Author Topic: Gallagher Carbine (Read 1319 times)

Hermit · « **on:** February 21, 2004, 12:33:19 PM »

Anyone shoot a Gallagher? I lucked into one the other day, trying to get it from my buddy for 2 years he finally relented :twisted: Hermit

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tommy4toes · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2004, 03:43:05 AM »

hey - thats pretty cool !!!!! Seen 'em but never shot one. I have an old Spencer I trot out once in awhile........
t4t

Hermit · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2004, 01:10:43 PM »

Tommy.. Thanks, these period guns are all neat! Wish I could have one of them all, Maynards, Ballards all of them. Kinda want to do a breach sharps BP with the paper cartridges too but a Smith carbine may be the next big spend. Hermit

Will Bison · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2004, 08:01:22 AM »

I had one many years ago imported/made by Erma. Well made and interesting. As I recall it had lots of lands and grooves and I was told they used some surplus machine gun barrel. I also recall it had a pretty fast twist rate.

I also found that ignition would often be delayed or not fire at all probably due to the rather long flash channel. My best results were to load it from the muzzle with a minie bullet with the gas seal in place. You can fire it with or without the seal but it will leak gas.

The theory was that if a soldier could not come by preloaded cartridges he could revert to conventional muzzle loading with it. Not many were made during the war but it is an interesting transitional piece.

Accuracy was non existant in my rifle and I tend to believe it was a result of the "Marlin micro-groove" rifling and the twist rate. I could never find the proper round ball mould for it as .530 balls are way too tight. I think it needed a .520 or some such. I did find a .54 minie that worked well as far as size but as I indicated it never shot better than about 12" at 100 yards.

I probably should have experimented more but ended up offing it.

Hermit · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2004, 02:08:29 PM »

Thanks Will,, Yes it is the Erma and full of lands and grooves. I believe proper reliable ignition has to do with the size hole in the base of the brass cartridge, type and size of powder, cleanliness of firing channel and power of cap. If you are skipping the brass altogether using the gas checked mini that is an interesting idea but like you believe also if I can't get reliable ignition with a casing it will hang on the wall. Rapine 540 mold is supposedly the accuracy answer, $70 mould though. The prev owner only reinacted and opened the flash hole in his brass and had very reliable ignition. Only 2 slugs have ever gone down this barrel and with the enlarged flash hole casing. Of course that would cause some backpressure but no more than a caseless load with a minie. Some old timers have said to use a 22 casing without lead and powder just primer vs a musket cap, haven't tried that. I still have 2 feet of snow here but I will let you all know what happens! Hermit

Will Bison · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2004, 07:11:57 AM »

The one I bought was hanging on the wall in a local gun store and caught my eye as I was in the CW club at the time. I know I shot far more blanks than live in it.

I wish now I'd kept it as I have several other transitional rifles and they make a great display. A lot of the CW folks had never heard of the Gallagher. At one time I knew the total production run of the originals, I can't recall the number now but it was minimal.

I'm curious what your results are after shooting it. Keep us all posted.

I also recall the Erma had some strange looking wood in the stock with an unusual finish applied, might just have been on my gun.

Something else just struck me, I have seen original Gallaghers in various gun collections but I have never seen another Erma until you posted the pics. I bought mine in about 1976 +- and have never seen another. I wonder how many Erma put out and if they may now be a collectible.

Hermit · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2004, 02:25:38 PM »

Will.. I wish you kept it too because I would try to talk you out of it! :twisted: Erma made less than 1000 of them in the early 70's. Dixie had a used one a while back if you go there and search gallagher it may still be there. $850 I think it was. originals bring about $2500.. I will tinker and see what I can do. Brass is hard to find, $4 a pop when you can but I have a small machinist lathe too and it is thick wall as you have seen. I have about a dozen casings anyway. I will post shooting results for sure. It was 20 degrees, snow and a 60mph wind today so it still may be a month of or so :shock: Hermit

Will Bison · « **Reply #7 on:** April 06, 2004, 07:51:47 AM »

WOW. I had no idea the Erma production was that low. I would have guessed about 10,000 or more. I just gave myself a good kick in the butt for selling mine.

Well keep us all posted on your results.

Hermit · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2004, 02:48:14 PM »

Will,, I was shocked at the production numbers myself. I believe there are more originals out there than Ermas :shock: There is still a person making gallaghers one at a time by hand, I believe he gets about $1500 each. It's up to 30 degrees today but the wind is still howling. Soon we have mud season but between mud, picking fiddleheads, a move and getting married, then black flie season I will shoot that baby :-D Such a nice feeling and looking carbine, I really love that gun. Once my buddy relented my Fiance actually bought it for me as a wedding present. BTW, she has more guns and knives, better ones than I have! Lucky man, very lucky. Hermit