Restoring an American classic : The Remington Rolling Block

[TC]

TC: Yes, I realize that there may be some problem to getting stuff like this shipped. Besides that, you would need to locate a chambering reamer that you could use. All a long shot (he he - no pun intended!)

If the thing shoots ok and nothing is flying apart, and as long as you have your glasses, maybe you should just enjoy the fun for awhile.

Timmy,
Getting a reamer or a fully equipped lathe machine is not at all a problem for me at all.
But importing a new liner definitely is

On your last sentence - all I can say is the rifle is shooting fresh ammo without any problem and I am getting 2 inch groups standing at 25 mts. I never intended to win medals with this old beauty anyway. So I am happy for now. Can't speak about the future. I am just not yet ready to look back and curse myself for selling a beloved handgun only to vacate one of my licences so that the Remington could come home. They would not give me another licence. And I wouldn't give up on the Number 4. My ego had taken over.
Now lets see if I can get hold of a liner.


TC

[TC]

TC ji what a marvelous restoration you have done on the Remington Rolling block and a great childhood fantasy to be turned into reality I must say quite nothing like this ever feels. A very comprehensive detail on the restoration and the gun, highly inspiring.

Regards

Raman

Thank you so much Ramandeep for the kind words.
But now, as I look back, I see little yet quite clear signs of madness


Tc

[TC]

Yes, TC, that chamber has seen better days. There would have been no questions if we had seen the pictures of the fired cases. The surprise being, that you shot it. There is no difference between a LR chamber, and one for 'Short, Long, and Long Rifle". Also, a .22 RF chamber has no "freebore", just a short leade.

While a burned-out .22RF chamber can be safely restored by bushing, in the "old" days we did that with a section of engine push rod, I am sure your whole barrel is beyond hope. Re-lining, as Tim suggested, being the remedy. A skilled lathe operator can easily cut a .22 RF chamber with a boring tool made from a quality Allen wrench, if a reamer is not available. Even a drill bit with corners stoned rounded can be used in the lathe for cutting the chamber.

Whether we can get you a liner to India, is the question. Our department of state has classified rifle barrels as "implements of war", with import and export subject to controls. Cheers.

Two Rivers : Yes, the chamber has seen better days.
By freebore I meant that little lead space the projectile takes up.
On the whole what I meant was : In a rifle that fires shorts, longs and LRs the chamber is smooth for the entire length of a 22 LR round and has a lead space too. (chambers meant exclusively for .22 LR usually have a separate diameter running up to the exact length of a .22 LR case and then narrows down)
The chamber of a Number 4, like any other rifle that uses shorts, longs and LRs, must be going through more abuse simply because a .22 short round goes off at one point, next comes the Long and finally the LR. Erosion of metal throughout the chamber in a rifle more than a century old is only natural. Millions of rounds must have gone off in this chamber.
Getting reamers or making one is not at all an issue for me.
Wish I could say the same about a liner

Thank you Two Rivers for being so patient.

Regards
TC

[TC]

Thank you TC for the feedback and the closeup video of the action - very edifying!

Now we can officially start calling it the click-click-click of of the Remington Rolling Block (like clicks of the SA colts)

Kalyan Da,
You probably have no idea how much you helped me with your suggestions on inspecting the ammo. If I had not noticed the pattern of swelling and deformation under a magnifying glass (exactly what you asked me to do) I could not have gone into the root of the problem. The tell-tale signs, the interesting patterns et al. took me back to those days when I started taking my first lessons in guns and ballistics as a teenager.

The man who took me through this wonderful world would often give me a dozen or so empties of different calibers for inspection. After that he would pick up one case at a time and ask me all kind of questions other than the calibers and country of origin. Here's a few examples?
a) Did this ammo get exposed to moisture ?
b) Tell me something about the chamber in which it was fired?
c) How old do you think the rifle was ?
d) What do you think of the firing pin? Is it original ?
e) What do you make out of the extractor claw?

The range test of this No 4 and the phase that followed brought back fond memories and first hand lessons.

Thanks a ton

TC

[xl_target]

Is it my imagination or do I see a sleeve in there. It sure looks like I'm seeing an edge there or is it just that the photo is deceiving?
TC, can you tell, has this rifle been sleeved once before?

Take a look Two Rivers, can you tell?

[TwoRivers]

Don't think it's a sleeve, just the edge of the rim recess; though from the angle you can't be 100% certain.

[ckkalyan]

Thanks TC but I quite enjoy the experience of deduction as probably your teacher did - he must have been quite the Sherlock Holmes?! It is great fun!



Question: The newer .22 rimfire casings that I have seen are flat / plain at the bottom, but some of your cases have a sort of design embossed/punched on them. Never seen the like - very intriguing, any ideas why?

[xl_target]

Ck,
Many .22 LR casings have some kind of manufacturers mark on them.

See this post:
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread904217/pg1

[ckkalyan]

Wow, so many of them?

Thanks xl_target, learn't something else today; so, these do not have any functionality in the explosion of the cartridge - just a mark or logo.

[xl_target]

Wow, so many of them?

Thanks xl_target, learn't something else today; so, these do not have any functionality in the explosion of the cartridge - just a mark or logo.

You betcha!

[TC]

Is it my imagination or do I see a sleeve in there. It sure looks like I'm seeing an edge there or is it just that the photo is deceiving?
TC, can you tell, has this rifle been sleeved once before?

XL, you got eyes of an eagle
Yes that does look like a sleeve from this angle but I am afraid it is not. It's just the edge of the breech with recess for the rim. The edges look somewhat sharp in the photo because I cleaned these parts thoroughly.
Let's see how far I can take this, fighting my eternal laziness at the same time.
Thank God the rifle is firing straight and working fine with fresh ammo.


TC

[TC]

Wow, so many of them?

Thanks xl_target, learn't something else today; so, these do not have any functionality in the explosion of the cartridge - just a mark or logo.

Kalyan Da, XL has placed before us virtually all the popular brands.
I had seen one or two old Cold Ear era Eastern Block LRs with interesting markings. I am sure you can spot them on the net.

I may also have some very old American ammo in my collection. Will post photos.


TC

[swajan]

TC,
It took me a while to see, read, understood and finally realise the wonderful work of yours. It's a commendable job you did, and I could understand every bit of the moment you enjoyed. I will have to drop down some day to physically see the marvel you crafted out of a rock. cheers !!!

[TC]

TC,
It took me a while to see, read, understood and finally realise the wonderful work of yours. It's a commendable job you did, and I could understand every bit of the moment you enjoyed. I will have to drop down some day to physically see the marvel you crafted out of a rock. cheers !!!

Swajanda,
I feel flattered and pampered
Well, we may soon have a great opportunity to organize our next (fourth in fact) IFG meet in Kolkata. The eagle is flying down from France
There, you can play with the beauty all day


TC

[captrakshitsharma]

Loved the range report video