New Rifle / Revolver...Yeah!

[rbertalotto]

During the past year I've been selling off a few firearms to help support other hobbies and some travel. I vowed, at 67 years old, I'd stop buying firearms. Most of the guns I sold I never fired!
Out of all the guns I sold, I only regret selling one of them.....A Ruger Blackhawk, 3-Screw, Unconverted, 4.5" barrel in 41 Magnum......Here in Massachusetts a handgun must have been in the state before 1998 for it to be grandfathered, otherwise it can not be transferred in from another state and sold to a Massachusetts resident. (I hate living here but grandkids has my wife firmly anchored...)

So months ago I start looking for another BH/3screw/41Mag.......Like finding a unicorn here in MA!

Wednesday I sold a very nice Remington 11-87 to a fellow and did the FFL transfer at a gun shop that was some distance from my house, but equal distance for both of us to drive. This gun shop had two 3-screw, unconverted Ruger BHs. But both in 38/357 (although one had the extra 9mm cylinder!) ....But I wanted a 41 Magnum...

We left that shop and went two miles to another shop in the area...Just to look around. Sure enough, way in the back of the gun case was a 4.5" Ruger BH, 3-screw.....I couldn't see the caliber, but the bore was easily seen to not be 38 cal. I had him pull it out and nearly upset myself!!! It was Identical to the one I let get away. He wanted $700....I had an envelope with $600 in it from the sale of the shotgun a few minutes before....I threw the envelope on the counter and said it was all the $$ I had on me. He accepted my offer! And I'm a VERY happy camper!





But it doesn't end here.....

A few weeks ago, on another forum I frequent, a fellow was selling a Lyman Sharps Model 1878 in 30-30 caliber. These are actually Sharps 1877 rifles, but are called 1878 to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Lyman Gun Sight Company. They limited production to 140 rifles. The price was VERY fair and included brass, bullets, dies.....It was listed for a couple weeks. I couldn't believe it didn't sell. On Saturday morning, while drinking coffee and reading that forum, I saw he relisted it. I thought he had finally sold it. I emailed him and send funds immediately.
A few days later it showed up......I'm totally in love! Now I have a 1859, 1863, 1874, 1875 and 1877 Sharps rifles in the rack! Can't wait to take it deer hunting!

[piller]

Nice! Hope you have fun with them!

[Old Savage]

Perfect, I have that .41, shoots great.

[vancelw]

I'm so spoiled by finding things on the great big interweb that I forget the joy of stumbling on a gem in person.

May be some bargains in gun shops if gun shows start canceling due to COVID-19.

I'm a sucker for those single actions and single shots

[rbertalotto]

To me, the "Hunt" , is sometimes more fun than actually shooting the gun!!! I know, we are all a little tappy! I could write a book on the amazing deals I've found or stumbled upon over the near 50 years I've been collecting firearms.......

[rbertalotto]

If you have time....And we all do being sequestered in our houses due to the Corona Virus! You might want to check out the articles in the "Firearms" section of my web site. Could keep you entertained for a few hours....
www.rvbprecision.com

[gamekeeper]

Congratulations I love 'em both...........

[2ndovc]

Really like that Sharps! I've tried the .41 thing a couple of times and keep going back to my .44 Magnums. Nothing wrong with it, I just like the big boomers.

Have fun!

jb

[rbertalotto]

Nothing wrong with it, I just like the big boomers.

Yup...I recently sold a S&W Mountain Gun in 44mag. A real hand stinger!....But I kept my Freedom Arms Casull in 454Casull.....Talk about a BOOMER!

[piller]

Sometimes, you just need a loud gun to allow you to properly show your feelings.

[rbertalotto]

I gotta tell you, this 41 magnum with 19g of H110 is darn loud! That short barrel ain't hiding anything!

[DocRock]

The Lyman rifle in 30-30 is super cool! Let us know how it shoots

[piller]

I gotta tell you, this 41 magnum with 19g of H110 is darn loud! That short barrel ain't hiding anything!

Just exactly what I meant. Probably accurate as a laser, too.

