Maynard Rifle in .32-35

[xtimberman]

Here are a few photos of a Model 1873 .32-35 Maynard offhand rifle. I've had it for 25+ years and have shot black powder and duplex loads in it - I've never shot smokeless powder loads in a Maynard and never will. .32-35 is the predecessor to .32-40 which isn't that common either, so finding brass can be a problem.

I've included a photo of the old timey reloading tools for it too. That's a Hadley patent re & de-capping device for boxer-primed everlasting cases on the bottom. A straight-line bullet seating tool is on top - predecessor to our modern bullet-seating dies. Ideal #5 cast iron powder measure (predecessor to the Lyman #55 measure) is in the background.

Anybody else shoot the old target/hunting rifles?

xtm

[john_hm]

Nice lookin' rifle, Xtimberman! :cornut:

[xtimberman]

Hey! You found this place, too!

:cheers2:

[ede]

my dad won Perry in Jr. small bore when he was 17 with a ballard, which isn't too unlike the maynard.

[xtimberman]

ede,

Those Ballards were great platforms for .22LR target rifles. The various Ballard companies made a slew of RFs in several calibers, and later many were robbed of their actions to make up a modern .22 target rifle. The way the breech closed on the cartridge provided a camming action and the custom target gun could be chambered such that closing the action would breech-seat the .22 bullet slightly into the lands and grooves - allowing for tip-top accuracy. These guns competed with Martini-action SS and the various bolt-action rifles.

Original Ballard .22s and the custom target ones are both prized by shooters. I hope that your dad's championship rifle is still in your family.

It's hard to believe that the humble .22 RFs that are so popular today started out as black powder cartridges. :)

xtm

[Mogollon]

xtimberman,
That is a beautiful rifle, and so is the reloading equipment! Thank you for sharing it!:cheers2: