Got my new Chaparral today

Joss House · June 04, 2009, 10:37:58 PM

Well, today my new 28" bbl 45-60 Chaparral arrived. I've done a cursory examination and so far I cannot find anything visibly wrong with it. The action is smooth, the wood to metal fit is good as is the overall finish. I have a double cavity 340 grain Lee mould on order and will cut down some 45-70 brass and trim the rim on my lathe. So far, for $699 via CDNN, it say's Tri-Star on the barrel, I don't have any complaints. Here are some photo's, but I'm sure you guy's already know what they look like. Just thought I'd share any way. I will report further as I get into taking it apart for examination and shooting when I get the ammo ready.

0. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/dubtrub/DSCN0222.jpg

1. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/dubtrub/DSCN0221.jpg

2. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/dubtrub/DSCN0223.jpg

3.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/dubtrub/DSCN0224.jpg

Joe Lansing · June 04, 2009, 11:23:00 PM

Don't thin the rims without first running some through the chamber, but don't force it if it's tight closing. They are fine in my Chappy as is. You might save yourself some unnecessary work.

J.L.

OKDEE · June 05, 2009, 09:28:30 AM

Great luck and enjoy! Any 76 is a blast to shoot!

Oklahoma Dee

Joss House · June 05, 2009, 03:58:55 PM

Thanks guy's, for the response. Good advice, I will definitely try the shortened cases before trimming the rims. I was planning to trim them to factory specs.

Today I disassemble the rifle and gave it a thorough examination. The milling work internally is very clean with everything lining up properly with no evidence of roughness or binding. I was prepared to break out the polishing stones and remove burrs and smooth up edges. As it is, it seems adequate and unnecessary. If I wanted it to operate smooth as a main match rifle, some polishing and lightning of springs would be required. I elected to leave it as is.

The rear sight did require some reshaping. There was some back-bow to the bottom part of the ladder sight and up-bow to the rotating or up right part of the sight. When looking down the barrel through the sight, the V notch was partial obstructed by the front part of the sight. The sight is not spring metal and was very easily reformed to the proper shape or straightness. The dove tail slot was a little too deep, or else the base was too shallow, so it was necessary to cut a piece of sheet brass shim stock to take up the slack. Reassembled, the sight works as originally intended.

Wiping down the gun Naphtha to remove the shipping oils, it also removed some of the crappy oil stain finish on the wood and lightened the color somewhat. This is an area I will have to address once the shooting test has been accomplished.

It's going to be a couple of weeks before I will be able to cast bullets, load ammo and go to the range. So far the gun seems to be quite a bargain for the price. Keeping my fingers crossed.

UPDATE: I tried the shortened cases but they were a no-go without thining the rim to specs. Chambers and ejects perfectly.

john boy · June 06, 2009, 04:18:13 PM

Joss - Have a good time shooting your new rifle. Burnt Umber and then a 4:1 Boiled Linseed - Spar Varnish will make the wood look original.

Enjoy!

Grizzly Adams · June 07, 2009, 09:51:04 AM

Congratulations Joss House.

Looking forward to that range report!

Fox Creek Kid · June 08, 2009, 03:51:58 AM

Joss, ironically a buddy of mine got one the same day in 45-60 as well. The wood to metal fit on his is bad. He's a gunsmith and is going to make it period, e.g., authentic rust & fire blues, etc. Also, no one has brass right now. Buffalo Arms has NADA.

Joss House · June 09, 2009, 12:20:41 AM

Took the Chaparral up to the mountains today and shot a few rounds. Man, this thing is a tack driver and functioned flawlessly. My only complaint is the wood finish, but that will change in a day or two. My son was so impressed that he is going to order one of these from CDNN next week. After all the negative I heard about these, I guess I lucked out. I hope my son get's one just as good.

Well, on second thought everything wasn't perfect. The ladder sight had a tendency to bounce up some under recoil. Maybe a drop or two of clear finger nail polish on the hinge joint might tighten it up a little.

Ottawa Creek Bill · June 11, 2009, 06:34:36 AM

Joss....

From what I understand the Chaparral is the closest to the original 76's, and with a little elbow grease these are as good as the uberti's at half the cost. Think I'm gonna get one from CDNN good price.

Bill

spook2 · June 16, 2009, 11:33:22 AM

For Joss, apparently your trigger is OK??