[rbertalotto]

Yes, VERY accurate at 25 yds with iron sights, two handed, unsupported hold. First three shots were well under an inch....Then the recoil got to me and the group opened up. I want to hunt with it in the fall. I will only need one shot! Hopefully....

[AJMD429]

Those two cover a lot of needs/fun....!

Maybe throw in a 300 Blackout SBR and you have it ALL covered....

[stretch]

Yeah!..is right!

I'm a big 41 Magnum fan, and that revolver is a great find.

And your new Lyman is gorgeous. What a beauty!

Make sure you shoot 'em!!!

-Stretch

[Griff]

I probably couldn't have passed up the 2 3-screws in .357! T'was my 1st handgun, stolen, recovered and then traded traded off for a chest of drawers still in the bedroom.

[2ndovc]

Nothing wrong with it, I just like the big boomers.

Yup...I recently sold a S&W Mountain Gun in 44mag. A real hand stinger!....But I kept my Freedom Arms Casull in 454Casull.....Talk about a BOOMER!

I had a Mountain Gun in .41 Mag, traded it for a Bisley Vaquero. Should have hung on to it anyway.

jb

[rbertalotto]

Mountain Gun in 41M is quite rare....I had two of them. A Stainless Steel in 44Mag and a blued in 45LC.....Both sold away

[Pitchy]

[rbertalotto]

I took that Lyman 1878 to the range yesterday........Once again I hate Lyman tang sights. No windage adjustment, no elevation clicks or other markings. Very hard to adjust accurately. Had a hard time even getting on paper.

Pulled that sight off and installed a far superior Marbles.....Windage adjustment, click stop elevation.....With a Lee Shaver "Hadley" adjustable iris eye cupMore Bettah!

Going back today for more testing......

[rbertalotto]

RANGE REPORT....Not too good! The lead bullets that came with the rifle might not fit the bore properly and keyhole at lower velocity. With enough powder they expand enough to be marginally accurate.....3-5" at 50 yds

Jacketed bullets shoot great! An inch +/- at 50 yds and hitting 12" X 12" steel plate at 200 yds consistently......

I ordered some gas check bullets to experiment with and will cast some oversize bullets to try.....

It has potential!

[Rusty]

Maybe that Lyman would do better in a warmer climate. Send it on down here to Florida and I'll take care of it for you.

[rbertalotto]

[DocRock]

What are the cast bullets sized to? Should be a 1:10 twist rate. Any reason to believe it's slower?

The Sharp's configuration will allow use of the Lyman 311299. Sized .310", they should be a treat. If the twist rate is suspect, the Lyman 311041 is a sure bet. Over 16.5" grains IMR4227, sized at .310", it has shot well in microgroove and cut rifled barrels.

[rbertalotto]

Thanks Doc....I'm going to look for those molds

[Tactical Lever]

I took that Lyman 1878 to the range yesterday........Once again I hate Lyman tang sights. No windage adjustment, no elevation clicks or other markings. Very hard to adjust accurately. Had a hard time even getting on paper.

Pulled that sight off and installed a far superior Marbles.....Windage adjustment, click stop elevation.....With a Lee Shaver "Hadley" adjustable iris eye cupMore Bettah!

Going back today for more testing......

Irony at it's finest..

[Tactical Lever]

RANGE REPORT....Not too good! The lead bullets that came with the rifle might not fit the bore properly and keyhole at lower velocity. With enough powder they expand enough to be marginally accurate.....3-5" at 50 yds

Jacketed bullets shoot great! An inch +/- at 50 yds and hitting 12" X 12" steel plate at 200 yds consistently......

I ordered some gas check bullets to experiment with and will cast some oversize bullets to try.....

It has potential!

I suspect that the 30-30 loads would be just too high a pressure for a plain base. The pressure will erode the base and sneak past up the side of the bullet. The jacketed bullets, or gas checks are probably capable of much better than your first groups.

Nice finds! Really love that rifle!

[rbertalotto]

Loaded up some gas checked bullets today...will test when it stops raining. Stay tuned

[Ysabel Kid]

Congrats on the finds!

A picture of all of the Sharps in a row would be VERY INTERESTING (and appreciated!)

[rbertalotto]

Will do...Stay Tuned