doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Double rifle project

I have picked up a Woodward double rifle project gun. It is missing both hammers, rear site, the 4end iron and the 4end wood. It looks to be about 50cal. I am a shotgun guy and I'm not worried about fitting the hammers or the 4end if I can find something close.

How do I go about finding out the proper cartrige and load for this gun?

Who is a good source for brass and dies?

I have heard about making chamber castings but I have never made one. If the chamber is rough will the casting stick?

Who is a good source for hammers?

Mark,

Sounds like an interesting project, pictures would be nice. If you have never done a chamber cast, its really quite simple. I use the stuff brownells and midways sells, cerrosafe by name. You will want to clean the chamber as best you can, then run a few patches down into the rifling, just a bit ahead of the chamber. I also use a spray release agent from brownells, which I apply liberally to the chamber to be sure that it doesnt stick. You could probably get away with wiping it down with any sort of grease or anti-stick/release agent. I hold the barrels up in a vise, slowly heat the cerrosafe and as soon as it turns liquid, I carefully poor it into the chamber until it completely fills to the rim recess. You have to be careful not to overflow, or you get cerrosafe on the outside of the barrels. It usually dosnt stick or remove any bluing, bit its a pain to clean up off the carpeting and what not. You will also need a good rod to push the casting out from the other end once its cool, as well as some good calipers and a few other resources to cross reference your castings measurements with. Cartridges of the World is good, as well as some of the handloaders books. Good luck!

Mark,

Get Cartridges of World as CJ recommended for load info.

For unusual cartridge dies:
http://www.ch4d.com/

Brass will depend on the cartridge.

Here is a "How-To" for chamber casts. A couple of points. If it gets stuck, DO NOT use an aluminum cleaning rod to get it out. The rod can damage the walls, voice of experience... Apply heat to the barrel, use a wooden or brass rod, if all else fails put the chamber end in boiling water. The cerrosafe will simply melt out.
Chamber Cast

For hammers:
http://www.blackleyandson.com/acatalog/English_Cartridge_Hammers.html

Finally, save the chamber cast. You may want to have an insert made up. http://www.mcace.com/index.htm I recently had him make up an insert for a drilling so I can shoot .22 Hornet in the 9.3x82r barrel.

Pete

Thanks for the info. I ordered some cerrosafe. I will order some hammers as soon as I make some measurments. I will try to get some photos also.

Made a chamber cast as directed and could not get casting out. Had to melt it out. Pretty sure its a 500BPE 3"

Mark,

Glad the melting trick came in useful. If you can get your hands on some bee's wax, that can be used for a chamber cast. Some people use candles. The one's I have tried were too soft.

Pete

Mark:

The secret to getting the casting out is to have a square bottom on the casting so you can push on it. I use over powder wads of the approriate diameter pushed in from the muzzle with a square ended close fitting dowel. The flat bottom of the casting make it easier to apply a bit of brute force to move the casting if required.

It is also best to removed the casting right away as it tends to grow over time.

Best,

Glenn

Thanks Glenn I will giv it a try.

When doing chamber cast, it is good idea to preheat the chamber area. I am not tlaking about high temps as Cerosafe has very low melting point. But if you heat the chamber area to about 200-250 degrees, the cerosafe flows better and doesnt cool as quick which allows for smoother castings. You dont have the wrinkles in the casting which helps make for more accurate measuring. Same principle as bullet casting when you pre heat the mold.

For release agent I use RIG grease and swap the chamber and throat. Also plug with a close fitting bore diameter dowel and cloth patches. good square end to push against.

I placed a web order the end of March with EJ Blackley and Son for hammers. I was charged on my credit card mid April. I still have not received my order. Multipal Voicemailes and Emails have resulted in no response.

Has anyone delt with EJ Blackley and Son?

Anyone know the status of the company?