doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com For Bill Ferguson

This thickwall action came with two sets of proofmarks on the receiver ring. I take that to mean it was a replacement. I'm not sure how you'd destroy a highwall action on a 22 short. It was not originally made for 22 use as it had no cut for the ejector parts. As for the barrel profile, it comes from Douglas.They call it their Don Allen profile. I've gotten several like this from them. I don't know why they don't advertise this design, but they'll make it if you ask.

Perhaps the action was modified with a Pope like cut down right sidewall to facilitate loading the shorts - then a later owner wanted it back to "original".

Strangely, thick sidewall hiwall actions show up occasionally on smallbore rifles. Deliberate--to add weight to dedicated target rifles? Or just "pick of the parts bin"? We'll probably never know.

rocky mountin bill,
Sometimes if you get the chance, try 7x65R cases for your 30-06 rimmed. 9.3x74R works, but 7x65R is a little easier and my actual measurements indicate the head diameter of 7x65R is usually a couple thousanths closer to 30-06 head diameter.BTW,this works for 35 Whelen Rimmed also.
Mike

Thanks for the barrel info, Bill.

Bill, today I've learned that not only do you find beautiful guns you build them as well(!) Superb job, the gun is simply gorgeous and understated. I don't know how you managed THAT but you surely did. Poetry in steel and wood.

Der Ami, I now have a set of 20 cases made from 7x65R brass, and they work fine. The largest diameter base I found was on some 9.2x74 cases from RWS. They are several years old. I'm curious to find out if the currently made ones are also larger than those from Norma. I think Hornady makes 9.3 brass too .I haven't had a chance to measure any of those.

Bill,
Hornady does sell 9.3 ammo and brass;I'm not sure that they actually make it.It would be interesting to find out, and how the sizes compare.I got into comparing headsizes of several rimmed case calibers,during writing an article about loading 5.6X61R vom Hofe SE ammo. All my brass was several years old, I would be curious to see how new runs of cases compare.
Mike

I am in the process of building a very similar rifle on an antique flat spring Highwall with close coupled double set triggers. My rifle has a straight stock with a full 5" tall steel shotgun buttplate at 13-1/4". I had to modify a pattern stock with Bondo to do that. My fore end is much shorter with a little schable that I can grip with my off hand. My rifle is .30-40 Krag with a 24" octagon/round barrel. The only thing I don't like is mine weighs almost 8 pounds. The octagon section adds a little weight I guess. My rifle has Talley scope bases on the barrel with a Talley aperture sight mounted on the rear base. I can't evey try to see the irons well enough with a barrel sight. I just took my gun to the smith for bluing and color hardening today. Good Job!

I too like that barrel profile. How long is the barrel?