Who is currently making a breech seat tool for the Ballard? I have a #8 in 32-40 and a Cody #1-3/4 in 40-65 that I would like to try breech seating in, both irons and scope.

Flatlander

I built mine out of some scrap flat bar, brass, and some 1/4" rod. Just a vise, drill motor, hacksaw, file, and drill and taps to make it. It's tall enough to give good leverage, and also clear scopes.

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Weber makes one similar to yours but he also makes a seater that is smaller and looks like his regular seaters and works great.

Marlinguy:

Is that a bill of materials list under your mouse?

Flatlander

PM on way.

Flatlander

Old-Win wrote on Dec 6^th, 2017 at 8:00am:


Mine hooks on the breech block opening in the frame. The split hooks are to straddle the hammer when the action is open to load. The hook pivots, so the plugged case slips into the chamber, and the hook is pushed down. Then simply push forward on the handle to seat the bullet.

Old-Win
Below photo is a Ballard with a stirrup handle breech seater. The hooks you see in marlinguy's photo engage the action mortise.
This particular seater can be used with scope as shown, or with a tang sight standing.

Old-Win wrote on Dec 6^th, 2017 at 5:36pm:


All straight grip Ballard frames are the same size. Just as all pistol grip Ballard frames are the same size.
But there are frames built early on that are referred to as "heavy frames" which aren't really heavier, but are flat sided, and don't have the step in the upper receiver side.

Heavy or flat sided receiver:

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Standard rebated or stepped side receiver:

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And the deluxe receiver used on high end models. It is stepped side, but has the corner's milled off the top octagon flats. Referred to as facetted receivers:

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Pistol grip "heavy" receiver used on guns like this #7 Longrange, #6 Schuetzen, etc. 

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All Ballard receivers used the same threads and shank size. So a .45-120 barrel could be screwed on a little #3 originally in .22RF. Or vice versa. Wood and barrel weight, or length were the big differences. You can see the #3 Fine Gallery .22LR on top right in this picture, with it's dainty forearm wood, and short, light barrel. Versus the others in rifle calibers using identical receivers, stocks, but heavier-longer barrels.

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