This is a fun project. I'm enjoying just watching you tackle it. You have taken up a great hobby 😅

Tom... You remind us of the cartoon, Huckleberry Hound", not a downer, as we always loved him! You bring such joy to our life... Keep on the works, that keep us wanting more!

I like the way you go about this. That rifle as is WILL put meat on the table and would be combat effective. Good rifle.

Having been an okay shot watching folks that are *good* is always fun and instructive.

Just found your channel and automatically am excited to see we bith the same style & cartridges. You sir, do a wonderful job plainly explaining/teaching all while taking us RIGHT there with you on the journey to what each rifle likes and what you are looking for in loading and shooting. Thank you for your humble style and down to earth content. Subscribed and looking forward to more content! GOD BLESS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks Tom great stuff. I think this has been a super great project. I've yet to start on my project rifle as I've been busy turkey hunting and took on a pistol build which I've completed. It works so I am happy with that and I got me a turkey too which makes me happy. I love that the 1885 is getting sub MOA at 500 yards. Getting it to sub .5 MOA is a real challenge, but it is so close I think with a little more time and fine tuning adjustments it will be there. Thanks again.

Tom, every one of those shots was minute-of-Whitetail! Besides, MOA shot groups only matter on paper; a single cold bore shot is all that matters when hunting!

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

You are absolutely right Paul but my goal with this one was to shoot paper just to show what old technology is capable of. Marketing has convinced young people that it has to be a new ultramodern design to really shoot good and as soon as I relieve a little wood in this foreend I think this will prove that's not the case!

I bet there's a 1/2 moa load out there just waiting for you to find it. Great rileman, great rifle, great marksmanship!

Thank you for the video Tom. You did some nice shooting at 500 yards. I’m sure you could eventually get your rifle down to 1/2 MOA at 500 yards. Your rifle is a hunting rifle and shooting amazingly well for what it is. Take care and God bless my friend. 😎👍

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike! And I have to say this rifle has impressed me.

Mr. River... that's darned impressive, regardless! Almost a half-MOA from a design that goes back to 1885... wow! (yes, I know, "almost" only counts with bowling balls, horseshoes, hand grenades and nukes. Still impressive to me.) The further down the road in life I get, the more I realize the old engineers and designers really knew what they were doing. Well done, sir! Hope to see more on this amazing rifle. (Imagine that design up-scaled to a 350 CheyTac or 416 Barrett!!)

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ben, and that was the whole point of this series. To show that the old designs never quite working just because marketing convinced everyone that they needed the latest greatest offering.

Great video buddy

You do have patience, Tom. I'll give you that. And yes, the videos are getting more professional, even though they already were pretty damned good. Be nice to have a place to shoot as you do too.

A commendable effort indeed, and for a factory rifle, excellent results. You're asking a lot of that rifle.. A good bolt rifle(BAT action), bedded into a strong synthetic stock, with a 2 oz, Jewell trigger, and with a custom fitted Kreiger barrel, and great scope, would be more in line. I think you did awesome for what you're working with. Nice viideo.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kent! I know this isn't a target rifle but I did want to see just how accurate this 140 year old design could be and I have to say I've been impressed with it. I can't image what it would do with a Kreiger or Bartline barrel? John Browing did well on this one.

Tom, keep your thumb off the wrist. You'll have some lateral torque taking the thumb over the wrist or tang. It take very little to make a difference at farther distances. You can do it.

Thanks Tom ..

Pull-out drawers are the only way to fly nowadays. Putting things away usually results in hiding those items from one's self.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

OSES, I would agree but what I plan on doing with these drawers is making custom drawers with locations for each item. That's something I'm going to discuss later but something I finally figured out is that someone who is truly confident in his tools and abilities doesn't have modular storage but rather custom storage.

8:25 I had an old timer show me once where to place my thumb when shooting like this. With your hand that’s pulling the trigger, instead of placing the thumb across the tang, lay it right up the edge of the tang on the same side the rest of your hand is on. It eliminates some of the impulse to squeeze your hand which could cause you to slightly pull on the rifle while squeezing the shot off. I found this to be a helpful tip.

I've had success in the past (with single shot actions) by fully bedding the fore end vs floating the barrel.. something about the 2 piece stocks, maybe? definitely seems like the wood is flexing and causing the barrel to touch..

