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Hepburn Questions (Read 74842 times)

marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #15 - Jun 23^rd, 2012 at 6:47pm	Print Post
	Chuckster wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2012 at 10:31pm: The before and after pictures of the Hepburn are interesting. If you needed a hunting rifle to go to the mountain, probably on horse back, which one would you take? We may cry, but you can sort of understand the thinking. That sawed off Hepburn would be a dandy on the hill. Chuck I sure understood the thinking of the original butcher who chopped the barrel, especially since it was an extra heavy barrel slightly larger across the flats than the receiver. It probably cut well over a pound off the weight, and maybe even balanced better for the shooter. But the extra heavy barrel made chopping it even uglier, as the size of the barrel looked even stubbier when chopped short. It's much more appealing to the eye with a 30" barrel.

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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2238 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #16 - Jun 23^rd, 2012 at 10:43pm	Print Post
	Marlin, I agree with you. It is a beautiful rifle. The work John did to lengthen the barrel is amazing. How he handled the warpage and twisting from welding, then get a reline drill through is a mystery. The rifle is now very close to it's original condition, which is a good thing. Of course, None of us have ever modified a firearm to suit our current use. Chuck


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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2923 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #17 - Jun 29^th, 2012 at 1:36pm	Print Post
	The Hepburn I've been looking at could be the twin of the "before" picture. Wonder if there was a gunsmith back in the day who shortened the barrels as a specialty. Is there a particular book the covers only the Hepburn or must one get a Remington book? Also, does anyone have the particulars on the taper (if any) of Hepburn barrels? I'm leaning towards getting the rifle and shooting it with with the Trapdoor carbine 405/55 load while I learn more about it. Might be a fun load for our all off-hand 200m BPCR match from its 20" barrel.

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #18 - Jun 29^th, 2012 at 9:59pm	Print Post
	I think it's .010" to the foot, but not positive. You should have enough barrel on your gun to measure it 12" apart and figure the taper that way.

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Schutzenbob Frequent Elocutionist Offline Rheinisch-Westfälisc hen Sprengstoff-Fabriken Posts: 2058 Location: Nightingale, California Joined: Oct 24^th, 2005	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #19 - Jun 30^th, 2012 at 1:58am	Print Post
	Speaking of Hepburns, I sold mine to a friend (40-70 SS), and he was shooting it with a light load of 4227, when the end of the barrel split down about five inches from the muzzle. I haven't seen it yet but I'm told that it looks like a split sausage. Any idea what would cause such a failure? Bob


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #20 - Jun 30^th, 2012 at 11:50am	Print Post
	Wow! I don't think I've ever seem one split from the muzzle back. Wonder if there was any chance of an obstruction at the muzzle?

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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2923 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #21 - Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 7:58pm	Print Post
	Did go ahead with the purchase of the Hepburn. Now to get it all figured out. Am leaning towards a rebarrel as have a better selection of calibers and twist-rates. Just hang on to the short original barrel for its collector value. That split barrel makes one wonder if that 'light load' might be like the light load on that Quigley Ballard.

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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harry_eales Ex Member	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #22 - Jul 3^rd, 2012 at 3:29am	Print Post
	Schutzenbob wrote on Jun 30^th, 2012 at 1:58am: Speaking of Hepburns, I sold mine to a friend (40-70 SS), and he was shooting it with a light load of 4227, when the end of the barrel split down about five inches from the muzzle. I haven't seen it yet but I'm told that it looks like a split sausage. Any idea what would cause such a failure? Bob Bob, I strongly suspect that the split was caused by one bullet lodging very near the end of the barrel and it being hit by another bullet being fired. Light loads are not always user or rifle friendly. However, without being present at the time and being unable to examine the rifle and remaining ammunition my opinion is purely supposition. But, a bullet jammed in the muzzle is a likely cause. Almost any long arm whether rifle or shotgun will split a barrel or worse if the muzzle is blocked by mud or snow, a very occasional but not fortunately a frequent occurance when many are out hunting during winter. Harry


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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2923 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #23 - Jul 8^th, 2012 at 12:24pm	Print Post
	Picked up the Hepburn today. Also found an original 29" half-round barrel in 40-65 and have sent along to John Taylor to line and install. Eventually, if I find I like the rifle, will go the extra mile to refinish all the metal/wood and install the double-set trigger group. The rifle is in better shape (finish) than the picture makes it appear.

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #24 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 1:29pm	Print Post
	That's a beauty! Is that the barrel that came on it in the picture? Almost looks like the octagon portion is longer than usual from the few half octagon Rems. I've viewed. Most ended the octagon right at the end of the forearm cap if memory serves me. Edit-Did a quick search of my rem. reference pics and they did all end at the forearm cap. Maybe thhat Hepburn was a full octagon that someone cut to half octagon?

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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2923 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #25 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 1:40pm	Print Post
	Thanks. I'm pretty excited about getting it finished so can shoot some steel critters. Also, after reading da Haas book on the Hepburn, I'll just make his suggested mod on the hammer main-spring to remove the rebound feature and work the trigger down to 2# rather than going with the double-set triggers. Not sure about the half-round dimensions. Both this chopped barrel and the original Hepburn 29" half-round barrel I just purchased to replace it have 11" of octagon. Makes me wonder if the wood might be shorter on this one rather than the octagon portion being longer.

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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BP Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 8039 Location: Westside Joined: Aug 27^th, 2006	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #26 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 3:31pm	Print Post
	Vall, My eyes seem to be telling me that the octagon portion is about the right length, and someone may have shortened the forearm.

	There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest who have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. Proud Noodlehead
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #27 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 5:15pm	Print Post
	You're rioght BP. I went to the safe and pulled out my Hepburns and my Rollers, and all have 11" forearms with the steel tip, so if both barrels are 11" octagons, then the forearm is most likely a replacement. If a std. forearm was cut down the wood would be low at the receiver. Can't see the tip, but I wonder if it has the steel schnabel tip found on most Rem. sporting models?

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SSShooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2923 Location: Southern NJ Joined: Aug 1^st, 2010	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #28 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 6:14pm	Print Post
	Yes. That confirms what I posted above about the forearm wood being short. Am thinking it may have been done by the folks who shortened the barrel to give it a more proportional look. Short barrel doesn't look as short with the short forearm. When the refinish work is done will likely go for a proper forearm. The action on the rifle is as smooth as butter and locks up nice and tight. Will eventually have JT lengthen the short barrel and return it to the original 45-70 caliber that is marked on the barrel since the serial number on the receiver, lower tang and short barrel all match.

	Glenn - 2x CPA 44 1/2 w/22LR (Shilen ratchet-rifled & Bartlein 5R rifled), 38-40RH & 38-55WCF (Bartlein 5R rifled) & 40-65WCF (GrnMtn 'X') barrels
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16289 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Hepburn Questions Reply #29 - Jul 9^th, 2012 at 6:18pm	Print Post
	John King usually has his repro steel schnabel tips pretty reasonable. I've purchased a couple from him and they're a nice casting that doesn't take much finishing to make them perfect.

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