Here are the first pics of the rifle.
It's "in the rough" yet functional. I'm using it for
a personal recreational toy while I put it thru it's paces.
It features one of my tri-valve butt
flask reservoirs. Barrel is 32 caliber Barnes.
Take note: The rifle is perched on
a fence post above - note the balance point. Exactly where you'd
rest an off-hand shot.
The design is breech loaded with an
in-line fire thru valve.
And it breaks down as such, for carry.
The reservoir is leather covered and
only "tack stitched" at this point. The butt of the
reservoir also gets leather. All leather will be richly stained
and finished. The forearm is figured mahogany (raw here). Trigger
guard will be brass and all brass gets detailed and polished out.
I like the lines. It's very comfortable
to hold and shoot.
I'll make a few special rifles from
year to year. I'm not planning to put up a cost grid on these
rifles. I have more than enough models now to keep everyone thoroughly
confused. I show you these special projects in order to share
where my research projects lead.
I'll post far better pics when it's
complete. Thanks for sharing.
A Winter Session with the Nautilus
3-10-03
You can wait until everything is perfect
to go shoot. Or ... you can just go shoot. Your Barnes PCP will
go along, and it will do it's part.
You can wait for a dead calm day that's
78 degrees, or you can go freeze your buttstock off when the range
flag is flapping and cracking. Your Barnes big bore PCP will be
ready to go shooting - no matter.
You saw this posted the other evening.
It's the new Barnes Ghost Ring front aperature sight. It's on
the muzzle of the new Nautilus Class PCP.
This class of Barnes PCP features my
new tri-valve buttstock reservoir. I'm not ready to show pics
of the rifle yet. Sorry - don't you hate a tease?
Will it shoot? Seems so. How's that
look? Wouldn't be bad with a 32X scope - even bettter with brass
sights and no glass! ... With the wind driving thru the snow covered
woods .... and the temps. freezing my fingers numb ... with the
sun in my eyes ... and wild bears lurking and growling in the
woods ... and ...
Down there at the end of the snow is
the 50 yard backer. We're seated ready to take a shot. Just peep
thru that hole there ... and line up the target spot. What do
you mean ... what spot? It's there. Let's toss three down there.
Crack! ... SSslap!!! yeah ... I heard them hit ... but I certainly
can't see the holes from here.
How's that?
And that?
You know, I've taken alot of heat thru
the years about ... "Sure ... well you used ... X ... and
you are shooting Z ... and ..."
Well, I do these tests so you see the
real world Barnes PCP rifles can be at home in. If you just hang
yours on the wall - it will be your choice. But - I shoot mine.
Of course ... I currently have a super classified new rear sight
design on this one ...
Yes, I'll make a better copy before
I ship it. ;?)
Second Range
Session 3-25-03
Still gusting strongly
(but nice and warm!! ahhhhhh).
The new rear sight
assembly (I know ... you liked the hose clamp version better ...
;?)
This will get filed
and polished out - but it's all precise and functional. Adjustable
for windage and elevation. All Barnes. Aperture design,
No - it's another one.
I made a few changes in the front sight configuration. I really
like this set up. Remember - that's machined from a solid block
of brass.
I sighted in a bit
and then .... looking around ....
I spotted a 2 by 4
Rat! There it sat atop the 50 yard backer!! How it got there ...
who can tell?
When I got back to
the bench (wink) I picked out a 32 Kestrel (106 grains) and loaded
it into the Nautilus' breech. Here was a real test for the brass
sights. A weathered 2 by 4 block - sitting in front of a dirt
berm covered in dry leaves - AND - 50 yards away!
Yes - it was alittle
different than a 20X scope - but - that Ghost ring let me pick
the varmint out without too much trouble.
Bang!
How's that?
Exit wound - back of
2 by 4 block @ 50 yards.
Remember, the Nautilus
features one of my tri-valve butt flask cone reservoirs.
Arriving back at the bench again (you
can't see where you hit without optics at 50 yards) ...
There ... atop the backer! A small
field stone. What a hunt! Varmints all over the place.
I selected a slug, loaded, aimed, and
let fly at another low-contrast target. Whack!
Took the top out. Aim a bit lower ....
There ya go - center hit. The rock
was a bit thick (maybe 1 1/2 -2") to break open, but we spalled
the front off.
And the back was all fractured showing
it shattered thru.
I know I haven't showed you pics of
the rifle itself. Annoying, I can imagine. But - it's all in the
rough. And, I've learned (from 29 years in business now) that
while everybody wants to see the step by step, what follows is
a host of suggestions, corrections, and premature questions.
Anyway ... while I greatly appreciate
all the generous comments I get regarding the appearance of my
rifles, I want you to also see the performance characteristics
and the phenomena which is the PCP rifle. We'll get to the cosmetics
as it develops.
Hope you enjoyed the range trip. I'm
ready to go back myself!
Oh - a word about the name ... "Nautilus
Class". Not the sea-shell, but the Subs. I took one look
at the fabricated steel tri-valve pressure vessel - glanced at
the pressure gauge of the test equipment - and thought of Jules
Verne's fictional submarine and the first atomic sub launched
in 1954. "That's a Nautilus Class" I said, to nobody
present.
