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Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:30 pm
by Justsomedude
sakodude wrote: ↑Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:05 pm
Martini-henry style. you could make it long enough to blend with the curve of the stock.
That was my original idea but I'd have to get rid of the grip cap/protrusion or else it'll look weird.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:13 pm
by Rugerfan
This is the lever on my Hopkins & Allen Junior 922.

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Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:16 pm
by Justsomedude
That's what I was going for in my last sketch. I think that would look good with my style stock.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:56 pm
by Rugerfan
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:56 pm
by GrapeApe
Looking better, but I'd do away with the bent down "tail" at the end

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Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:48 am
by Justsomedude
I just thought it would give a positive purchase to get it past the detent.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:49 am
by GrapeApe
Justsomedude wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:48 am
I just thought it would give a positive purchase to get it past the detent.
You're doing the designing and building, so feel free to do as you wish.
You asked for ideas/input, so I figured I'd put mine out there. It's worth everything you paid me for it
Making the trigger guard large enough to hook your thumb in it would serve the same purpose, I'd think though.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:17 am
by Bigslug
For the lever, look no further than the Winchester 1885.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 11:58 am
by Rugerfan
Justsomedude wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:48 am
I just thought it would give a positive purchase to get it past the detent.
Experiment with a slightly longer, more “gentle” curve.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:35 pm
by GrapeApe
Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:17 am
For the lever, look no further than the Winchester 1885.
I looked at a pic of one. I like the 1884 Sharps better

Though from JSD's drawing, it appears he likes the 1885's style better
There's no accounting for taste, which is probably why I'm in the minority of people here that demands my 1911s have an arched MSH

(Depends on who you ask whether I'm the one WITH or WITHOUT taste because of that

)
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:44 pm
by Wambli Ska
On the last picture, recoil will drive your hand into the lever and pop it open. Also looks like a knuckle rapper to me. I think your original direction was correct or go with the 922 design to allow your grip hand to help lock down the lever.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:50 pm
by Wambli Ska
GrapeApe wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:35 pm
Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:17 am
For the lever, look no further than the Winchester 1885.
I looked at a pic of one. I like the 1884 Sharps better

Though from JSD's drawing, it appears he likes the 1885's style better
There's no accounting for taste, which is probably why I'm in the minority of people here that demands my 1911s have an arched MSH

(Depends on who you ask whether I'm the one WITH or WITHOUT taste because of that

)
I think the arched MSH thing is really a matter of fit to individual's hand, not taste. I like the slimmer profile of a flat MSH because it gives me a better grip on my 1911s.
But the fat ass option is Ok if you'r into this things.

Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:56 pm
by GrapeApe
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:22 pm
by Wambli Ska
Snake was triggered... I just have superb taste

Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2025 10:30 pm
by Justsomedude
I finally gathered enough time to pick this project back up. The lever is 4140 that's 3/8" thick. I rough cut it but my bandsaw blade had to snap and leave me with the chunk that you can see in the picture, and I'm out of replacements. It'll obviously get filed and contoured nicely, but I'm pretty happy with the overall shape of it and it clears my fingers very well, even the tail of it. The rest of the build should go pretty quickly from here.

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Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 12:12 am
by Elk Creek
That looks great!!!
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 7:47 am
by Justsomedude
Elk Creek wrote: ↑Sun Nov 09, 2025 12:12 am
That looks great!!!
Thank you. It'll look much better once I file to my scribe lines and do the contouring as well. It's grossly oversized right now.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 7:48 am
by GrapeApe
Looks good
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 3:15 pm
by Elk Creek
Justsomedude wrote: ↑Sun Nov 09, 2025 7:47 am
Elk Creek wrote: ↑Sun Nov 09, 2025 12:12 am
That looks great!!!
Thank you. It'll look much better once I file to my scribe lines and do the contouring as well. It's grossly oversized right now.
I love the curves and shape. It looks “right”
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:49 am
by Justsomedude
I need some advice on brass. I'm ready to cut my chamber but I've not yet settled on which brass to use. The 500 S&W brass is nice but it only holds 60 grains of 3F and I'd like it to hold at least 100 at minimum. The problem is that all of the other brass for larger calibers are usually for a .512 diameter bullet and it'll be near impossible to size a straightwall case down that much, especially past the rear web portion. @CPJ mentioned making my own, which I'm inclined to do but the thin web that I'd be left with is also a little worrisome from using tubing. Any suggestions?
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:50 am
by Justsomedude
Oh yeah, an updated picture.

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Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:23 pm
by GrapeApe
Considering how long 50-90 brass is (2.5") it's probably going to be difficult to find a modern 50 cal case to hold 100gr
I started to suggest 12.7x42 (non-copyrighted 50 beowulf) brass, but it's less than 1mm longer than the 500S&W
I only use 75gr of 777 in my inline ML. the 3 deer it's accounted for haven't seemed to mind

Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 3:23 pm
by Rugerfan
I have no idea what the dimensions are, but I thought about .50 AE brass.
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 4:07 pm
by GrapeApe
50 AE is shorter.
The 50 beowulf was originated from 50AE brass that wasn't trimmed to length during manufacturing and had the head size trimmed down to 7.62x39 size
Re: Pinfire rifle.
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:33 pm
by CPJ 2.0
60 grains with off the shelf brass and a huge margin of safety, or 100-ish grains with obscure brass or something you have to fabricobble yourself that may or may not be a bit sketchy.
You’re making a pinfire rifle for the sake of making an pinfire rifle. You ain’t hunting elephants.
You moppin what I’m spillin? Pickin up what I’m laying down? Smellin what I’m cookin? Smokin what I’m rollin?