For all, Jamison Intl has 45-60 now and 45-75 in a month to six weeks: 605-347-5090.

Joss House · June 16, 2009, 12:21:12 PM

Quote from: spook2 on June 16, 2009, 11:33:22 AM
For Joss, apparently your trigger is OK??

Trigger is fine. Actually there's not a thing wrong with the entire gun other than the crappy finish, which I have since redone, and the rear sight bouncing up under recoil which I secured by a little bending. My son ordered one yesterday. Same gun from the same place. I hope his is as good as the one I got.

Thanks for the info on the ammo. I made up fifty modified 45-70 which works fine for now. Fortunately our NCOWS posse allows the '76 to be used as a main match rifle.

Grizzly Adams · June 19, 2009, 01:03:03 AM

Quote from: Joss House on June 16, 2009, 12:21:12 PM

Fortunately our NCOWS posse allows the '76 to be used as a main match rifle.

Now THATs an interesting idea!

What distances are you using for your rifle targets?

Joss House · June 19, 2009, 01:20:55 AM

Quote from: Grizzly Adams on June 19, 2009, 01:03:03 AM
Now THATs an interesting idea! What distances are you using for your rifle targets?

While we were shooting in the heavily wooded national forest we were averaging about 40-60 yards. For the next four months we will be shooting our monthly matches at the Tehachapi Sportsman Club range and will be able to vary our rifle targets from 50 to 100 yards. We use the same steel targets for our buffalo rifle shoots as well as our main match. Previously only one member occasionally shot his '86 Winchester on a stage or two, now with mine and my son getting a Chaparral, we will be able to add a little more boom and smoke to our matches. All our NCOWS posse members shoot only black powder loads although not required.

Mossyrock · June 19, 2009, 07:51:15 AM

Quote from: Joss House on June 16, 2009, 12:21:12 PM
Trigger is fine. Actually there's not a thing wrong with the entire gun other than the crappy finish, which I have since redone, and the rear sight bouncing up under recoil which I secured by a little bending. My son ordered one yesterday. Same gun from the same place. I hope his is as good as the one I got.

Thanks for the info on the ammo. I made up fifty modified 45-70 which works fine for now. Fortunately our NCOWS posse allows the '76 to be used as a main match rifle.

Can we see some pics of your refinished wood?

Pony Racer · June 21, 2009, 07:36:40 AM

I just got the 45-60 NWMP carbine yesterday as a gift.

I am very pleased with fit and finish. The Blueing is very dark and even. The wood finish is a great grain of wood and that metal to wood contact is nice

Action is tight and good to go.

I did order through gunstore where my gunsmith works - so he went over gun as soon as it came in - i will probably have him smooth it up and give me a nicer trigger pull. But I am happy with this gun.

The only thing I am unhappy with thus far is the rear sight. The screw from the adjustable piece gets in the way and there are no indents for range - it just slides up and down with the screw meant as tension i guess.

I think my gunsmith can fix that - if not i may just take off that piece for now and look at other rear ladder sights that will work in the set-up.

Ordering some ammo from GADS on monday and then later this summer will order the dies.

PR

Joe Lansing · June 21, 2009, 12:02:59 PM

Who makes the NWMP carbine in 45-60? I thought they were all 45-75's.

J.L.

Pony Racer · June 21, 2009, 08:14:08 PM

Chapparal and Uberti.

Hard to find a 45-75 Chapparal NWMP guns for sale - seems the company paid more attention to there than the others - much less amount of complaints on them.

Mine feels good, looks good and seems to function just fine. I will know more once I get a chance to shoot it.

PR

Rowdy Fulcher · June 23, 2009, 10:36:44 PM

Joss
If you don't care for the rear sight Smith Enterprise has a nice replacement ladder sight for the 76 . I have one on my chappy and it WORKS . It has a buck horn rear and a brass blade front which works great together . Good luck with you rifle hope you bring it to the National Shoot next year .

Grapeshot · July 07, 2009, 05:32:56 PM

Nice Rifle. I also own a Chaparral with a 26 inch tube. I found that the shortened .45/70 cases work just fine without modifying the rims.

Rowdy Fulcher · July 27, 2009, 02:57:05 PM

Joss
What is the best way to remove the plastic off the Wood ?