I can remember years ago when I was much younger and not as wise I had a 220 swift loaded hot with Winchester 760(I think) it was a really warm afternoon and I was sitting over a fairly large rabbit population here in Australia. I’d already got a few but decided I would get a box of ammunition out of the car to use , first shot it locked the bolt up. Lesson learnt.

FWIW, I think Tom’s done a great job on this rifle. Realizing 1/2-MOA accuracy at 500-yards with a sporting rifle is a pretty ambitious goal. There’s a bit of voodoo in the air when you reach 500-yards, even on a calm day. Keep trying, it makes a good video. My Remington 700 6.5 CM has a heavy barrel and the chassis has an aluminum bedding, it will occasionally turn in 7-inch groups a 1,000 yards. Most days, given sketchy wind, I’m happy to hit 18-inches.

I have a rifle that I believe is 3/4” moa or better. With me as the shooter it’s not always 3/4” moa. 😂

A lot of the guys who shoot these types of single shot rifles who compete in long-range silhouette black powder matches often times use shooting sticks, and they don't typically rest the rifle on the forend of the stock. The matches I've participated in, we rest the rifle on the barrel. The trick is finding that sweet spot on the barrel, finding that node. It's all about barrel harmonics. That's what we do with black powder cartridges. Since your rifle is a modern cartridge, the barrel harmonics may be different. The idea with X-sticks is to find the vibrational "node" of the barrel, which generally shows up several inches back from the muzzle, and rest the rifle on the x-sticks at the "node". Several methods for finding the node are around but usually are some variation of "hold the rifle by the butt stock and tap along the barrel with a hammer, finger, or stick until you find a "dead" spot. Thats the node, rest the barrel there. Or..... you can shoot groups with the barrel rested at various points and look for a "sweet spot" that consistently produces better groups. After going thru various methods, my favorite is tapping with a finger. At spots other than the node you will feel vibration in the barrel when you tap it, at the node it will feel dead. There is usually a area an inch or two long that feels dead. Hope this helps. I definitely think running an older single shot with a modern cartridge is a cool concept. I definitely enjoyed this series.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Eggomania, and as sensitive as this rifle is to where I set it on the rest I think your comments are spot on about the finding the sweet spot with the sticks. And my reasoning for this project was to shot young people that have been convinced by marketing that they have to have an ultramodern rifle to shoot accurate groups. Once I get this one completely dialed in I hope to show them otherwise and that the old designs never quit being accurate.

@Eggomania86

Жыл бұрын

@Tom River - Simple Living I agree. You don't need a modern rifle to shoot long-range or print tight groups. The irony behind 6.5 Creedmoor is its name sake. It was in 1873. At Creedmoor NY present day Long Island, the US shooting team beat the Irish shooting team in an international shooting competition. They were competing at over 1000 yards. They had rifles similar to what you or I have. Rifles like the Sharps, Ballard, and Remington Rolling block. I think since your 1885 High Wall is in 6.5 Creedmoor, that's definitely a testament to the heritage of the Creedmoor matches held in NY. It's definitely a 21st-century rendition, which is cool. Guys have been shooting long-range in competition and even hunting since the 1870's. From personal experience, shooting the older black powder cartridges at long range is definitely an art. It's a different animal from the gear used today. But the fundamentals haven't changed much. Those of us who run Black powder cartridges have appreciation and healthy respect for the kit we use in competition.

You'll get there i believe

Tom, In my opinion it is mostly the shooter that is being measured...only partially the rifle in this instance. I am pretty sure the rifle shoots better than you or I. If that is true, and I believe it is, then you are only measuring how well you are shooting on any particular day. Something to ponder. Keep up the interesting videos.

I've got a Browning M-78 (Model 85 built in the 1970s) and I always found it important to set it on the sandbag just in front of the action, clear at the rear of the forearm.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

9 ай бұрын

That seems to be the case with this one too? I was trying not to go back that far just so I didn't have to move the rifle when I opened the lever but the further back I moved it the more consistent it shot.

Thanks Tom for sharing your development of this cartridge/rifle. Are you going to show how you will adjust seating depth for the current load?

