Lockdown Project

[paul o']

Wonderful work there Mr H , only one thing wrong if was to be picky ! its left handed apart from the wrong side what a stunning turnout

 

[Heym SR20]

Wonderful work there Mr H , only one thing wrong if was to be picky ! its left handed apart from the wrong side what a stunning turnout

Thank you and nope its not incorrect - 95 % of rifles are made incorrectly. Must admit to being pretty pleased.

 

[bfltd0]

Finally got an opportunity to give her a try out. 110 good paces in a gentle Argyl mist .. first three shots. Then added a few more.

Slight adjustment on the scope after the first 3 rounds?

 

[8x57]

A nice job you've done there Mr. Heym.

 

[Heym SR20]

Slight adjustment on the scope after the first 3 rounds?

No, but i did walk up to check the target so probably a slightly different position. But they are all well within a inch so very happy. And these are home loads using a yellow lee scoop to measure powder - haven’t yet worked up a load per se - not sure I will bother.

 

[Heym SR20]

Just to give an update. Lockdown Rifle is settling down well. Fundamentally its shooting a simple 1.6cc yellow cup of N133 with Hornady or PPU 50gn Softpoint bullet in PPU case into well under 1”, or more like 10 rds being covered by a 10p piece. It was wearing a 6x42 S&B scope, but been having a try of a few things. One was a Leupold Target scope. Fixed 12x with a fine cross hair and dot. Wonderful on paper, but difficult to pick up when out in the field. So it’s currently wearing a Swarovski 4-12x50 Habicht with 7A reticle. Would love a fixed 10x42 type scope with big clicky dials so I can pre-zero for different ranges hence a post in wanted section.

In meantime I have been working up a non-toxic load for use on Roe and other live targets. Toss up between Fox bullets and Peregrine. Given that I use the Fox in my 7x57 and know that it works well I have tried the Peregrine 51gn VLR4. States on box suitable for 1 in 12 twist.

Now I am lazy. So loaded up four rounds with a yellow cup of powder - as above. And tried them. My range is pretty makeshift. 100m with a firing point being over my bag.


Not happy - 4” if I am being generous. Is it me, bullets, scope, load etc.

So shot a few of my softpoint loads.



And they shot in a nice group so nothing wrong with my shooting.

A bit of head scratching, soul searching, conversations, reading data charts etc I was reminded that yellow 1.6cc cup of N133 is only about 21.5gn of powder which is a starting load. So do things properly.

So loaded up a pressure test / ladder test from 21.7 up 24.8 gns of powder. A total of 11 rounds.

And I shot the slowly at the same target



I was starting to get a little stickiness at 24.5gn. But if you look at the above there is a pretty good cluster above 23.0gns of powder with 23.6 and 23.8gn being close together and a bit above and bit below are also close. The black dot is a 2” circle just for reference. Looking promising.

So went and loaded 5 rounds at 23.7gn.



Five rounds in a inch - the 223 case is 45mm long. I wasn’t particularly comfortable, it was a little gusty and I did feel I pulled the last, but any four of them make 0.8 inch. This load is for shooting deer at sub 200, and that is sufficient accuracy to keep a bullet in the vitals. I did try at 24.3gn, but a bit more vertical stringing and one was a little hard to open.

So gone with 23.7gns of powder, loaded up the rest of the box of 50 bullets. Dropped the sights by 4 clicks so its an inch and a bit high at 100 and have confirmed with a couple of shots.

Now I just need the hunting spirits to align and for all the does that I keep seeing to bring in a buck or two.

And a couple of lessons learned - 1 try short cuts, but don’t do wailings and nashings of teeth before you go through the whole process. And 2) 223’s leave small holes on the paper and even when close together there looks to be a lot of space. If you used to bigger calibres, a 22 group size looks a lot bigger.

Overall very happy with this project. And I am finding the rifle a joy to carry. Its a little heavy, but its balanced well and is nicely rounded through the action so balances in the hand.

And it shoots to same point with and without the moderator. So range use mod on. In field mod does make it a little long, so will probably use it without.

I haven’t yet put a sling on it. Not sure if I will.

 

[cjm1066]

Lovely article, shows how much work is involved in a custom rifle and conversely what great value some factory rifles are.

Enjoy using it and start planning your next project (non COVID).

 

[Ronin]

Super write up and results

 

[Heym SR20]

Thanks Gents for your kind words. The finish is curing nicely - it no longer feels raw and is taking a nice burnish. But there are a few things I would do a little differently, or change slightly - a little here or there - 1/16” sort of amounts. I suppose one day sort those out.

In the meantime I am just going to enjoy it.

 

[James0586]

Absolutely loved this thread. Fantastic write ups and craftsmanship.

Well done, what’s next??

 

[Heym SR20]

So after a bit of chopping and changing and response from an SD member the rifle now wears a Shmidt & Bender 10x42 with an A7 reticle, zeroed at about 180 m. With 33 clicks its bang on at 575 yards and I came equal third in club fly competition at the weekend. Target below was shot at 575 yards with gusty 15 to 20 mph wind and 55gn cheap Sellier & Bellot training ammo.

And after a good lunch followed by afternoon snooze I took Mrs Heym, the Hound and the rifle for a walk. I was n’t really planning on shooting anything but this old boy stepped out. I have been after him for a couple of years. He is going back and needs to make room for younger blood, so sent a 51gn Peregrine just behind his shoulder. He kicked his legs, jumped over the wall and found him after about 30 yards yards. I am really beginning to like this rifle and how it shoots both on the range and in the field. And the little Peregrine is deadly, but no mess. Picture of the heart and exit wound.

 

[ChesterP]

What a fabulous project and your patience and care have paid off! As someone who works with wood and extensively with oil finishing, that's a great job. Getting a really decent finish with oils isn't as easy as it seems and requires care and patience, and having the right blend of oils. I tend to use a mix of Tung Oil, walnut oil, a little red root oil and linseed oil, thinned for the first 4 coats 50/50 with turpentine, the next 4 at 25% turps and the final 4 to 10 coats (depending on finish wanted) neat and rubbed in with the palm of my hand. For maintaining the finish, I use a little orange or lemon oil mixed with Tung and boiled linseed oil.

Great job, you should be very proud.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Excellent job, not only a nice looking rifle but accurate too. Best of all, your and yours alone hard work and not inconsiderate skills have all come together. Bloody well done boet. I'm only jealous

 

[hybridfiat]

A fine effort.
Kudos!

 

[Hunter300]

Thank you and nope its not incorrect - 95 % of rifles are made incorrectly. Must admit to being pretty pleased.

This looks like a fine job and tons of fun, I always talked about it, maybe it’s time I have a go at it! You have just inspired me THANKS

 

[Bowland blades]

Yes, can't beat a bit of hacksawing and fettling by hand! Very rewarding. I've been draw filing a hefty little EN19T part recently to remove the tool marks which is so satisfying.

Combined with a small milling attachment and lots of free time it's amazing what you can do with a lathe though.

T ? that's far from easy !

 

[Heym SR20]

I have continued to use the 223 and I really loving how it shoots. And how it carries. It’s a little heavy, but mostly i just use an African carry or cross body in crook of arm ( like you see how they used to carry the L1A1). I am not going to put a sling on it.

It accounted for another buck on Saturday. 51gn Peregrine dropped it on the spot as it popped out of the trees at c100yds. No mess, no fuss and when I butchered it recovered all the meat.