rkba2nd wrote on Mar 12^th, 2024 at 1:54pm:


Pope wasn't the only one using the scallop cuts for scope mounting. Schoyen & Peterson also used them. But for some reason Schoyen & Peterson only used them for their rear scope mounts, and had typical holes D&T for the front mounts. I have a couple Schoyen barreled Ballards with those cuts at the rear location. Always guessed the AW Peterson scopes and mounts maybe used them?

rkba2nd wrote on Mar 12^th, 2024 at 6:55pm:


No, unlike Pope, Schoyen built all his barrels. Where Pope often purchased bored and un-rifled barrels from Winchester so he could final bore and rifle them.

Ok..... how do you use the rest? Looks like it is very close to the trigger. Perhaps the question is how do you press the trigger when it is blocked by the rest?

On very light triggers, 2 oz or less, it is very difficult to come on to the trigger from the front, especially if you have or have had Carpel Tunnel. Many times, it will break, before you know your on it.

What I would do, is come in from the side of the trigger, with a little forward pressure, until I felt the trigger and then adjusted my feel of it until I knew when it would break. The finger rest allows you to do something similar to that.

I am very much enjoying this Ballard. The finger rest works just as described above and I think is a help. I have been shooting ten rounds through it every day the weather has allowed over the last few weeks after screwing a round metal plate to a fence post so I can step out of my reloading room and shoot.

I purchased the rifle expressly to practice and improve my offhand shooting and wanted a gun as close to my centerfire Ballards as possible. Having an original Soule sight and being priced right was a bonus. The finger rest may prove to be a detriment to my shooting when I move to the other rifles that dont have it.

I have George at Treebone carving making me a forearm. When that is fitted it should feel exactly like my others. The barrel has never been drilled for a forearm.

GT, I was afraid to say it, but I am considering after the forearm is fitted, Inletting the bottom of the barrel channel with a couple small round powerful magnets. If they’re strong enough they’d hold while shooting, yet I could keep the rifle just as it is and has been for what appears to be a long time. Not sure why it’s nagging at me not to alter it.

rifleman wrote on Mar 30^th, 2024 at 7:58am:


I like that idea. There's some amazingly strong small button magnets to be had. The only concern for me would be would they be strong enough to keep the fore arm from sliding back firmly against the face of the receiver in the course of handling/jostling/shooting - a distinct no-no in terms of maintaining consistent accuracy.

Id Inlet and glue the magnets into the forearm, not the barrel Vall. It was just an idea I considered.