening. I've done them on some high recoil rifles with wood stocks. Just buy some tubing the right ID for the through bolts and drill the mounting holes out to fit the OD of the tubing. Cut the tubing to length, and epoxy it int...

marlinman93

Was hooked right away when he described walking 371 miles to get to Fairbanks, and having to walk at night when the ground froze over as it was too mushy during daylight hours! Just an amazing story, and many more amazing so far. I'm on chapter 7 now, and it hasn't gotten boring yet. Loved his story...

marlinman93

A beautifully built Borchardt using a military action, and a nice Remington barrel. It's not a Creedmoor barrel though as advertised as Creedmoor barrels were all in much larger cartridges than the .32-40 Ballard that's on that rifle. All things considered it's a fair price for a nicely built old Sh...

marlinman93

Holy cow! I'd have emptied their shelves!

marlinman93

.45colt wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 1:30 am Just incredible All Around! It never fails to amaze Me what We can learn here on Leverguns.

Thanks. This is a great site, and one of my favorites to learn new gun stuff.

marlinman93

I found some old Russian Junior brand ammo yesterday when I hit the range to do accuracy testing. I'd used this ammo for adult smallbore back 35 years ago, and never a problem. But yesterday I had several that got good hard strikes, but didn't go bang. I turned them 180 degrees and they went off fin...

marlinman93

I've always considered 75 yards to be a good distance for rimfire accuracy. Knowing most will shoot great at 25, good at 50 but a better idea of just how accurate a rifle can be at 75 before the dreaded breeze starts blowing or they run out of steam at 100. BUT that's my protocol here near sea leve...

marlinman93

I'd say it's a winner Vall! What ammo were you using? Started with an old box of PMC target, then tried Aguila Standard velocity target. The 10 shot group was PMC, and the 20 shot was Aguila. It seems to just shoot well with both. Next time out with a higher power scope I'll shoot 100 yds. and see ...

marlinman93

1/8" groups with peroid ammo is saying something! Granted he was shooting in his basement so you can bet outdoor groups will vary! Still it's apparently rare as hens teeth so no matter how it shoots it's a great ol iron! Hubalek's basement was below two buildings he owned. He broke out the wal...

marlinman93

Very cool! Is there anywhere to read more about the striker conversion? Certainly gives the rifle a bit of a Borchardt look. Eric Had a nice 3 hour discussion with Gary Quinlan yesterday who is the expert on all things Hubalek related. He mentioned the fact that the smaller Worn striker actions are...

marlinman93

I was fortunate today to be able to obtain one of those grail guns for me. An Arthur Hubalek striker fired Ballard .22 rifle. The rifle started life as a #8 Union Hill model that Hubalek fitted one of his Hubalek Special barrels to. It appears the Ballard also got a #6 ball & spur style lever wi...

marlinman93

As soon as the first half is over I'm grabbing for the remote. I saw a few seconds and switched the channel to a memorial for Charlie Kirk by country singers. It was fantastic, and when it was over I got back to 2nd half kick off timed perfectly!

marlinman93

Just an update to this topic since I finally received a used copy of this great book a few days ago. Just getting through the introduction, and foreword to the chapters was a treat in itself! Lot of reading that I often skip through on books when it bored me, but this was great. I'm into chapter 4 n...

marlinman93

vancelw wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 9:16 pm I would also like my monthly print magazine back. Never wanted digital.

I'm still ticked that the NRA stopped sending me monthly print magazines! I used to keep my magazines for future reference if there was an interesting article. Now it's going to be a PITA to go back and read articles later.

marlinman93

piller wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 9:42 am The level of organization certainly proves that there is big money going into some pockets.

Soros.

marlinman93

As a Life member I'm also voting. I wont vote for anyone who was on the Board when LaPierre reigned and destroyed the NRA. If they're not fresh blood they wont get my vote. My feeling is anyone who got the boot during LaPierre for questioning him is great by me; but if they stood by afraid to challe...

marlinman93

Count me in the group that's never experienced "lever bite" and have no idea what it is?

marlinman93

That 1885 is gorgeous! Thanks. I agree, but I'm not a Winchester collector, and have three of them! The other two aren't nearly as pretty, but I like them more than this restored 1885. A striker fired Hubalek with the Worn/Hubalek conversion is extremely rare, and worth much more than most 1885 Win...

marlinman93

Can't wait for range results, Vall. You hit this one out of the park. Thanks Bill! Yesterday I got a email from someone I've never known asking me if I still had an 1885 Winchester scheutzen rifle for sale? I do, but wondered who told him, and figured it must be somebody I know well if they had my ...

marlinman93

I recently bought the book "Alaska's Wolf Man" from a seller I found online only one state away! Paid via credit card and they shipped the next day! Then I watched it leave Washington and take a 9 day trip down to Texas, and hit a few stops in the West until it finally arrived here a coupl...

marlinman93

Here's a depressing video for you on the 38-55 commemoratives ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muJ8ohtBtC4 The 80's was just like the 70's but with better marketing. Quality was last on the list. His mistake was buying bullets sized to the smaller diameter of his bore. He should have slugged the...

