Author Topic: Alex Henry rifle  (Read 1211 times)

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Alex Henry rifle
« on: September 25, 2024, 07:30:28 PM »
I had this rifle recently follow me home.  (this is not the same rifle I asked about the markings on the muzzle)
Alex Henry .451 with a rate of twist around 1 in 34"

I have not shot any bullets out of it yet.   A bit undersized is the bore and working on a mold.

I have shot .440 round balls out of it.   First two shots were just an inch from center with 20 grains of 2f swiss.   Good enough so I took it to a woods walk type match and won with 14 out of 15 hits.  I was quite happy that it seems to shoot well.

I need to work up loads for it in due time.

Fleener
















free henna images
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline HSmithTX

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 160
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2024, 10:20:12 PM »
Gorgeous, I like that a ton. The grip cap, tang and plug engraving is beautiful. 

Offline Curtis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2338
  • Missouri
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2024, 08:12:52 AM »
Fabulous find, Snapper!  Great looking gun...  can't wait to put my grubby fingers on it! You gonna bring it to the Creedmoor 150?

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2024, 03:44:30 PM »
Art,
Can you takd the lock off and let's see the inside.Stanton or Brazier or???????
Bob Roller
« Last Edit: October 02, 2024, 03:14:39 PM by Bob Roller »

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2024, 03:54:47 PM »
Curtis:  No, not planning on bringing it to the Creedmoor.   Perhaps..... 

Rick has one of my Rigby's as he made some inserts for the front sight and the bore guide that got lost at the auction house, so that one will be on display as well as my Creedmoor Rigby.  Not sure how many rifles I want to deal with and traveling.

Bob:  I will get a picture latter today for you.   The inside of the lock is very nice, and it is not marked, leading me to believe it was made in house by AH.

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2024, 07:01:07 PM »
Art,OK and whenever it's convenient for you.
Bob Roller

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2024, 01:13:27 AM »
Bob:   Hear you go.

Fleener






free photo host
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2024, 02:20:18 AM »
Art,
That lock could be either Stanton or Brazier or even another lock filer.This is a "3 pin"style and I made a similar mechanism for the Schuetzen locks minus the curl.Thank you for removing and showing us this fine lock.
Bob Roller

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2024, 02:40:17 AM »
That little curl just makes it look "cool".  Plus I think it helps the rifle balance better.....

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Daryl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15822
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2024, 06:16:34 AM »
That is a great lock. Bet it's as crisp as a thin slice of melba toast.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Curtis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2338
  • Missouri
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2024, 07:50:59 AM »
That little curl just makes it look "cool".  Plus I think it helps the rifle balance better.....
Fleener

It would take a discerning fellow like yourself would notice!   ;)

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #11 on: September 27, 2024, 03:19:23 PM »
The rifle really does balance nicely and shoulders well.

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Curtis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2338
  • Missouri
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2024, 08:08:27 AM »
Snapper, I have one of these adjustable bullet sizers, it may allow you to use an existing mold and size the bullet to fit your bore.  It allows very tiny and incremental adjustments to bullet size.  I have used mine to successfully drop bullet diameters significantly.

https://hanksprecisiongunparts.com/p/smooth-bullet-sizing-die-complete-kit

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2024, 03:58:49 PM »
Thanks Curtis.

Did not know something like that existed.  I sent them an email, but do you know how small the .45 cal sizes down to?  I need around .442"

Rick has made me a .442" sizing die to try.   Pick it up next week.

Thanks

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2024, 06:30:23 PM »
Chucking reamer are available in .001 increments and some in .0005 like .312 and .3125.(5/16.I made some from brass in ..451 with a 7/8x14 thread fot use in a reloading press.A 7/8x14 bolt can be used as well.The brass one went to Heelerau in Australia an had a taper to the main sizing diameter.
Bob Roller
« Last Edit: October 01, 2024, 05:04:35 PM by Bob Roller »

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2024, 10:35:24 PM »
I got word back from the bullet sizer company that Curtis post a link for

Looks like they start out at around .454 and go down to approximately .440

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Curtis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2338
  • Missouri
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2024, 07:04:03 AM »
Looks like they start out at around .454 and go down to approximately .440

I wasn't certain how small it would size, but I think the default "wide open" is .452 or the .454 you mentioned.  The smallest I have sized to so far has been about .446, and there is plenty of adjustment to go smaller.  Been sizing some GG bullets small enough to paper patch and size again with the .448 die you sent me.  Long story, I can tell it in Tennessee.

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Daryl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15822
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2024, 07:13:43 PM »
I tried to contact that company about the sizes their .50 cal. sizer was capable of, but my computer would not send the mail to them
with the address they gave. An adjustable die would be super.
I need .515" down to .510".
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline snapper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2432
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #18 on: October 01, 2024, 11:32:29 PM »
.505 down to .490

that is what I got back from the sizing die company.  Asked about shipping to CN, he did not answer that.

Fleener
My taste are simple:  I am easily satisfied with the best.  Winston Churchill

Offline Bob Roller

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9687
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2024, 03:20:07 PM »
That little curl just makes it look "cool".  Plus I think it helps the rifle balance better.....

Fleener
No doubt it also adds weight to reduce recoil from the round ball and 20 grain powder charge ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.
Bob Roller

Offline Daryl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15822
Re: Alex Henry rifle
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2024, 07:35:32 PM »
Thanks Art.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V