doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com How To Blow Up A High Wall

When I found the correct page and data in my Lyman #43 I saw that I had at some time actually crossed that load out, and written "error" next to it. Not sure when in the past I even found it, since it's been so long ago.

Vall, It's too bad I didn't buy your Lyman handbook instead of the virgin copy I bought on fleabay.

In the interest of science, I'll add a couple of points from this episode that were positive, if you look at it in a twisted sort of way.

First of all, the catastrophic failure of the receiver and barrel did not affect any parts of the action located rearward of the face of the block. I have heard it postulated that the design of the high wall firing pin is such that high pressure from an overload could drive the firing pin back through the breech block, past the hammer, and into the forehead of the shooter. To my great relief, this did not happen (although I will freely admit I probably deserved a thump up alongside the head for ruining a nice rifle). And judging from the neat hole in the primer, there was quite a bit of pressure.

This may sound a little off subject, but I also found out how good my homeowner's insurance is. After the rifle blew, I reviewed my policy to see if there might be any chance of covering the cost of the rifle. The policy says explosions are covered, and when I mentioned this to the adjuster, he said it didn't sound like much of an explosion. I told him he should have been there. He called me back in a short while with the news that they would cover it, less my deductible, but I would have to give up the rifle. After a little bit of haggling, I was able to buy the rifle from them for the value of the remaining good parts. As I recall, I recovered 70% of the cost of the rifle.

Dennismc, in my considerable experience "cold comfort" beats the crap out of no comfort at all. Agree with the consensus here: sorry about the gun, delighted you DIDN'T get hurt and DID share the info with the rest of us "at risk" handloaders! Hope you used the usable parts of that dead Hi-wall to rejuvenate a rusty Hi-wall carcase and "got right back on the horse"!

Thanks, Mike. So far, the butt stock, butt plate, finger lever, block and hammer have gone to other rifles I came up with down the line. Still a few more parts available in case I need them in the future.

My reaction to the misinformation in the Lyman handbook was to get back on fleabay and purchase five or six editions from other years, just so I have several to cross-reference. And, now that there are a few sites on the Internet that attract single shot people, there seems to be no problem finding the kind of information that will keep a guy out of trouble if he asks the right questions.

As far as "getting back on the horse" is concerned, I spent the insurance check on another Winchester single shot rifle within a matter of weeks. No problem there! In fact, my horse makes so much dust that it keeps my wife from really being able to count what goes into the gun safe. From what I've seen on this site, I'm probably in good company.

Thanks dennis, and all you posters for a VERY interesting,and informative thread!
Best,
Steve

Dennis, you've got one heck of an insurance policy!