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J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle (Read 1350 times)

gnoahhh Oldtimer Offline Posts: 980 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Joined: Mar 31^st, 2010	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #15 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 11:11am	Print Post
	I believe Vall to be spot-on in his assessment. Were it mine (and I wish it were!) I would shoot low pressure smokeless loads as a matter of course in it, for two reasons: black powder pressures (or lower) combined with the actual case head thrust against the breech being a fraction of overall pressure, and mainly because I wouldn't want to deal with the hassle of keeping a small bore cleared of BP fouling. Just my 2 cents. I surely wouldn't subject a cast Ballard action to the travails of shooting medium or large cartridges, but small stuff at intelligently light pressures yessiree Bob.


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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #16 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 2:22pm	Print Post
	Thanks Vall and all. I've been gathering 25-20 SS load data for a few years, but much of it give velocity, not pressure ratings. I'm extrapolating. I think these two would be low pressure, with supplies I have? Powder gr - bullet 1680 8.5 - 86 lead 4227 8.5 69 lead gc Otherwise, I'm going to have to go with FFF Black Powder, same bullets. I don't mind cleaning the bore of BP....


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17194 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #17 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 2:39pm	Print Post
	I've never used 1680 powder, but I have used 4227. Not positive, but isn't that 8.5 grain load around 1600 fps? I wouldn't push it that fast myself. I'd keep it down around 1400 fps or less.

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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #18 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 2:43pm	Print Post
	OK, I'll drop it down for that powder in this gun to 8.0. Thanks!


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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #19 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 1:24pm	Print Post
	I went with some old Kimber Big Game Rifle rings, and a K3 Weaver. Still a little large, but it allowed me to move the scope back for the best eye position. These ballards have a very long action. I'm very pleased with this rifle. Thanks to all those who were helping me with ring options. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 3332 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #20 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 1:42pm	Print Post
	I use 1680 in fixed jacketed 22 Hornet loads but it needs to be pushed fast (2200 fps). I tried breech seating with lead bullets in the 1400 fps range in a 25 Hornet and it was terrible.

	ASSRA # 11318 There are more hydrogen atoms in a single molecule of water than there are suns in the entire solar system.
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rifleman Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 327 Joined: Aug 4^th, 2015	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #21 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 1:56pm	Print Post
	Thats not too much scope at all. You went first class all the way on that one and I hope it shoots like it looks


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17194 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #22 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 3:02pm	Print Post
	The scope and rings are very appropriate for the style of build. I like it a lot!

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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #23 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 4:22pm	Print Post
	Thanks all. I like it a lot. Found out Mikes sling swivels fit like a glove. Now a good sling, and I'm ready for my Big Game safari (Jackrabbits). Got my cases primed and ready, got 2F and 3F powder. Just need to go cast some bullets for the first session. Vall and all thanks for your reloading advise and help. I think I'll start out with 2F Black, and see how it does. If it is accurate, I may stay with Black to not have to worry about the cast action. But I do have about 40 rounds already loaded with 1680 and other light loads. So who knows how I'll feel that day!


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17194 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #24 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 4:36pm	Print Post
	I would encourage you to not temp fate with those 1680 fps rounds in a cast #3 action. This gun is too pretty to chance it.

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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #25 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 5:18pm	Print Post
	I just looked again at the Accurate 1680 loads I'd written down. Ah-so, too fast and not for this gun! I'll stick with black powder.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 17194 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #26 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 5:40pm	Print Post
	AZshot wrote on Oct 7^th, 2025 at 5:18pm: I just looked again at the Accurate 1680 loads I'd written down. Ah-so, too fast and not for this gun! I'll stick with black powder. Or much lighter smokeless loads that operate at pressures under 20,000 psi.

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jhm Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1851 Location: georgia Joined: Sep 4^th, 2011	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #27 - Oct 7^th, 2025 at 8:12pm	Print Post
	The colors are so vivid on the receiver. I wonder who did them? No that scope isn't out of place on that rifle. I think it looks kinda spiffy on there and if your eyes are getting like mine they need a little help... JMH


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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #28 - Oct 8^th, 2025 at 11:01am	Print Post
	I do think the colors are great. No telling who did it, maybe even Jack himself. But he probably built this rifle in the 1950s-1970s so a lot more did case colors back then. I've cast some 86 grain lead bullets from my vintage nickel Ideal reloading tool and mold. Ready to size them (they're about .002 too big), lube with SPG, and drop some powder. Going to try 2F and 3F.


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AZshot Full Member Offline Posts: 207 Location: Desert Southwest Joined: Nov 29^th, 2016	Re: J. Haugh Ballard custom small game rifle Reply #29 - Oct 11^th, 2025 at 1:16pm	Print Post
	Results were pretty good at 50 yds. Got the K4 sighted in anyway. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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