Not a repeater, but it does have a lever. Marlinman!!!

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:32 pm

Ballard 38-55 JP Lower Special with a perfect bore. It's pictured in Dutcher's Ballard Book on page 281. This gun is listed in the JP Lower catalog out of Denver Colorado in 1886 as a factory special order rifle.

Didn't make it to Souix Falls last weekend, but AT&T got the job done!

The buttplate has the Company logo on it.

Rafter-7

engravertom · Post by **engravertom** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:41 pm

beautiful rifle!

Not a repeater?! Just ask some Redcoats totin'a Brown Bess!

It no doubt repeats, but at a more gentlemanly and refined pace, that's all.

Thanks for showing us that!

Tom

Mike S. · Post by **Mike S.** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:47 pm

Cool, bet ya can't wait to shoot it.

Mike

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:51 pm

Really nice!

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:53 pm

Mike S. wrote:Cool, bet ya can't wait to shoot it.

Mike

You are right!
Bore slugged at .377, ammo is already pre-made ready for a warm day. Well warmer that below 0 at least.

Rafter-7

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:05 pm

Congrats! That's beautiful!

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:15 pm

Thanks Griff

and Thanks again for all the help last spring in picking out a tractor. I chose a 1987 Kenworth T-800 894,000 miles on chassis with a fresh 3206 cat @350 HP 9 (sp) tranny and a 36" sit in sleeper it needed some TLC but for 12,500.00 it DOT's with new rubs and less than 50,000 on a fresh motor cat heads included in the rebuild

I hooked it to a hay trailer and the WIFE did not want to use the GMC general w/Detroit ever again lets just say it was the best of times and the worst of times

I lost MY use of the Kenworth BUT I got my WIFE to haul hay so life cant be all bad He HE ......

Thanks again Griff your corraspondence (Via e-mail) proved invaluable

rafter-7

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:23 pm

That is awesome!

Really looking forward to the range report!

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:00 am

Very nice Ballard rafter! I just got my first - a Pacific - in January. Mine is a LOT rougher than yours, and it will be a while before I take it out, while I spend what little time I have fixin' her up.

Mines badly cracked at the wrist and requires epoxy bedding and refinishing.

It looks like yours is in great shape. What a great piece of history there.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:41 am

very nice

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:47 am

that is one VERY clean rifle.congrads

pete

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:49 am

Looks like a dandy.

k8bor · Post by **k8bor** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:52 am

A plain (sigh) beauty!

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:55 am

oooooohh very nice. A beautiful rifle Rafter.

cowboykell · Post by **cowboykell** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:48 am

Chad - You sold your 38-40 Hepburn and bought that ???!!!!

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:15 am

Oh, my...

I like it!

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:15 pm

deleted

don Tomás · Post by **don Tomás** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:27 pm

cowboykell · Post by **cowboykell** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:59 pm

Sorry 71fan...I was referring to a Hepburn that Rafter-7 offered to me.

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:19 pm

I was wondering how you knew my name...and how you knew I had a Hepburn

Intersting coincidence...

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:26 pm

cowboykell wrote:Chad - You sold your 38-40 Hepburn and bought that ???!!!!

technically the hepburn went for the cabin and this ballard was just was too tempting to pass up and the fact that we are getting a refund on our taxes this year blaa, blaa I think I can swing it

rafter

rafter-7 · Post by **rafter-7** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:32 pm

And the fact its a 38-55 I just could not say no anymore Byron and I talked today about shooting it tomorrow

rafter

cowboykell · Post by **cowboykell** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:01 pm

Good idea...I think I'll take my refund-rebate and stimulate the economy. I think I need another Hepburn.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:53 pm

Lucky, lucky man. Enjoy it and give us a range report with pic's when you get a chance to shoot it.

arjunky · Post by **arjunky** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:55 pm

Well we only tried two different loads today. Both were with Elephant ffg.
The original Lyman 375248 (.378) with 33 grains grouped about 1" @ 25 yds with most shots climbing as the bore fouled.
This load might shoot a little better if we had more to try.
Lee's new 38/55 bullet (.379) with 34 grains showed promise @ 50yds with one flier in the 3 shot group. 2 just about touching and the last shot about 4 inches right. Chad said he didn't pull it, but

.

Since the gun was shooting about 9 inches high @ 25 yds we were hoping it might be sighted in for 200 yds and wasted a couple shots finding out it wasn't.

Might be the last time we try Black powder though, Chads wife wasn't impressed with the sulphur smell in the basement after we got done cleaning.

Perfect day for shooting, about 40 degrees above zero today. Slight breeze. We both had things to do this afternoon so we didn't take any pic's in the rush.

Byron