Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Botswana Tusker
We just received this pic from PH Campbell Smith. Cam has just returned from Botswana after a successful hunt with Dr. John Couvillion where they took this bull after a long hot hunt in unit NG-47. This bull was found after picking up the tracks following them for hours then looping ahead by Land Cruiser and finding the bull later on 40 K's from where they had first started. Water is apparently very scares in the concession this year and the buffalo are in such large herds that the limited bore hole pumps are having a hard time keeping up with the watering buffalo mush less the Elephant coming into the area. Cam felt what elephants were entering the concession were leaving just as quickly. But patience and perseverance paid off in the end with this very nice bull. The bull was taken with a Legend Heavy Sporter chambered for 458 Lott and a 500gr Woodleigh FMJ Norma Factory load. Well done Dr. Couvillion & Campbell.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Jerry Fisher Barrel Vise: Part 2
The vise comes with one set of Aluminum bushing with additional sizes being available for different diameter barrel shanks. The idea is to buy the bushing so the ID of the busing matches the shank diameter PLUS the thickness of a new business card. Example: Shank OD is 1.150, card stock thickness is .012. As the card should wrapped around the shank about 340 degrees the ID of the bushing should be 1.170 to 1.172. The card stock protects the bluing and engraving during the process. This procedure, done properly will allow you the spin actions on and off barrels shanks with no damage to the surface finish on the shank. I am not all sure how this system will work with a Teflon or Cera-Koted barrel shank but will know soon enough.
Disclaimer: I am not being given a vise for this endorsement ! I am paying the bill just like everybody else. The cost for this vise is going to be $575.00 US. The barrel bushings will run $50.00 US per set if you can make your own. At this time the first run of 20 vises are bring completed. Needless to say I do not have one in my shop at this time but I know that if it leaves Jerry's shop it will be an excellent product in every way. It is not often that I put in a plug for anything but this will be an exception. If you have been wanting to up-grade your current barrel vise this is going to the Cadillac of vises.
Jerry Fisher can be reached at 406-837-2722 MST. A brochure is available on request.
Disclaimer: I am not being given a vise for this endorsement ! I am paying the bill just like everybody else. The cost for this vise is going to be $575.00 US. The barrel bushings will run $50.00 US per set if you can make your own. At this time the first run of 20 vises are bring completed. Needless to say I do not have one in my shop at this time but I know that if it leaves Jerry's shop it will be an excellent product in every way. It is not often that I put in a plug for anything but this will be an exception. If you have been wanting to up-grade your current barrel vise this is going to the Cadillac of vises.
Jerry Fisher can be reached at 406-837-2722 MST. A brochure is available on request.
Jerry Fisher Barrel Vise: Part 1
Over the past couple years we have been asked to build a couple of Legends fit and chambered with two different calibers. This can be done if the parent case geometry is very similar for both cartridges. Examples of this would be for cartridges such as the 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 75x7 as well as the 300 H&H and 375 H&H or a 300 Weatherby and the 416 Remington. You get the idea.
Now our switch barrels are not something that can be done with the flick of the wrist. The barrels must be removed by removing the front scope base and placing an action wrench over the front ring of the action and then clamping the barrel in a proper barrel vise. The last such rifle we assembled found me looking for a commercial vise for our client overseas and I could not find a single vise that I liked the looks of and I really searched the web. I'm sure some would have worked but to insure that the bluing is not scratched in this conversion requires both care by the operator and vise that is made with precision and versatility. Last December while visiting Jerry Fisher I was made privy to a barrel vise that he was having made at that vey moment for retail sales. The design is based off the original vise that he has used in his shop for over 40 years. I have used that vise many times in the past and the vise as well as concept work very well indeed.
This is not rocket science so a lengthly text is not required. The upper vise Jaw is supported by a group of coil springs located between the upper and lower halves of the vise. This feature alone is real asset as it allows you to slide the barrel and barrel bushings into the vise without the need of a 3rd hand. My present vise does not even have this feature and we need to be very diligent when installing the barrel in and out of the vise so as not to scratch the freshly blued action or barrel during the assembly. Jerry's vise also eliminates the use of a larger Allen Key and a dead blow hammer to snug down the vise as the 4 nuts on the top side of the vise are to be tightened and then loosened with a socket head wrench instead. This eliminates the chance of the Allen key from bouncing loose as it's being slapped with the lead blow and ricocheting off your newly engraved and blued barrel. It short it's just a damn better mouse trap and would be a welcome addition to any shop that installs barrels of any type.
Now our switch barrels are not something that can be done with the flick of the wrist. The barrels must be removed by removing the front scope base and placing an action wrench over the front ring of the action and then clamping the barrel in a proper barrel vise. The last such rifle we assembled found me looking for a commercial vise for our client overseas and I could not find a single vise that I liked the looks of and I really searched the web. I'm sure some would have worked but to insure that the bluing is not scratched in this conversion requires both care by the operator and vise that is made with precision and versatility. Last December while visiting Jerry Fisher I was made privy to a barrel vise that he was having made at that vey moment for retail sales. The design is based off the original vise that he has used in his shop for over 40 years. I have used that vise many times in the past and the vise as well as concept work very well indeed.
This is not rocket science so a lengthly text is not required. The upper vise Jaw is supported by a group of coil springs located between the upper and lower halves of the vise. This feature alone is real asset as it allows you to slide the barrel and barrel bushings into the vise without the need of a 3rd hand. My present vise does not even have this feature and we need to be very diligent when installing the barrel in and out of the vise so as not to scratch the freshly blued action or barrel during the assembly. Jerry's vise also eliminates the use of a larger Allen Key and a dead blow hammer to snug down the vise as the 4 nuts on the top side of the vise are to be tightened and then loosened with a socket head wrench instead. This eliminates the chance of the Allen key from bouncing loose as it's being slapped with the lead blow and ricocheting off your newly engraved and blued barrel. It short it's just a damn better mouse trap and would be a welcome addition to any shop that installs barrels of any type.
Spring Roe Buck Hunting In Poland
Frank from Germany sent us this photo of this respectable Roe Buck he recently took while in Poland. Frank was using a Legend chambered for 300 H&H for the hunt. He shot the buck at 186 meters with a hand-load made from a combination of components two of which were a Barnes 168gr TTSX driven by a charge of Reloader 17. Some would consider a 30 caliber magnum over kill for such a small deer but I have always been skeptical of such claims. Use what you feel most comfortable with and let the result speak for itself.
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