Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6  Send TopicPrint
Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Special Ballard Parts (Read 7685 times)
GT
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2028
Location: Northeast Wyoming
Joined: Jun 28th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #45 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 9:21am
Print Post  
A little more time on the breech block, touched the face with a grinder to true it all up and added a screw.  Photos of the innards with some of mods...
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
jhm
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Online



Posts: 1378
Location: georgia
Joined: Sep 4th, 2011
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #46 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 10:57am
Print Post  
That is the problem with a Ballard action. By the time you get set triggers and a few other goodies in those halves there is not much room for anything else.




JMH
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Chuckster
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2220
Location: Colorado
Joined: May 15th, 2008
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #47 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 11:03am
Print Post  
Like the stirrup on the hammer and the coil sear spring. 
Firing pin bushing is a neat design.
Chuck
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
GT
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2028
Location: Northeast Wyoming
Joined: Jun 28th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #48 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 1:04pm
Print Post  
We've modified our hammer and link to be a self cocking, small throw, fairly fast lock time.   
I was originally concerned with the amount of throw vs. firing pin strike, right now, I have it so it won't cock the hammer back far enough to engage the sear, misses it by about an 1/8".  The hammer fall is about 1/2" total, and the self cocking design only lifts the hammer 3/8".  After cycling it a few times, it hits the primer hard enough I'm going to move the sear engagement up so it sets the hammer with 3/8" throw.  The self cocking feature should work then.
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
marlinguy
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

Posts: 15969
Location: Oregon
Joined: Feb 2nd, 2009
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #49 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 5:39pm
Print Post  
Pretty darn cool Greg! I'd love to have all my Ballard rifles be self cocking!
  

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bnice
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Online



Posts: 1843
Location: Iowa
Joined: Nov 30th, 2006
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #50 - Jun 20th, 2024 at 8:25pm
Print Post  
how do you sleep at night! your brain must be bouncing toughts around 24/7. Very nice.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
GT
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2028
Location: Northeast Wyoming
Joined: Jun 28th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #51 - Jun 21st, 2024 at 9:33am
Print Post  
Sleeping is over-rated...
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
calledflyer
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 3535
Joined: Mar 9th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #52 - Jun 21st, 2024 at 9:48am
Print Post  
I wish my body knew sleeping was overrated. Can't sleep good anymore and feeling it- maybe I need a Ballard, yes?
I can appreciate the neat pin bushing due to the split block, and your crafty parts are always nice- even unfinished. Love the build threads.
Learned something though- never knew the darn things DIDN'T cock on opening.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
idjeffp
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 281
Location: Boise, ID
Joined: Nov 11th, 2017
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #53 - Jun 21st, 2024 at 5:39pm
Print Post  
Just beautiful engineering and execution Greg!!
Inspiring... especially for those of us who have - in the past, put a cutting tool to steel in the quest of building a fine shooting rifle!  Anxious to get back out in the shop and continue the journey... this time of year for me is so busy with other interruptions - retired or not! Sad
Thanks again for sharing Smiley
Jeff P
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
GT
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2028
Location: Northeast Wyoming
Joined: Jun 28th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #54 - Jul 18th, 2024 at 12:42pm
Print Post  
Here's pix of some bling in the works, not really anything that is helping me finish this rifle...to have it shooting by the end of the month, my hopes...  It's the Ballard from scratch, oversized that's going to be a 50-90.
GT
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bobw
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1392
Location: NW, Iowa
Joined: Mar 19th, 2013
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #55 - Jul 18th, 2024 at 6:11pm
Print Post  
Wow, you are getting fancy now! Grin
Bob
  

Robert Warren
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Myers
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 376
Joined: Mar 5th, 2013
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #56 - Jul 18th, 2024 at 9:13pm
Print Post  
A real true craftsman.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
jhm
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Online



Posts: 1378
Location: georgia
Joined: Sep 4th, 2011
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #57 - Jul 18th, 2024 at 9:36pm
Print Post  
I tried the pewter nose piece for a 74 Sharps I built years ago but made such a mess I gave up. Think my alloy was too hot and it ran like water. Always wondered how Shiloh could do it so it looked like the wood grew around it.




JMH
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
JerryH
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


ASSRA Member #10876

Posts: 1241
Location: Easton, CA
Joined: Nov 9th, 2014
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #58 - Jul 18th, 2024 at 9:57pm
Print Post  
I like pewter forearm tips! 

I plan to do one sometime soon. Roll Eyes

I know that there are different pewter alloys. Which one did you use Greg?

All those holes are anchors for the pewter tip, right?
« Last Edit: Jul 18th, 2024 at 10:57pm by JerryH »  

I'm not a complete idiot, some of my parts are missing.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
GT
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 2028
Location: Northeast Wyoming
Joined: Jun 28th, 2015
Re: Special Ballard Parts
Reply #59 - Jul 19th, 2024 at 1:53am
Print Post  
I'm looking at this project as a bit of a hack job...😁 Thanks for the kind words though.  I originally had my set up kind of flawed, an old friend that's done a few things like this told me to use cardboard from a cereal box, (I was using gasket material) don't use electrical tape - use painter's tape.  And for as good as the idea sounded don't use duct seal or putty for damns...  I had to start all over.  Stir your alloy with a wooden tooth pic, if it chars it things are too hot.  My alloy started with an old pewter cup I got somewhere, but I'm finishing it up with 95-5 tin solder.  I have a supply of babbit I'll use in the future
  

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk"  T. A. Edison
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 
Send TopicPrint