Son, someday all this will be yours.....

[BCRider]

Here's a happy little family portrait of a proud Pa showing the ropes to his handsome looking son. You can really see the family resemblance in the nose and chin.

I know the little one doesn't shoot black but it's such a great little miniature of the classy Remington that I thought you lot would enjoy a couple of pictures of my latest acquisition. A North American Arms "The Earl". It was part of a special run of 50 or so that NAA did with a 4.2 inch barrel to allow it to fit within our system up this way. Otherwise the 4 inch version would not have been allowed into Canada.

The little hellion shoots really nicely and thanks to having gotten to shoot a couple of derringers a while back I got the grip for this one right off and it was shooting sweetly tight groups, other than the odd flyer, of about 2 inches at 10 yards right off the bat. It's an easy handler with .22LR but with .22WMR from the second cylinder it really thumps the hand in a very Magnum like manner. With the .22LR the sights are spot on for the sort of ranges this baby will ever be expected to shoot. With the WMR it shoots about 2.5 inches low at 10'ish yards. About what I would have expected.

I'm more than happy with the new toy but there is one slight fly in the ointment. The rifling has some signs of chatter. And this would seem to be picking up lead since when I cleaned it after shooting roughy 100 LR and 15 WMR lead flakes came out of the barrel. I hope it polishes itself from use pretty quickly and this lead flake issue cures itself.

 

[MCgunner]

That might need to be my next NAA in my collection. My Taurus 85SSUL had leading problems when I first bought it with lead bullets. I shot jacketed for a long time, then tried lead one day and it had cured itself of the roughness, I guess, because it doesn't lead anymore.

They need to make that "Earl" out of a super companion frame in front loader version. I'd be after one in a heartbeat.

Do you see much change in POI with the .22 mag vs the .22LR? That's always a concern with fixed sights on two caliber guns.

 

[BCRider]

Yes, at 10 yards the WMR shot not quite 2 inches lower. And yes, it's why with fixed sights on any gun it is important to pick a load, trim the sights to suit it and then vary from that load at your own risk.

For our black powder guns this means one load for ball and another perfect load for conical. For The Earl it means live with the tall post that suits .22 or shave it down a hair to bring the WMR to POA. But for most the vast majority of plinking would be done with the cheaper LR rounds so they correctly set it to that spec.

 

[MCgunner]

If it's on with .22LR, I'd leave it and just find another sight picture for the magnum load. I do that a lot with fixed sight guns and it works. Just hold down the front sight a ways, might mark it by filing a notch, when shooting the mags.

BTW, the mags are jacketed, not just plated. The jacketed bullets will polish that bore out pretty quick.

And, you're right, stick with the load that works. That's part of what I like about casting and reloading my own, always know I have the right load when I need it. Don't have to go search the store shelves for it. Can't do that with rimfire, of course, but down here, the ammo shortage hasn't really affected the rimfires that I can tell.

 

[Pancho]

BC, I'm hooked. Gun show this weekend and I've got the desire.

 

[BHP FAN]

that is one handsome little fellow.

 

[BCRider]

Best of luck finding one of your own Pancho. If you do or even if you need to order one you will not regret it once you get over the sticker shock of that much money for so small a lump of metal....

It's been through its second trip to the range now and a few other folks shot it. Everyone had a big grin so it's not just me. I see it as functional jewelry...

Odd thing, the range owner (commercial indoor range, it IS winter ya knowz ) and shot some Remington Premier Win Mag through it. Then I shot some of the same through it. Darn thing shot to POA for some shots and a hair OVER for the others. Darndest thing! And yeah, jacketed with funky little plastic tips.

Now if only I could get some blackpowder .22LR's or reload some of the WMR's. Hmmmm.... it would seem that I need to make a set of dies for the ol' bullet puller. I would seriously like to see this thing puking out a little .22WMR size cloud of smoke...

Am I crazy or has anyone ever done such a thing?

 

[Claude Clay]

has anyone ever done such a thing?

kinda -- but in the other direction.

in the winter i shoot indoors with The Companion using bullseye ( fill a 22 short case for volume measure). is +much fun.

 

[MCgunner]

in the winter i shoot indoors with The Companion using bullseye ( fill a 22 short case for volume measure). is +much fun.

That's exactly what I came up with for the super companion. Actually, I cut down a CCI Stinger case cause I wanted 2.0 grains and the short held 1.8. Shootin' little dude, though. And, pyrodex makes a cute little cloud of smoke out of it. 777 turned out to make a lot of noise and smoke, but only about 400 fps. I was expecting more from it, but it works great in my ROA so it wasn't money wasted.

They really need to make a super companion/Earl. That would be way neat!

 

[flintlock62]

What, the curtains?

 

[azyogi]

The NAA Mini C&B [long rifle] comes with a 2 grain scoop. You can order one from thier web site for about a buck.

 

[Pancho]

BC, I told you I was bit hard by your Earl. I ordered mine today. $300 for the gun and two cylinders.
Did you know that NAA sells a military styled flap holster for the Earl? $40 comes in natural and black.
I've got a stainless ROA that should photograph well together with the Earl.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Nice father-son image.

 

[BCRider]

Well done Pancho! I know you'll love it. Be sure to post pictures of your "family" to this thread. We'll start a MOVEMENT!

Our first CAS club meet was held yesterday. I took Jr along and passed it around for show and tell during the lunch break. After the last stage a few of the folks went to shoot "one more stage for the road" and a few of us broke off to just plink for a while before we cleaned up the targets. I broke out The Earl and a box o' Blazer and loaded up for any and all, About 6 or 7 folks took me up on the offer and all went away with a huge grin. And at least one person was going to contact the dealer that brought these in for us to see if there were any left. I think he's out of luck though since I believe there were 50 in the batch and the website is showing "sold out". I was on the waiting list and I got # C0018. The C denoting "Canadian". And I got in early so I don't doubt they sold out if there were only 50.

It was superb fun. I was (mostly) hitting and slightly rattling the shotgun faller target at about 15 yards away and about 4 inches square. It was funny after kicking them around with the 12Ga ealier to see the plate lift back oh so slightly then just tilt forward back into place when hit with the lowly .22....

Being such a classic style there's no doubt that this is one "modern" gun that us black powder lovers can enjoy without insulting our frail sensibilities for style....

MCgunner, I'll never see the Companion come up this way because being black powder the dealer would never get even 50 orders. But a big grin lit my face thinking about the little puff of BP fog that would come from shooting that sort of load If you ever record it and send the movie to YouTube and remember me please PM me the link. I'd love to see it.