Rainy Day project, casting for CLA.

No progress on the 39A.  I am hoping some brilliant tip will come up before I start some back yard gunsmithing.  So, on a day like today, it was time to get some more bullets cast for the 30-30.  This year, I am paying attention to alloy and working on getting to a harder bullet, same bullet physical characteristics from weight to hardness.

Not much to report really.  I have struggled a bit with my quest for bench rest accuracy out of a Lever Gun with cast bullets.  I am learning but mostly on what not to do.  I am hoping I will find something that works soon. 

My mould is an old 31141 single cavity.  I picked up the correct handles so I don't have to borrow them.  The old Ideal mould, after some TLC, is working fair.  This batch of bullets are a bit mottled (or what I call eczema) in places and I suspect that is due to zinc in the melt.  I hope the issue impacts looks only and not accuracy.  Now comes the fun part.  Sizing them.  I scrounge range trash cans for the 9mm ammo boxes with Styrofoam holders.  They treat my little gems in good shape as well as assist with keeping things organized.  Now if I could just find the right load.  I made 325 bullets today.  It would be nice to load them all up and just shoot.

2016 Tentative Schedule NH Silhouette matches

Pemi-CLA              APR 24
PA Consolidated    APR 30-MAY 1

PFFG                       MAY 1
PSI-100m                MAY 15
Pemi-CLA                MAY 29

PFFG                       JUN  5
PSI-100m                JUN 19
Pemi-CLA               JUN 25
Pemi-100m             JUN 26

PFFG                      JUL 3
PSI-100m               JUL 17
Pemi-CLA              JUL 23
Pemi-100m            JUL 24

PFFG                      AUG  7
PSI-GSR                 AUG 20-21
Pemi-100m             AUG 28

PFFG                     SEPT  4
PSI-100m               SEPT 18

PFFG                     OCT  2
PSI-100m               OCT 9

39A mfg 1985 pre crossbolt safety carrier pin issue

39A action without pin, lever open

Sometime in September I think my rock solid, highly accurate, much loved and used by many Marlin 39A jammed.  This is a gun that simply never jams, never fails to eject, always feeds slow or fast just plain stopped working.  Range triage discovered the problem was beyond a Leatherman and the gun was bagged and that was that.  Image to the right is the action open with no pin in the carrier.  When the lever is cycled, the carrier does not raise as it should.

Carrier removed, looking front (left) side of carrier and pin/spring

Over the New Years, John and I embarked upon a more detailed diagnosis in hope of finding the right part to order and install on some cold winter day.  After looking high and low for the missing parts that were no longer in the gun. It occurred to me that I had kept the tiny bits in my tiny bits pellet tin where all such small parts go.  Happily they were there less the "washer" which was missing from the start.  Image to the right is the small pin which is .121" in diameter.  I cannot locate my feeler gauge to get the thickness of the groove where the washer is captured.  The more I look at the photos it would seem the real question is, what is the original "minor" diameter of the pin.  It does look to be held in place by peening the back of the pin.

Pin, pushed through hole in carrier showing back side with missing "washer" to hold pin in place while spring pushes the pin to project out on front/left side of carrier.