My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

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My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by brett1868 » 06 Sep 2017, 12:15 am

Finally after 29 yrs of "Gunna buy" I finally purchased my first black powder rifle. Keeping with my collection theme of rifles used for sniping I purchased a Pedersoli reproduction of the original Parker Hale manufactured Whitworth .451 hexagonal bore BP rifle. This rifle has an interesting history which is well worth the read though a highlight is that a Whitworth rifle killed a confederate general at a range of 800-1000yds during the civil war in 1864. The Whitworth Sharp shooters were the precursor to modern day snipers so this rifle is a perfect fit to my collection. I sourced a mould to produce the hexagonal bullets at great expense from the U.K though I can also use conventional round bullets made from pure lead. Noiseydad has gone above and beyond to supply me some load data and a lube recipe. Once I manage to find a little free time I'll cast some projectiles and make myself known at the local black powder club.

Full American Walnut polished stock
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Modern high tech percussion cap action
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Odd shaped hole in the end
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Some background
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitworth_rifle

I'm pretty sure I can knock that back site out and fit some picatiny rail and a scope, maybe even a bipod.... :sarcasm:
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by juststarting » 06 Sep 2017, 12:39 am

Finally acting your age. :p
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Apollo » 06 Sep 2017, 12:54 am

juststarting wrote:Finally acting your age. :p


He's only a youngster..... Without the bloody Chop Sticks.

Onya Brett, about time you purchased a decent rifle.... :friends:
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Sep 2017, 7:31 am

Mmmm.. That looks very nice. What did it set you back?
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Post by Bent Arrow » 06 Sep 2017, 7:47 am

Dang, that's very nice.
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Post by TheDude » 06 Sep 2017, 8:20 am

Nice rifle Brett. Make sure you shoot the real stuff through it rather than fake substitute stuff.

You'll have a flinter soon enough too. Then one of them modern highwall or sharps ones with those shiny brass cartridges.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Supaduke » 06 Sep 2017, 9:12 am

Could someone explain to this cretin how a hex bullet in a hex bore works?
Does the bullet rotate? Is the bore rifled? I'm trying to imagine the process and it's not computing. Does the hex shape twist within the barrel?

Lovely looking rifle Brett.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by No1Mk3 » 06 Sep 2017, 9:24 am

Would just like to clarify a statement of Bretts, Parker Hale did not make the original firearms in question, but were among the first to make a modern reproduction of the original Whitworth rifle that was produced at the Whitworth Arms Co. Parker Hale later sold their machinery to Euroarms of Brescia who produced these rifles marked as Parker Hales. Cheers.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by No1Mk3 » 06 Sep 2017, 9:29 am

G'day Supaduke,
The Whitworth is a twist bore, having a type of hexagonal rifling, copied today in the H&K G3 rifle, some CZ and Glock pistols, but most famously in the German MG42.The rifle will also fire normal conical hollow base bullets with great accuracy, but must be soft lead to obturate in the hex bore. Cheers.
(just edited polygonal to haxagonal!)
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Post by wrenchman » 06 Sep 2017, 9:48 am

that looks like lot of fun and it looks nice
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Post by Wm.Traynor » 06 Sep 2017, 10:36 am

wrenchman wrote:that looks like lot of fun and it looks nice


ditto :D
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Supaduke » 06 Sep 2017, 11:02 am

Cheers no. 1
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by brett1868 » 06 Sep 2017, 11:12 am

No1Mk3 wrote:Would just like to clarify a statement of Bretts, Parker Hale did not make the original firearms in question, but were among the first to make a modern reproduction of the original Whitworth rifle that was produced at the Whitworth Arms Co. Parker Hale later sold their machinery to Euroarms of Brescia who produced these rifles marked as Parker Hales. Cheers.


Me bad, Whitworth Arms were the original manufacturer, not sure where I got the Parker Hale from as the original manufacturer.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by marksman » 06 Sep 2017, 12:40 pm

very nice rifle
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by TheDude » 06 Sep 2017, 5:40 pm

No1Mk3 wrote:G'day Supaduke,
The Whitworth is a twist bore, having a type of hexagonal rifling, copied today in the H&K G3 rifle, some CZ and Glock pistols, but most famously in the German MG42.The rifle will also fire normal conical hollow base bullets with great accuracy, but must be soft lead to obturate in the hex bore. Cheers.
(just edited polygonal to haxagonal!)


Nice and tight 1 in 20" twist for long projectiles too.
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Post by Pythonkeeper » 06 Sep 2017, 8:22 pm

Hope you didn't pay too much for it, looks pretty beat up...... ;) :D
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Post by Gwion » 06 Sep 2017, 9:21 pm

That's some fancy high tech gear you've got yourself there!
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by brett1868 » 06 Sep 2017, 11:25 pm

I checked with the boys at St Mary's and apparently they are licensed for black powder but don't encourage it due to the amount of smoke cause it can set off the alarms. I'll get casting this Saturday and making some lube so I'll be ready for action when the opportunity arises. I've committed to competing in the 1000yd FCSA match in Warracknabeal in October so it might be November before I can shoot it. Possibly a quick trip out to Apollos place could be in order, he's old enough to remember when these were new :)
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Mongrel » 07 Sep 2017, 8:16 am

Nice looking firearm, cant wait to see or hear how it shoots.
At my local range there is always black powder guns there..Not as much smoke as i thought there would be
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Gamerancher » 07 Sep 2017, 9:23 am

G'day Mongrel, perhaps they are not using it?
I've seen a lot of blokes who go out and buy a black-powder gun, ( talking cartridge rifles here not "front-stuffers" ), and then load them up with smokeless powder and hard-cast or jacketed bullets. I don't get it.
Had a couple of blokes turn up to one of our long range black-powder shoots with BPC rifles loaded up like that and when asked why it is always the same answer, " black-powder is too hard to clean." Nothing could be further from the truth. My rifles require at most 6 patches after a days shooting and the bore will be spotless. :unknown:

Disclaimer: This of coarse depends upon the quality of the bore, your lube, bullet alloy and fit of the bullet to the bore. :thumbsup:
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by brett1868 » 06 Dec 2017, 10:31 pm

Brother Bentaz,
What a massive price that went for, I thought the originals were around the $15k-$20k mark. Many thanks for that clip, might look into a repro scope for mine.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by Gamerancher » 07 Dec 2017, 6:53 am

Hey Brett, if you have no plans for January 27-28 next year, we, (BRAA) are having an "informal" shoot at the Cooyal range near Mudgee. Might be a good chance for you to try out that Whitworth on our buffalo target. Hopefully I'll have my new "Gibbs" long range muzzle loader by then. Come along and make some smoke with us.
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Re: My latest High Tech long range rifle - 1859 Version

Post by brett1868 » 07 Dec 2017, 9:36 am

Gamerancher wrote:Hey Brett, if you have no plans for January 27-28 next year, we, (BRAA) are having an "informal" shoot at the Cooyal range near Mudgee. Might be a good chance for you to try out that Whitworth on our buffalo target. Hopefully I'll have my new "Gibbs" long range muzzle loader by then. Come along and make some smoke with us.


Sounds like a good plan, I'll mark it in my calendar :)
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