Numrich Arms Underhammer

[Griz44Mag]

I braved the gropal and the wind and took the recently acquired underhammer out for a run today. It's an odd one with a configuration I had not run across before. It's equipped with a 1-1/8" heavy barrel, 33" long, 58 caliber and a 1:70 twist. The rifling is very shallow and has the general appearance of abrasion or excessive lapping with a very rough grit. It had not been shot in a very long time and the barrel had a lot of caked gunk dried up in it. After a good cleaning and inspection, I decided to take it for a stroll. Plate was set up at 75 meters.
The only large balls I had were .575. I loaded light for the first shot, 60gr of 2f and used a .010 patch. It fired great, super quick timing, but I guess that makes sense because the end of the nipple sits directly in the main powder charge. It hit a foot and half low.
Worked up from 60gr to 70gr to 80gr to 90gr to 100gr, At 90gr and 100gr there was no change in elevation, about 8" low. It shoots fairly good for the rifling being weak, minute of deer so I would not hesitate to hunt short range with it. It may wind up going to Bobby for a refresh. It will for sure get a Pedersoli Ghost peep mounted on the tang next week. That alone should improve the groupings. My tired old eyes have issues with rear sights mounted at mid-barrel.
All told, a cold but fun afternoon making white smoke.
Plate has 7 strikes on it, about a 6" spread.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I used to sell and shoot those old H&A underwhackers. Very good rifles at the price. Accurate and dependable. I had one of the heavy barrel jobs and used it for bench and 'X' sticks. Mine was a smaller caliber but had nice, deep rifling. Keep working with yours (larger ball/thicker patch, etc.), it might make a great shooter the way it is. BTW, keep in mind they take a special nipple. Do not uses regular nipples, dangerous. The right ones are available from Track and others.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I used to sell and shoot those old H&A underwhackers. Very good rifles at the price. Accurate and dependable. I had one of the heavy barrel jobs and used it for bench and 'X' sticks. Mine was a smaller caliber but had nice, deep rifling. Keep working with yours (larger ball/thicker patch, etc.), it might make a great shooter the way it is. BTW, keep in mind they take a special nipple. Do not uses regular nipples, dangerous. The right ones are available from Track and others.

Thanks, I think that the nipple that came in it may be of that breed or it was just completely burned out. The flame hole is huge. I never got enough backpressure to take it to half cock, but it blew the cap off on almost every shot. I ordered 2 new nipples from TOTW last night and a couple boxes of balls in different sizes to try. I will put it through the paces first and send it to Bobby if I can't improve the groups. I got used to the accuracy of the GPR and it's now the standard...
Was your heavy barrel a 1-1/8"? It should make it a good shooter but it is top heavy for sure....

 

[Semisane]

Mine is 1-1/8" across the flats and is a dandy shooter with 85 Grains GOEX FFFg and .570 balls. The guys in my hunting club call it "that ugly thing". I call it a thing of beauty.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Mine is 1-1/8" across the flats and is a dandy shooter with 85 Grains GOEX FFFg and .570 balls. The guys in my hunting club call it "that ugly thing". I call it a thing of beauty.

Very nice!
I will definitely have the bore on mine refreshed or recut.
I will also refinish the wood to a darker hue like my GPR. I like dark...
I already have a rear peep headed this way. It's getting a Pedersoli "Ghost", adjustable for elevation and windage. With the sights on it now, it hits low and right.

 

[hanshi]

I've had mine, a .45, for going on 55 years. It's a gain twist with nicely deep rifling and has deer, bobcats and squirrel to its credit. I lost the tang peep that came with it. It's as accurate as any prb-firing rifle I've shot; a true tack driver. Although fired countless times, the bore is pristine. It's now retired and out to pasture.

 

[Griz44Mag]

That's an interesting add on to your mainspring Hanshi, That a cut off from a Thompson?
I especially like the dark walnut looking finish on the wood. That's the dark finish I am looking to put on mine.