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

11 ай бұрын

Ron, at this point I don't think there's much need in me worrying about the seating the depth? The 2 biggest variables I need to work on now is just some quality range time with rifle and really refining my shooting. And relieving some wood on the forearm so that the rifle isn't as finicky about where sits on the rest. And I have learned something about this rifle from a someone that shoots black competition with these rifles since this video. The competition guys use shooting sticks rest the rifle on the barrel in the V in the sticks. The trick is finding the exact spot on the barrel to rest it and that's how they dial in the harmonics to get it to shoot it's best. I thought that was interesting and it confirmed for me just how sensitive this rifle was as far as any kind of pressure on the barrel from the for end. If I get those 2 things dialed then I think it would be worth experimenting with seating depth because this rifle would be shooting so precisely that I would be able to see any changes from the seating depth. But I don't know that it would be worth testing for seating depth right now with those variables still in play?

@ronnieA251

11 ай бұрын

@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Thank you Tom for your prompt reply! Any suggestions or procedure you would recommend in doing a seating depth test?

a piece of masking tape on the side of the stock makes it fast to re-index location on the rest.

You could do some serious hunting even with that first group!

I think you did well my friend. As long as you bring home the bacon so to speak, That's all that really counts.😊 These are not target or competition rifles. I think it performed very well.😊😊😊 Yes I wonder how many people who actually make comments shoot five hundred yards. Just saying.

I found, some years back, that to find what a gun is capable of, I had to take me out of it, thus a use a lead sled. After the sled I know that errors are on me as opposed to the gun. (no excuses lol)

@luvtahandload7692

Жыл бұрын

Boo! Haha Lead sleds change the way guns shoot. When you take recoil out of the gun, that's unnatural. Been there!

Let's see you get on that old Ford tractor and do some mowing. Lol Or is it just used for running out to the targets? Thanks Tom!

you had me at 1885 but once I saw the scope I am out of here! 19 seconds I lasted.

The feel of the pistol grip area, that is probably my biggest dislike of the 1885, the straight grip. I prefer a pistol grip, which the browning B78 has. And some 1885's. I have three "1885's", at present, a Winchester 1885 trapper in 30-40 krag, which has a straight grip, a browning 1885 in 45-70 with a straight grip, and my favorite, a limited edition Browning B78 in 30-06 with a beautiful feathercrotch pistol grip stock. These three are all newer ones, built on the present 1885 action and newer trigger, as opposed to the older B78 action with it's more complicated trigger. I have owned other 1885's, both Winchester and browning, also both high and low walls, and the winchesters all seem to have a top metal tang extending back into the wood of the pistol grip area, while the browning versions lack this top metal tang. The rifles with the top metal tang are usually straight grip stocks, while the ones lacking the top metal tang, usually have the pistol grip stock. (The purpose of the top metal tang seems to be so that you can mount a tang mounted receiver sight on it. But the top metal tang sort of screws things up, if you want to put a pistol grip stock on the rifle. I picked up a used browning B78 stock set, and later found a new, unfinished pistol grip stock set (with beautiful feathercrotch figure) and have them both here, with the idea of changing the 30-40 and 45-70 to pistol grip stocks. Both stock sets are made for rifles lacking the top metal tang so for at least one of the rifles, this will complicate things, accommodateing the top metal tang. My other problem is that I am recuperating from a number of health issues that have been keeping me down for a few years now, and, I am presently lacking a decent space to do the work in, so the projects are sort of in limbo at the moment. The unfinished stock set appears to be a simple stock swap to a rifle lacking the top tang (like my 45-70), but I would prefer to put it on the 30-40 krag. If I put it on the 45-70, it might only require final sanding, applying a nice oil finish that will show off the beautiful feathercrotch figure, and putting a nice recoil pad on it. The used B78 stock might be a simple swap out to the 45-70, except for maybe some work on the barrel channel of the fore end to accommodate the 45-70 barrel. I have time to make decisions though, because of my recuperating and also setting up a place to fiddle with these projects. I just think that the 1885 looks and feels better with a pistol grip stock and fortunately, the way the lever is shaped, it accommodates both stock styles easily. (The ruger number 3 lever does not, which is why my 30-40 krag is an 1885 and not a number 3) I hope that I can soon proceed with these projects as I would love to get back out hunting with them again, particularly with them sporting the new stocks.

