Last night while asleep I was visited by three ghosts. The first was the ghost of single shots past. I know what you are thinking but this is not a story about stupidity and redemption  but rather about stupidity and perpetual self condemnation. What this ghost was speaking of was all the great single shots you had a chance to buy but didn't. At this time I will tell you of one. An elderly man that belonged to our shooting club passed away and left his widow with a house full of old guns. I bought many rifles and pistols from her for myself and others. I got to know her so well that she gave me the run of the house. She told me I was free to look any where in the house or garage, in closets, under beds or in any case I could find. I will tell of some of them in other posts. The one I am thinking of now and have for the last forty some years is a beautiful Marlin Ballard. Only the action and tang sight were original the gun had been barreled and stocked by Axel Peterson. It had a walnut perch belly butt stock with a hooked butt plate. The wood had fantastic figure. The rifle had an original long range Ballard tang sight. Now for the down side. Peterson had made the barrel in 32-40 and equipped it with a false mussel but it was no where in sight because some idiot in the past had drilled and relined the barrel to .22LR. Considering the season, maybe idiot is too strong a condemnation. Let's make that misguided. The asking price, a whopping $75. When I said I didn't want to buy it a man standing there grabbed it with both hands. I wonder where it is today. No matter how hard I pressed my head into the pillow I couldn't get the image of that rifle out of my mind. Hey, I know I am no Charles Dickens so don't expect this story to have a happy ending. It is said that the only thing old men have left are their regrets and I have only told of one of mine but I have many. I will tell you of the second ghost on a another day, or maybe not.

No, Marlinguy I didn't know that. If Peterson were like most artists he would be more inclined to bend the gun over your head that butcher one of his creations.

marlinguy wrote on Dec 26^th, 2013 at 12:30am:


If I had my choice between the original 32-40 with false muzzle (what a pain!) and the Peterson- relined 22LR, I'd take the latter without hesitation.   

LONG RANGE wrote on Dec 27^th, 2013 at 1:56pm:

   
You're right--that tang sight should have been traded for a scope!

There's something very attractive about a full sized singleshot in .22RF to me! I have a #6 Schuetzen that was refitted with a #3 weight full octagon barrel in .22 short. (in my avatar) It was done by Zettler Bros. and has a vernier tang sight, and Stevens 368 scope mounted in HM Pope rings. 
I enjoy it much more in .22RF than I would in it's original chambering!

As for muzzle loading centerfires. I have a Schoyen false muzzle schuetzen in .38-55 and I shoot fixed loads in it all the time. It shoots fixed ammo as accurately as muzzle loaded or breech seated.