 

[Ross Maynard]

I braved the gropal and the wind and took the recently acquired underhammer out for a run today. It's an odd one with a configuration I had not run across before. It's equipped with a 1-1/8" heavy barrel, 33" long, 58 caliber and a 1:70 twist. The rifling is very shallow and has the general appearance of abrasion or excessive lapping with a very rough grit. It had not been shot in a very long time and the barrel had a lot of caked gunk dried up in it. After a good cleaning and inspection, I decided to take it for a stroll. Plate was set up at 75 meters.
The only large balls I had were .575. I loaded light for the first shot, 60gr of 2f and used a .010 patch. It fired great, super quick timing, but I guess that makes sense because the end of the nipple sits directly in the main powder charge. It hit a foot and half low.
Worked up from 60gr to 70gr to 80gr to 90gr to 100gr, At 90gr and 100gr there was no change in elevation, about 8" low. It shoots fairly good for the rifling being weak, minute of deer so I would not hesitate to hunt short range with it. It may wind up going to Bobby for a refresh. It will for sure get a Pedersoli Ghost peep mounted on the tang next week. That alone should improve the groupings. My tired old eyes have issues with rear sights mounted at mid-barrel.
All told, a cold but fun afternoon making white smoke.
Plate has 7 strikes on it, about a 6" spread.
View attachment 4398 View attachment 4399 View attachment 4400 View attachment 4401 View attachment 4402

Where do you order the Pedersoli Ghost ring sight from and what is the ball park price?

 

[Griz44Mag]

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/883/2/RS-DP-GRS
Also available from flintinc and Taylor Firearms.
When TRACK has them in stock, they have the best price.

 

[Ross Maynard]

Does the rear screw go into the wood or do you set it foward and have it tapped by a gun smith?

 

[Ross Maynard]

oops My rifle is a hawken not as long of a tang

 

[8 BORE]

My underhammer is made by an Arkansas gunsmith. The barrel is a ,50 cal Green Mountain 42" with a 1:70 twist. Sights are Redfield Palma rear and Int.olympic front using Lee Shaver inserts. It has won several bench matches in Missouri and Arkansas. I have now ordered a 12 gauge barrel to put on it for shooting trap, single bird skeet and
Sporting clays matches. Barrels are inter-changable.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Was your heavy barrel a 1-1/8"? It should make it a good shooter but it is top heavy for sure....

Yes, mine was a .45 cal. and a very good shooter. I used only from X sticks or bench. Too much for me to hold offhand. I reluctantly sold it to someone who begged mightily to sell to him.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The guys in my hunting club call it "that ugly thing". I call it a thing of beauty.

Ugly or beautiful is in the eyes and hands of the user. I used to spend every weekend at the Friendship range shooting with buddies while my wife sat with other women. Finally she voiced disapproval with this situation. She said she wanted to shoot also. Not wanting her to interfere with 'my' man sport I bought her the cheapest rifle I could find. It was an H&A Buggy rifle in .45 cal. Well, folks, I'm here to tell you she shot that little underwhacker for years at shoots all over the country and has stacks of medals and awards she won with it. They shoot.

 

[8 BORE]

They are getting harder to find. I have 3 under hammers, none are H/A. Still looking for one.

 

[hanshi]

That's an interesting add on to your mainspring Hanshi, That a cut off from a Thompson?
I especially like the dark walnut looking finish on the wood. That's the dark finish I am looking to put on mine.

Griz, that rifle is an H&A Heritage model that came with a patchbox and the "finger rail" behind the trigger guard.

 

[arcticap]

Ugly or beautiful is in the eyes and hands of the user. I used to spend every weekend at the Friendship range shooting with buddies while my wife sat with other women. Finally she voiced disapproval with this situation. She said she wanted to shoot also. Not wanting her to interfere with 'my' man sport I bought her the cheapest rifle I could find. It was an H&A Buggy rifle in .45 cal. Well, folks, I'm here to tell you she shot that little underwhacker for years at shoots all over the country and has stacks of medals and awards she won with it. They shoot.

I bought that same model .45 Buggy Rifle for my son to learn with many years ago but it didn't work out quite as planned.
It belonged to the father of the owner of Flintlocks Etc...He was frank that the rifling was fairly worn, the thin part of the stock had a small crack
which got worse as it warped over time.
Oh I still shoot it, but its accuracy is only good for short range, bowling pins at about 25-35 yards
I think that the sights were changed at some point, and I need to use a hose clamp to secure the barrel to the stock.
I usually put an old cut off sock over my wrist and forearm as protection from blowback.
But it's still a hoot to shoot.

 

[8 BORE]

I need a buggy rifle lock is your rifle for sale
8Bore
Did you get my info i sent you on the other stuff

 

[arcticap]

8 BORE, I'll speak with you about it.

 

[8 BORE]

8 BORE, I'll speak with you about it.

Ok