marlinman93

At 14 or 15 lbs it ought to be a real pleasant to shoot! Set the 32-40 barrel back and give it a second life? Or make a bunch of thunder mugs? Not worth it as the bore looks horrible. Might make a good tent stake. The .40-50SS is a pussycat, even in a 10 lb. rifle. About the same as a .38-55 BP loa...

marlinman93

Did this end up with the Shoyen barrel or did you use the 32-40 barrel you had? Nice looking setup ... once all the work was put into it. :) Yes, I ended up using the Schoyen .40-50 Sharps Straight barrel. It's a 4 1/2 weight full round, so the Ballard is a hefty 14 or 15 lb. rifle! The .32-40 barr...

marlinman93

Back about 40 years ago I bought a new in box Legendary Frontiersman from a guy and paid $450 for it. Got the box, papers, and it was all unfired and like new. I kept it 5 years and kept thinking it would grow in value, but also wanted to shoot it too. I refrained from shooting it, but finally decid...

marlinman93

Beautiful Vall! That stock has great color and just enough figure to make it stand out. Thanks! I like the slight reddish tint and grain. I added some N35 Winchester red to the forearm early on, and it turned too red. But as I added the Wipe On Poly finish I noticed my rag I wiped the forearm off w...

marlinman93

Griff wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 8:14 pm Looking grand Vall!

Thanks Griff!

marlinman93

It's finished, other than shooting it one of these days! Dug through my supply of old sling swivels and found a matching pair. The front one I found had a 3/16" round stud to somehow mount it, so I drilled a hole in the filler and then beveled the back side. Cut the pin slightly long and peened...

marlinman93

PO Ackley had no problem damaging barrels or guns. He had a gun shop here in Southern Oregon, so when he blew one up developing his Ackley Improved cartridges it just went in the scrap heap and he started over. I have a good friend whose father worked for Ackley back then, and quit because he felt ...

marlinman93

What always puzzles me is why people continue to want to push guns up to and past their normal levels? All three of the guns mentioned will handle the major factory ammunition made, and kill anything in North America with ease. So why do people want to see how far they can push them, and attempt to...

marlinman93

What always puzzles me is why people continue to want to push guns up to and past their normal levels? All three of the guns mentioned will handle the major factory ammunition made, and kill anything in North America with ease. So why do people want to see how far they can push them, and attempt to...

marlinman93

Unlike Americans, the British consider restoration as good maintenance, and don't care about leaving a firearm looking old and used. They are always more inclined to restore a fine firearm than we are, and pay premiums for nicely restored firearms.

marlinman93

It’s funny how carrying a sixgun is now considered irresponsible when folks have been carrying them regularly since Colt started making a holster gun. It’s like our ancestors were not armed sufficiently to fight the Comanche, to conduct hostilities in the War of Northers Aggression and to defend ag...

marlinman93

Marlin rifles in .45-70 were based on the 336 action, as were those in .450 Marlin Express. That's a 43,500 psi chamber pressure, so the Marlin is certainly strong enough. If any failed it's always because some person tried to push their Marlin beyond factory safe levels.

marlinman93

You ever get any friction from diehard collectors turning a nose at a parts build rifle ? Ive done a few myself over the years mostly Winchester .Most people find it saving old classic guns much like a vintage automobile. But you always have those few that really frown on such things . I get someon...

marlinman93

GunnyMack wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 2:24 pm Look at the lumber in #2&#5!
Ya got some really nice wood on great ol guns!

I forgot to post my favorite! Stocked with English walnut, it's a #10 Scheutzen Junior model Ballard. I love these honey colored stocks, and wish I owned more than just one!

marlinman93

I think it makes sense if a SAA is what you shoot well, and feel comfortable carrying for self defense. It may not be what everyone feels comfortable carrying, but same goes for almost any revolver. Most people think they need a semiauto handgun with 13 rds. or more, and numerous spare mags. The tru...

marlinman93

Out of curiosity do you have any Ballards that left the factory with checkered wood ? Almost all of my upper end Ballard rifles have checkered wood. Only the Sporting Models didn't come checkered. Here's a few of them: https://i.imgur.com/MmBJcpAl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/hfIUmRAl.jpg https://i.imgu...

marlinman93

For those who don't cast their own this is great news! I cast my own, but have friends who loved MBW bullets.

marlinman93

this gun store is selling a bunch of guns from an estate. They've had a couple videos up running through the guns they are selling. apparently ebay is taking down the videos. I think you just call and tell them if you want to buy any of them. They have a few levers left still including a 38-55 marl...

marlinman93

I have 4 spare Ballard barrels currently. One .32-40 half octagon that's blued and like new. One .40-63 Everlasting that's a heavy full round, with a bore that's not great. A .38-55 full octagon with a great bore. And the half octagon .38-55 that came on this action.

marlinman93

Looks like happy ending , I like it. Probably a couple weeks needed to finish up the forearm finish. I also need to do some brazing on that brass single prong buttplate as the edges are just shy of the wood. I need to build up both sides a little over 1/16" per side if I want to use it and hav...

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