Underhammer Build - Status Report #4
 

The build progresses!

Striker is fabricated and looks good.

Main cut-out of breech block completed.

The vision is becoming clearer. Here's how it should look with a thirty-two inch 1" octagon barrel.

Very interesting. So the barrel and front stock just hang off the receiver block?

That's what his design calls for. I believe if a good hard bolt with fine thread is used there should be no problem. The bolt would have to be hard so as not to undergo and flexing stress from the barrel-receiver interface. That is one of the reasons I recommended two alignment pins. To take some of the stress (weight) off the bolt as well as aid in aligning the nipple to the striker.
But hey, its a prototype. Improvements can always be added later. I think it has some nice lines. A very sleek profile.

While typing this and looking at the cut out I got another inspiration. This is getting back to the idea of a 209 ignition system. Instead of having the gap between the nipple and striker, one could utilize a system similar to the Genesis rifle but have the firing pin swing out from underneath rather than on top...hmmmmmmmmm That would seal off the entire area and make the rifle virtually weatherproof?!?!
Dang - I see an entire line of rifles coming out now. I can see it now. Semisane, CEO; Cayugad, Production Manager; Bronko, Quality Manager;, Muley, Janitor......hehehehe Oh yeah, we definately have to have Lemoyne as Sales Manager.

Guys, I just realized I've been incorrectly calling it an "underhammer". It's not an underhammer. It's a striker fired gun in the "underhammer style". Somebody shoulda` said something.

You need to fabricate a pump style cleaning system for the barrel, unless cleaning will involve a complete dis-assembly every time.

How about a "Minnie Bayou" in .32 caliber?

Semisane

Stupid question I no, but will the ram rod reach the end of the barrel? Does the design cut the ram rod a bit short under the barrel to be able to store it?

Sabotloader, the ramrod will either need to be 3/8" shorter than bore depth or extend 3/8" beyond the muzzle. No big deal either way.

I don't think cleaning will be a big deal UC. I expect to do it with the barrel mounted. But if it turns out it's better to remove the barrel that will be no big deal. It would involve removing three screws from the sideplate to open the side of the breechblock, then removing the quarter inch barrel mounting bolt with a 7/16" box end wrench. (Heck, as long as you have the .54 barrel off you may as well put the .45, .50, or .58 barrel on and shoot a few more targets. :biggrin: )

But to me it might be... I really do not like a rod that will not reach the bottom of the bore and yet have enough remaining out of the bore to hold on to without and extension. I want to be able to run a patch without adding attachments.

That is why I cut and add a jag to all of my gun rods like this...

I like the jag on a ramrod like that also. But a 3/8" protrusion beyond the muzzle would not bother me at all. Nor would having it flush with the bore and 3/8" short.

Anyway, when hunting I carry a spin jag in my pocket in the event I need a little extra length on the ramrod for some reason. Then I can have the permanent jag on one end and the spin jag on the other.

im likin what i see's! I got dibs on the first Professional - Expert review on it.

I know this is crazy with a ML, but there are times that want to pull the ram rod and patch or load quickly without adding attachments... especially elk hunting. We do not have the luxary of hunting from stands or blinds - we are on the ground on public lands. I know it may not seem important to a lot but it makes me feel better...

Sabotloader, I never expected you to be even more anal than I am. :s2:

Really now. If you have a jag-end-ramrod like the one in your picture, what's the concern if it's 3/8" short of reaching the bottom of the bore?

Let's assume the powder and bullet take up 3.5" of space at the breech end. That would be typical for a 100 grain load with a 250 grain bullet in a .50 caliber. Now with a bore length rod you will have 3.5" of rod sticking out when you seat the load. With a rod that's 3/8" short of bore length you will have and 3.125" sticking out. How big a deal can that be?

As far as swabbing, if you're not using an extension with your bore length rod you're swabbing somewhat short of the breech face anyway - probably an inch or so. Will a swab that's 0.375" shorter be a problem? I think not.

Now leave me along. I've worked with a short rod all my life and have learned to adapt. :biggrin:

One word - no two words - "Crud Ring" + I want to patch the bore to the face of the BP so everything remains the same shot to shot or after 20 shots...

No all of my gun rods reach the face of the BP witout attachments - I did have one gun that didn't but I sold it.

Ok... you are right I will adapt...

Oh! Do you have a short rod too? (It's not the length of the rod. It's how you use it.)

Way to much information being gathered...

Well I agree with that. I thought we were talking hunting situations. If we're considering a string of multiple shots I would want to swab to the breech face too. That's what range rods are for. I haven't used the guns rod for target shooting or range sessions in years.

In my world gun rods are pretty much useless... I even hate to use them when hunting but on occasion you have to...

Sorry MD - I have you beat on that request by several days.