Der Vorschlaghämmer by Mr. Smith

[mark5pt56]

Another fine piece of work by Mr. Smith, just got this in today. When I saw the Fedex truck the the driver thought I was going to tackle it!
Words and pictures don't come close to actually having it, I'm really happy to have this complete and in my hands ready to test some loads for hunting. If you guys are thinking of having this work done, be confident in Mr. Smith's work. I'm extremely pleased with this and proud to own it-now I have to keep my son from taking it, he'll get it one day anyhow.
The scope is what I had about, actually works well with the Leupold mount and Eagle stock pack. I'll probably just use it to test the loads and then run irons and enjoy it as it is until maybe adding an Aimpoint Micro.

Thank you Mr. Smith!

Mark

[SeriousStudent]

Sweet Mother of Pearl! How big ARE the deer where you live? That thing could stop a Buick!

Seriously, congrats on the new rifle. I hope you always fill your tag with it, and it brings you great good luck.

[Army Chief]

There is absolutely nothing even remotely-reasonable about that gun*, and for this reason alone, I wholeheartedly approve.

AC

* which basically resembles my own Smith-built 1895.

[Kain]

Sweet Mother of Pearl! How big ARE the deer where you live? That thing could stop a Buick!

That line there is epic and truly made my night, lol. I thank you.

To the OP, mind if I ask what all work you had done to it? Am a sucker for lever actions. Still want a nice one in .357, though 45-70 is still one of those guns that just has something about it where it ends up being more than the sum of its parts.

[lunchbox]

Nice blaster! My first hunting rifle was a lever action(measly 30-30 ) and have forever enjoyed them.

[SeriousStudent]

I'm guessing Mark is making a winter hunting trip to Alaska, to make jerky from some walruses - walrii? What's the plural of walrus anyway? Great big metric butt-ton of walrus?

Everybody knows that real men shoot .45-70 rounds out of a lever gun. The 30-30 round is reserved for small children under the age of six, the infirm, and angry old codgers - like me.

[LHS]

I'm guessing Mark is making a winter hunting trip to Alaska, to make jerky from some walruses - walrii? What's the plural of walrus anyway? Great big metric butt-ton of walrus?

Everybody knows that real men shoot .45-70 rounds out of a lever gun. The 30-30 round is reserved for small children under the age of six, the infirm, and angry old codgers - like me.

Coo Coo Ka-Choo!

Seriously, though, that's a beautiful working rifle.

[SeriousStudent]

Ten points to LHS for spotting the obscure Beatles reference. Now back to discussing the most excellent lever gun, before Mark hunts me down with a Taser.

The Aimpoint Micro would be very interesting, I would think.

[mark5pt56]

See, it all started with wanting a Marlin 1894 in .44 mag. At the time, I couldn't find one anywhere. So, I started reading more on the 45/70 and realized that I could load it down or if I wanted a cannon, that to. Saying goes for these, mild to wild. Of course I found a really nice 1973 pristine 1894 right afterwards.

I did do some preliminary loads before the work and had it down to 850fps with H4895 and 405 grain Laser Cast. I could go lower yet with the reduced loads with H4895(check the Hodgdon site for info) I didn't go to max but have them to around 1600-plenty I tell you. You have to remember, the old Trapdoor loads may have going in the 1200 range and they traveled through a bison.

Where I go is just for deer but there are 5-600 pound black bear about.
Ok, he did his action job and used supplied Wild West Guns aluminum follower and Bear Proof ejector, installed sight package which is drilled tapped 8x40 and welded on. The rear sight as I understand is a two piece he blends together. Cerakote entire gun. He also had to fix the canted barrel since that was one "Remlin" feature I had with this.

Mark

[mark5pt56]

Hit the range today for some testing.
100 yards, no benches at range, used table with tripod rest front bean bag rear. Leupold at 4x, had to place one knee on a chair to use table.

Obviously, it likes the H4895 and the Remington 405gr JSP and not bad with IMR4198 and the Laser Cast 405 gr LSWC. I would like to tweak the H4895 and LC, just to keep the powder inventory down.

The 53 grains of H4895 was getting to the danger point with the scope and eye relief, any more and I would do a red dot or LER. No malfunctions, performed as one would expect.

Also roughed the irons in at 50 with some Trail Boss and the 405 LC, will tweak when I load some more.

Removed the scope to see how much shift if any detectable with this set up, none that I could really tell.

Mark