It took me four years to get the roller done. It started life as a No 5 with a shot out barrel that looked like a sewer pipe. The first thing I did was buy another No 5 that was in better shape. Better to shore up the collection. I then started the project. Barrel is green mountain. I left the barrel heavy at 16.5 inches. The rail was custom made. Had to have the rail. It attaches to the barrel.
The finish is Alumihyde from Brownells. I wanted a beefy front stock. So I started with a block of walnut. Made the barrel channel and then cut it down piece by piece in my table saw until it was about right.
The front of the stock is held in place by the aluminum ring around the barrel that also serves to hold the front sling. Finish is with bees wax mixed with paint thinner. No stain was used. Scope is a long eye relief Busnell. All the screws in the roller were replaced with new. The Rollers were pretty tight already. Trigger spring was replaced with a coil spring. Spare parts including the crappy stock were sold to help finance the project. Below are some pictures before the metal work was finished when I was fitting the stock. Butt plate is brass and home made. Got the brass from my late father in law who worked at a brass mill. Came from scrap bin.
The scope in the one picture was from one of my .22 rifles. Just wanted to check how I was going to mount things. How does she shoot. Pretty nice. Does not like anything lower than about 255 grains. 200 grain semi's left sideways looking holes on the paper. Recoil is super light even with hotter loads. Figured it could handle a little bit hotter since it was based on a 7x57 action that could handle about twice what a hot 45 colt would be pressure wise. I don't load it anywhere close to that.
View attachment 830161
View attachment 830157 View attachment 830158 View attachment 830159 View attachment 830160
Really sweet little rifle.
