please help me understand what I am looking at here. mainly the stock configuration.

rifle is in an auction this summer. the only additional info is that it is a .40 2 1/2. I too without rowe's book am at a loss. stocks seem "creedmoor like" triggers seem more offhand rifle like. if the numbers match maybe it was someone's idea of the ultimate bench gun ?

thanks. I am a little weak on hepburns, I have only owned 1 and it wasn't anything like this.

while the great creedmoor matches ended early, the long range style (800,900, 1nd 1000yds) continued until 1912.
the creedmoor range was long gone by this time.
sea girt was one of the last ranges where this happened.
the long range any rifle had to be under 10 lb with a single trigger no less than 3 lb i think.
not sure of mid range rifles.
the hepburn could have been used .
the 40 2 1/2 was a popular mid range chambering in many brands of rifle.
the rem loading was often referred to as the 40/65 rem, and loaded as described.
trajectories of American hunting rifles, open library describes such a rifle being tested, and it was shot dirty.
should you get this rifle, and its chamber be an original pp one, please do not destroy history by rechambering it to take greasers.
I have measured a chamber cast from an original Hepburn 40 2 1/2, and a groove diameter bullet would not chamber in fixed ammo.
it also had a 4 degree transition angle.
keep safe,
bruce.

bruce moulds wrote on Jun 6^th, 2017 at 7:35am:


Have observed the same in several BP rifles, and read that use of an "undersized" (relative to groove dia.) bullet guaranteed reliable chambering even in a fouled chamber; when fired, the bullet was supposed to "bump up" to fit the grooves.  When shooting smokeless, such a bullet-fit mismatch obviously presents difficulties, and I had planned to have a Ballard I once owned rechambered like you warned against doing; but like a thousand other projects, I never got around to having it done.   

Sold for $1400  + ~20%+ shipping and taxes if applicable.   Hope it is going to a good home.

I wonder what that brass looking addition is on the barrel in the front sight dovetail area? Maybe some adapter to allow a owner to put a 3/8" dovetail sight in there? Or a scope mount, muzzle rest????
Guessing whatever it was, it kept the price down for bidders.

The "OG" code rating on condition is not specific. It doesn't necessarily have all those things wrong with it or I'm sure RIA wouldn't bother with it.
I think this rifle rated such as it needs a screw, a rear sight elevator, and whatever problem the front sight has.
It's no beauty, but onsite bidders had a good look and more than one thought it has some value.
Interesting configuration.
Aaron