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Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed (Read 9639 times)

Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4135 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Apr 16^th, 2022 at 10:08am	Print Post
	I’m starting a new thread on this because I don’t want to hijack those of others whose topics inspired my curiosity on this. As we all are no doubt aware, there was a huge interest in rim fire target shooting at what we would regard as relatively short distances. This probably reached a peak sometime between the World Wars and retained popularity through the Fifties. One name associated with the game was “Position Shooting” with of course the accompanying position rifles. Apparently Ballard actions were highly prized as the basis for custom guns that held their own against the more modern Win 52s and Rem 37s et al, and what I would like to see is one or more full frame pictures that show the stock configuration(s) of these rifles. I realize our ASSRA charter mentions the time before WW I, but these rifles and their use were the natural outgrowth of these earlier competitions. Thanks in advance, Green Frog


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Cbashooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1608 Location: Eastern Wa. Joined: Mar 31^st, 2018	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #1 - Apr 16^th, 2022 at 11:15am	Print Post
	This is an old 3 position Ballard When I got it it had a receiver site and a globe front the cheek piece is quite nice for prone and the lower sights. Ballard Pacific converted to rimfire and Rigby barrel lined to .22. That's what they did back then.
	« Last Edit: Apr 16^th, 2022 at 11:39am by Cbashooter »

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Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4135 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #2 - Apr 16^th, 2022 at 4:26pm	Print Post
	Thanks, Cbashooter. That’s a good start on what I’m looking for. I understand that the DSTs were not permitted in some events and in some cases there were even DST blocks “downgraded” to single trigger models. BTW, has anyone seen one with adjustable butt plate? How about an adjustable cheek piece? Keep those pics coming! Froggie


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j_c_johnson Full Member Offline C C Johnson's grandson Posts: 129 Location: northeast Indiana Joined: Sep 16^th, 2004	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #3 - Apr 16^th, 2022 at 4:53pm	Print Post
	Froggie Here are 3 rifles built by Charles C Johnson. The rifle in the center is a .22 LR Scheutzen rifle built for a Sioux City Iowa police officer named Spencer Lanning in the early 1930's It is the first Ballard CCJ rebarreled. On the right is CCJ's personal number 1 smallbore position rifle. It has an adjustable buttplate and was fitted with CCJ's prototype adjustable hook buttplate. Hook buttplates and palm rests were outlawed for smallbore by the NRA not long after CCJ had begun making and selling these accessories because they felt that the individual who could afford such items would have an advantage over someone who could not. This is the rifle that tied the indoor Dewar Course record of 400-36X in March 1941 with CCJ's son Leonard behind it.. The rifle on the left is CCJ's personal number 2 smallbore position rifle built in 1940, CCJ gave it to me on my 12th birthday in 1966. The stockmaker for both position rifles was a friend of CCJ's whose name I never have known.


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Cbashooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1608 Location: Eastern Wa. Joined: Mar 31^st, 2018	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #4 - Apr 16^th, 2022 at 4:53pm	Print Post
	The only problem is the cheek needs to swoop lower toward the tang. It doesn't allow me to get my thumb over the stock where I like to grasp it


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jfeldman ASSRA Board Member Offline Posts: 1102 Location: Imperial Beach, Ca Joined: Nov 5^th, 2005	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #5 - Apr 16^th, 2022 at 9:37pm	Print Post
	Green Frog, I bought a Ballard at auction some years ago that I was told was a "Prone Rifle". Not sure if that's the same as a position rifle or not. Here's a picture of the stocks I took off of it. Regards, Joe


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12073 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #6 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 2:26am	Print Post
	Barrel is suspected to be Schoyen. 8 groove narrow land. Breech block is a coil spring version marked B Buckles 1956. Hand stop rail on the forestock.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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bnice Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1930 Location: Iowa Joined: Nov 30^th, 2006	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #7 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 9:49am	Print Post
	Nice rifle Joe. Kevin Audit ( sp may be wrong) made position Ballards. On some he cut the receiver flat on the bottom and extended the wood to form a grip if I remember right.


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Cbashooter Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1608 Location: Eastern Wa. Joined: Mar 31^st, 2018	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #8 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 12:33pm	Print Post
	I feel ashamed of the ratty 4P rifle I posted compared to these beautiful one you guys have!


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Crown-C Oldtimer Offline Posts: 531 Location: St. Marys Kansas Joined: Apr 6^th, 2009	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #9 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 4:55pm	Print Post
	There is no such thing as a ratty Ballard, just fine use & patina!

	Richard Crown-C Ranch in the Flinthills NRA Life Member ASSRA Member # 10366 Member & Founders Society, Cody Firearms Museum Veteran
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Crown-C Oldtimer Offline Posts: 531 Location: St. Marys Kansas Joined: Apr 6^th, 2009	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #10 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 6:12pm	Print Post
	This is my Position rifle (if that is what it is). It’s a Ballard I bought from a gentleman from Iowa at the Tulsa show about 15 years ago. Quite a heavy barrel measuring 1.230 at the muzzle & 1.35 at the breech and is 26.5” long. Caliber is 35-40 Maynard.

	Richard Crown-C Ranch in the Flinthills NRA Life Member ASSRA Member # 10366 Member & Founders Society, Cody Firearms Museum Veteran
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Joe Do... Oldtimer ASSRA Board Member ASSRA Journal Editor Offline Posts: 646 Location: 'burbs of Chicago Joined: May 19^th, 2012	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #11 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 7:47pm	Print Post
	Here's one with a barrel by Eric Johnson. It seems that the prone position rifles were all about functionality. Those big heavy beavertail forends are a common feature. This ballard has two small screws on the right side of the receiver near the top for some kind of receiver sight. Unfortunately it's very difficult to find a receiver sight for a flat-sided receiver that mounts on the right.
	« Last Edit: Apr 18^th, 2022 at 12:12pm by Joe Do... »

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Statesrights Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 398 Location: Virginia Joined: May 3^rd, 2016	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #12 - Apr 17^th, 2022 at 9:11pm	Print Post
	What’s a beautiful thread!


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Otony Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 275 Location: Bandon, Oregon Joined: Jun 5^th, 2021	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #13 - Apr 18^th, 2022 at 12:28am	Print Post
	Cbashooter wrote on Apr 17^th, 2022 at 12:33pm: I feel ashamed of the ratty 4P rifle I posted compared to these beautiful one you guys have! Yeah, just bring it by the shop and I will relieve you of your misery.

	Otony
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12073 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Ballard Position Rifle Info Needed Reply #14 - Apr 18^th, 2022 at 1:51am	Print Post
	Statesrights wrote on Apr 17^th, 2022 at 9:11pm: What’s a beautiful thread! Huh?

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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