Any Underhammer Shooters?

[BE Wild Willy]

The company in question was Numrich Arms, not Lyman. They (the guns) were inexpensive and in the hands of a good shooter often won matches where other competitors were using much more expensive rifles or pistols.

The only other spring was a small, coil trigger spring. The lockwork consisted of a hammer, trigger and two pins. The trigger guard acted as the hammer spring. You can't get less expensive or simple then that.

Here's mine...

 

[Pete D.]

A slug gun. Now that is something I'd like to know more about.
Did you build that yourself? What do the slugs look like? What are the loads?
Enough there for new thread.
Pete

 

[Plastikosmd]

slugs are made in 2 parts, nose is tin/lead as not to slump when being loaded at muzzle, back is pure let to allow obturation. My guns were built by Bresien, Pierce, RL Morris. Loads vary. They are quite accurate. My pierce is dated back to the mid 1800's but still won the 600 yard match in the early 1920's. Here is a target shot by Lester Cox with my rifle (well known in BP target circles) with some load data in 1947. (This is a small 45 caliber slug gun, 450grain projectile)



Nose and back, prior to swaging


A bunch of profiles can be created with a little more/less lead and swaging. Some 630 grainers next to a 22 50g projectile




Left to right, 22 50grain, 357 148g, 45 250g, and 2 of the 69 caliber 1750+ grain. Looking close at the slugs u can see where the parting line is visible

 

[kBob]

BEwild Willy and Old Fluff,

Yep that's the one I meant. I wonder that they are not being made currently.

-kBob

 

[Old Fuff]

Unfortunately Numrich decided to back out of making guns and concentrate on their spare parts and accessories business. I believe they still offer some parts for the underhammer guns.

 

[KenHulme]

I checked Numrich recently - they have no underhammer parts you really need like hammers, triggers and triggerguard/springs

 

[Ray P]

I thought Fire & Ice parts swap with an H&A

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Thanks Ray P

Nice to know where to find a replacement main spring.

 

[KenHulme]

Fire & Iron parts do swap with H&A, and they sell complete actions for $175 if you want to build a rifle or carbine. Sure wish they made a pistol sized action though...

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Went out for about an hour today trying to bag a jack rabbit with my Numrich, missed two shots from 25-30 yards . Guessin' I should do a little more practice on paper.

 

[mdauben]

.36 H&A underhammer.

That's one handsome gun, Ray P! Very elegant looking. I always admired the lines of the H&A underhammers, but I can't ever seem to track one down when I have the money to buy it.

 

[KenHulme]

Mike - the H&A underhammers haven't been made for a couple decades, of course, and if you can find them they are PRICEY! But Fire & Ice, as mentioned above, makes whole rifles, as well as action ($175) to build your own.

 

[Ray P]

Thanks for the kind words, Mike. Had the H&A to the range yesterday, but my neighbor kind of monopolized it (he's 12 yo), which left me shootin' the Hawkin. As Ken says, the H&As haven't been made in some time. But I do see them on occasion in GunBroker & the for sale listing of various online forums & dealers. I'm still looking for one of the short barrel canoe/coach guns H&A used to make

 

[KenHulme]

I found an underhammer builder in Nebraska who doesn't charge an arm and a leg for his builds. He apparenbtly uses a Ruggles style action, and builds pistols and buggy rifles from cut-offs of his other ML projects. He's sending me some photos by snail-mail. Will let y'all know what they're like.