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Some pictures I snapped today showing more of how my main pistol I use is
made. I know some of you like to build pistols. The nipple and breach plug are
One unit. Stainless steel. I put a little WD-40 on the threads and screw in hand
Tightened . You can shoot it all day and just un-screw it again just by hand. No
Tools required. The two screws inside the trigger guard are for adjusting sear
Engagement for trigger pull and the other one for over travel.What you see here
Is 10 years old and has been shot thousands of times. Cleaned with water, dried
Then a little WD-40. The grips are for a S&W model 41 target pistol. Barrel is
By Ed Rayle, 32 caliber one in 16 twist. Sights Bo Mar. Enjoy.

 

[72coupe]

Cool pistol. Good photography.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Lewis?

 

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Lewis built the frame. Yazel did the barrel and breach plug. I did the cocking
device. So with the two best pistol smiths ,Yazel and Lewis you can't go wrong.

 

[Lunie]

The one piece nipple/breech plug is neat, not what I was expecting.

Sounds like a lot of miles on the clock, but it looks very well taken care of.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Jaymo]

I like it.
As always, Phil, I appreciate your informative posts.
Trouble is, now, I want to build one.
Don't have the time or patience.

 

[BCRider]

OK, so let's talk some more about the gun. And what about an overall of it all assembled?

Why the direct pull "inline" striker pin over a hammer? Seems like between the long striker pin and wood knob that you've got more than the mass of a hammer and regular short firing pin involved here.

I've put some thought into an end stuff of this sort but my thinking is to extend the barrel back a little further and have a hammer off the back of the frame pivots down and out of the way to half cock for capping then swings down nearly horizontal to full cock to ready itself for firing. So I'm eager to hear why you use an inline style striker over a pivoting hammer.

 

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Here is the whole gun. One way I like to test designs is to dry fire the pistol.
You are looking for any movement of the sights after the sear is tripped. On this
One there is none. The action is very quick. I would think it would be faster than
A hammer. The wood knob and steel rod are very light. Lighter than a hammer
Would be. It's very hard to control the movement of a pistol after the cap pops.
Here is another picture of the top target pistols. Some are no longer made.





The Lightning has the fastest lock time. The firing plunger only moves about 1/4 inch. But I shoot
The Lewis better and the wife shoots her Mouzon better. To us it's all about which one you can
Shoot the best. Probably which one you THINK you can shoot the best. At our age some of them
Like the Lightning are getting just too heavy to hold and shoot well. One reason we had to go to
32 caliber, it's easier to control the recoil. At one time about 20 yrs ago the Lightning was a 45
And That's all the wife and I shot. We have to adapt with age.

 

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Mouzon







Wife shot this with her Mouzan. 10 shots 25 yd one hand standing un-supported

 

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Lightning

 

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Yazel

 

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And I will say that the 25 yd record was set with a homemade pistol with a
Outside hammer. And 45 caliber using 30 grs powder. But Bill was young when
He shot that 100 and 9 x's back in 1962. That still is the record today. Never
Been broken. But the agg which is matches at 25 yds and 50 yds was set in
2005 with a 32. Only dropping 22 pts out of 600. I don't think that will ever be
Broken. And the 50 yd record is held with a 36 Yazel. So it's just what you can
Shoot the best.T my age, I want something light, no recoil. In pistol matches
They are 10 shot and you shoot all day. Probably 10 matches. So fatigue does
Play a big factor. It has to balance in your hand. By that I mean the balance
Point should be at the trigger.So when you hold it out, it just become a extension of your hand.

 

[BCRider]

Kwhi, thanks for the insights into the whole muzzle stuffer target scene. I know some of it has come out in your previous posts but it's nice to see it again along with the added comments.

I read you loud and clear on the lower recoil aspects over a long day as well. I was more than happy to find myself a long distance BPCR rifle chambered in .38-55 rather than the far more common .45-70 for this same reasoning.

My home shop renos are coming along nicely and I'm hoping that within the next year or two I'll be posting pictures of my own single shot front loader.

 

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Keep it light and fast!!!1

 

[fdf]

The group of pistols is about as fine grouping as you will find for the unlimited agg., all winners and worthy of owning.

To become a High Master or Master pistol shooter is really an accomplishment, very few will ever reach that level.

 

[fdf]

I have a passion for pistols.

Any chance you can share your flintlocks and "As Issue" pistols?

My favorite of the pistols are revolvers and the "As Issue". Guess I watched too many westerns.

 

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Flintlock Made by Lewis 32 cal False Muzzle

 

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As Issue Euroarms 44 Match Barrel

 

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Open Revolver

 

[72coupe]

That flinter is just too cool.

 

[fdf]

Thanks for the photos, I will have to save this to a file so I can look at them when I want and dream.

The flintlock is the first pistol that I have seen with a false muzzle, very interesting.

My goal is a pair of Yazel's this year and a smooth bore.

Any suggestions on a caliber for smooth bore? I have heard that bigger is better for line work, thoughts?

 

[Mike OTDP]

Smoothbore rifle or pistol? I can say categorically that smaller is better for the pistols.

 

[FreddyKruger]

Jeez i would love to have a play with something like that Lightning.


have you done a post on loads and loading for precision shooting? I'm trying to get more serious with my shooting and got myself a Le Page. My best so far is a 90/100 in an international match (the 13 shots, best 10 one).

 

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All of our single shots are 32's. The "As Issue" is a 44 and the other one is a 9mm. The barrels are Ed Rayle, Green Mountain, DeHass. They all shoot the "0"
Buchshot or cast .320 ball. With .010 thick patch lubed with water souable oil
And water mix. Powder charge is not a problem. They all will keep all shots
Inside of the "X" ring with anything from 10 grs to 20 grs. This with Goex and
Swiss powders. You shoot what ever load you can control the recoil with. Me and
The wife used to shoot 17grs Goex for about 1100 fps. As we have got old we
Prefer 14 grs of Swiss for 920 fps. I have two barrels for the "Lightning" one
Is the 32 DeHass, the other one is a 45 by Green Mountain . Many years ago
We shot 20 grs in it and a .451. Ball. Boy will it shoot!!. Look at the targets.
All this to answer your question about accuracy for the "Lightning" The wife
Won 5 National titles with it.Any grips that will fit the Ruger Mark 2 will fit the
Lightning.
10 shots 25 yds with the 45 barrel




10 shots 50 yd with the 45 barrel. Strong wind was blowing left to right.

 

[fdf]

Pistol, seems like each time I find one, it was just sold.