@fredkeisling5014

6 ай бұрын

18:36

I’m wondering what scope mounts you’re using.

Your bullets get there quicker than mine do.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

9 ай бұрын

LOL, I wondered if anyone was going to notice that? I couldn't figure out exactly how to sync the camera at the target with the camera filming me so that everything was happening in real time on each camera. And I still haven't figured that one out!

Half MOA at 500 yards is extremely hard to achieve. Your rifle has many things going for it like looks, hunting weight, and very precise. You are working with a sporting rifle with a two piece stock and an action not designed for extreme precision. I think you can get half MOA out of it at 500 yards but you will be bucking the law of diminishing returns pretty hard. Even the slightest undetectable breeze somewhere downrange is enough to throw the shot outside the intended group size. For practical hunting purposes at that range it will probably not be worth the effort to improve it much when the shooting conditions are very likely to drown the achievement significantly. Had you been shooting at 100 yards you may have achieved half MOA. With that long range stuff though it is hard to justify tuning everything such that you take two inches off the group only to lose 4 inches plus, because of wind doping errors.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

You're absolutely right Struttineagle and that's why I waited for just about perfect shooting conditions to try it. And just so you know I don't plan on hunting out to that distance. 300 yards is generally my max for hunting. I just want to show people that the old rifle designs never quit being accurate.

500 yd is tough for anybody brother good job500 yd is tough for anybody brother good job

What caliber is he shooting?

Whats it chambered for

Could you guesstimate what the point of impact at 100 yards would be if zeroed for 500 yards?

@garywoodlief1976

Жыл бұрын

about 4 feet high

Tom your shooting is impressive. I have been a cabinet maker for 45 years please don't set your hand planes down on the blades you will have to sharpen a lot less.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Ted, I can't say how true it is but several very reputable wood workers on KZread swear that's just something they always told young men just learning wood working who were a lot more careless with how they set their planes down? And Paul Sellers who seems pretty knowledgeable said you're more likely to bump the iron and change the angle laying it on the side and to always set it straight down. And in my case I just make sure I pick it up and in a back motion and I can't say that it's ever been a problem. But I do appreciate the advice.

Can you revisit your parker hale 303 plz

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Matty, I will definitely be doing that one day but I have no idea when? I did carry it out while I was sighting in another rifle for deer season and I fired 2 shots with the Parker Hale with the 150gr Federal Power Shoks and the 2 shots where almost touching at 100 yards. I would have fired more but that ammo is hard to come by at the moment. Eventually I'm just going to have to work up some handloads for that rifle.

What caliber?

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

6.5 Creedmoor

if its a true .5 moa gun it should do a half moa all the time

@edwardabrams4972

Жыл бұрын

I think that’s what 1/2” inch MOA means! All the time not just one day of the year! It has to be consistent! Temperature and altitude should not change it. Of my 60+ year gun collection I have only a handful or so that will do that to even MOA and just a couple custom rifles 1/2” inch MOA.

Why so many excuses?

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

Audie, there's 2 options here. 1st just shoot and say this is what I got. 2nd shoot, and give my thoughts on what I've got. I feel like sharing my thoughts is a lot more beneficial to anyone watching and wanting to setup a rifle? it just so happens you seem to think those are excuses and my question is excuses for what?

@audieladd2476

Жыл бұрын

@@TomRiverSimpleLiving You make excuses for the rifle whenever a shot doesn't go into the group? My hand was in the wrong position, the stock was in the wrong position, the cross hairs moved, the stars weren't aligned, my wife had a bad day so she took it out on me and I couldn't concentrate. For God sake, give yourself a good talking to and stop making all these crazy excuses.

@TomRiverSimpleLiving

Жыл бұрын

@@audieladd2476 Question for you Audie, you saw the first 3 shot group and the vertical variation. You saw the change in the shot group when I moved the rest back closer to the receiver. Do you think the location of the rest affected how the rifle grouped? If so was me guessing that affected the group size and then making a change an excuse or valid information to share especially for someone setting up an 1885 like mine?

@audieladd2476

Жыл бұрын

@@TomRiverSimpleLiving You make excuses for EVERY wayward shot. Not just when you moved the rest back.