Rifle diversion

Bailey:
The 218 Bee is actually the best shooter of the bunch; strange, since the other two has Shilen barrels and the Bee has a $30.00 take-off barrel from a Ruger 22 Hornet. The others shoot fine, but the Bee shouts great. The 218 Bee is a versatile round; it reloads easily, has great case life and will kill everything from a ground-hog to a deer (I have killed several deer with it, but limit it to does at around 100 yds).

I also shoot a 22 Hornet and K-Hornet and they both are a lot of fun. I believe the 22 Bee is inherently more accurate that the Hornet. The Hornet brass is real thin in the neck area and brass life aint so great. If you decide on the Hornet, I suggest you take a good look at the K version; I neck size only after fire forming and get great brass life.
In short, you won't go wrong with any of them.

One question on your proposed Double Rife Project... Have you given any thought how you will regulate the barrels?

Good luck with you project.

Don
 
dondford said:
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I simply LOVE the Martini design. I have one of those big old BSA Internationals and it is so accurate it is silly. I would love to get one chambered for a handgun round like .38 Special for a Stalking Gun.

Did you do the work yourself?
 
I order rough blank stocks from Great American Gunstocks and do the final shaping, fitting. sanding and finishing. I did some of the rust bluing, but the barrel work was done by my old time gun smith.

My brother has one in 357 that he kills deer with. The one below is in 35/30-30 (30-30 necked up) The 30-30 is a little long, so I have turn the rims a little so it will load in the loading ramp. This rifle has an octagon barrel my Brother milled and has a detachable scope bases and the flip-up sight. It is fun to shoot, but I have to keep the loads fairly light to keep from loosing up the action.

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Don,

I tried to e-mail the cad file, but it bounced back to me. Send me an e-amil at baileybradshaw@netscape.com . I will reply to you.

As for the DR regulation. I was discussing the subject today with a friend. I most likely will use a soldered wedge. I don't see regulating the little guys as big an issue as with the larger doubles. Lack of pressure and recoil takes away or lessens many of the issues.

I've never handled a Martini. Very different looking....is it a falling block type action? I know they have a following, just never been around one.
 
The Martini is a pivot block design; not as strong as a falling block but pretty strong. The Cadet is a smaller version of the full size Martini; they were designed and built for Cadets (their ROTC) in Australia. They wanted a smaller, lighter rifle for the boys to handle. They are also center fire (310) and easier to convert to modern cartridges than the rim fire versions. I think they make a classy little rifle.

Don
 
Well, Been busy on my rifle since Blade show. I "stole" a few days after the show...feel guilty as hell, but a guys go to have a little fun.

The stock is sanded to 220 grit with a couple of coats of linseed oil. It will require MANY more hours of finish work, not to mention checkering. The wood to metal fit has a couple of spots I can't make perfect, but the are very small and will fill with epoxy bedding. I may glue some slivers of walnut in and refit those areas though. The drawbolt sticking out th eback will be recessed, just not sure as to what style of butt I want. I LOVE skeleton plates, and will more than likely go with that. I didn't want to drill too large a hole, or find that I need to remove more wood to balance the gun so I will wait until I have the action shaped and the barrel/forend completed.

It fits me perfectly, the styling turned out better than I thought it would look, and the wood looks incredible. I am a happy camper so far. Let me know what you think!!

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Absolutely gorgeous Bailey. Really enjoyed examining your project at the Blade Show. That stock is a work of art on it's own.
 
I got to handle the action at Blade, very impressive. A double rimfire is something I've always had a hankering for (that is without a five figure price). It was nice talking with Bailey, he lives up to his reputation for being a great guy (and knifemaker).
 
Bailey,
Had a lot of fun talking to you at Blade, and looking at the rifle action.

That stock is going to be something when you get it finished. It's a beautiful sculpture already. Love the ribbon behind the pistol grip.

Keep the pictures coming, no matter how long it takes.

John
 
Its so impressive Bailey! The stock shape is unreal. I see a ton of time invested but will be worth it all soon. Thanks for sharing.
 
7X57..:thumbup:Not that it matters, but that's my favorite caliber. I'm looking forward to seeing this one completed.

Paul
 
Great looking stock shape and the wood is out of this world. Really nice meeting you at Blade.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Amazing piece, sir! If you decide to do another single shot, you shuld try an Alexander Henry style stalking rifle. That is the type of rifle that Dakota used as the inspiration for the Model 10 and, IMHO, that is the best looking single shot out there. Maybe an old hammer version or possibly a Farquhason.
 
that is wonderful.........I am extremely jealous!

Dont know where you find the time though.......


I have a 6mm oct bbl Browning falling block that is the most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever owned

7x57 is a very versitle round......will work for a lot of things in the area you live in!!!!
 
Tom, finding the time, as scarce as it must be, would be easier than finding the skills. This is phenomenal work on all fronts, and only a handful of people worldwide could pull it off in world class fashion. Once the shooting world finds Bailey, either knife-making will become a hobby or he will change his name and move to Alakanuk, Alaska.

The 7x57 is the smart choice. I once collected custom 7x57s. Still have 2 shooters--Biesen and Ottmar. The short round will fit small ring Mauser 98 actions, the basis of extraordinarily light mountain rifles (especially in kevlar). When I hunt elk or sheep in grizzly country, which I do almost every fall, it's the Ottmar loaded with 175 gr. Nosler Partitions (in my pocket are 160 gr. Accubonds for sheep). Moderate recoil makes this cal. not only more shootable but combined with great sectional density of those long, thin 175 gr. bullets and they will shoot through anything. W.D.M. Bell, who brained over 800 big ivory bull elephant, claimed that his "little" 7x57 with 173 gr. solids would penetrate through the head of an elephant sideways. Moreover, He killed thousands of antelope with it to feed his huge ivory-packing entourage.

For N.A. game there is none more versatile. It does everything an '06 does with much less fury and recoil. Moreover, it has the propensity to shoot all bullet weights to the same point of impact, a most wonderful virtue for the handloader. And, as stated above, it can be made into a much lighter, trimer rifle.

Light recoil circumvents an ugly recoil pad in favor of a metal buttplate on which you can lavish more engraving and behind which you can remove wood to lighten the buttstock for muzzle heavy balance, which is absolutely critical if the rifle is to be shot accurately, especially offhand. Muzzle light smoothbores are great for quail and grouse in the brush, but a curse for any rifle. I learned the hard, expensive way.

ken
 
Ken,

I set this one up for stalking and shooting while standing or at least sitting upright. I hate having to hunker down on a straight stock in anything but a bench position. I certainly agree about the balance needing to be a little barrel heavy. Light, balanced guns are for long treks and quick shots....barrel weight is for swing and stability.

I appreciate the kind comments and relating experience with the caliber. I am not a reloader, so I will probably shoot Norma, Selier Bellot or RWS factory loads around 150-160 grain. I suffered over the decision, but several Dallas Safari club members talked me into the 7X57r. I am anxious to see what it will do on my feral hogs that enjoy tearing up my food plots.
 
Bailey

Can not say I am surprised at all. That is jaw dropping to say the least. I really do not have words to do it justice.
My biggest regret of Blade was not seeing you!

Hope all is going well with you and yours.
 
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