My Mercury Ratting Rig

[Hotrod75]

Well you can't argue with that, family security takes precedence over guns every time.
Sorry to hear about the demise your perm too.
I hope all goes well for you and will continue to avidly watch waiting for the t 20 magic to happen.
I've been playing with my mercury challenger for nearly 30 years and still can't get it to shoot straight.
Regard
Jay

[junglie]

Well you can't argue with that, family security takes precedence over guns every time.
Sorry to hear about the demise your perm too.
I hope all goes well for you and will continue to avidly watch waiting for the t 20 magic to happen.
I've been playing with my mercury challenger for nearly 30 years and still can't get it to shoot straight.
Regard
Jay

I had a 635 magnum mercury like that, it turned out to be very fine burrs on the inside edge of the cocking slot cutting two fine slits in the o ring piston seal everytime i rebuilt it with new o ring, took me about 5 years to find that out.

[junglie]

I had a 635 magnum mercury like that, it turned out to be very fine burrs on the inside edge of the cocking slot cutting two fine slits in the o ring piston seal everytime i rebuilt it with new o ring, took me about 5 years to find that out.

forgot to add my .22 challenger is as good as my hw50s & rivals it as my fave springer to shoot, possible you could have a bad barrel/damaged crown?

[thisisdonald]

Hi Matty --- long time no see.

The scope is a Kassner 4 X 40 PA with TV screen view and is basically scrap, I got it for free as the crosshairs had snapped.
I took the scope apart and soldered the thinnest wire I could find in there as new crosshairs.
Unfortunately the wire wasn't thin enough, so now when you look through the scope it's like looking at a pair of crossed fence posts --- looks a bit like the Klan are in town.
I know this doesn't sound too good but at short range in low light conditions when ratting my homemade crosshairs work well.



All the best Mick

Reminds me of the nasty, knackered looking scope atop my equally cosmetically challenged Supersport, Mick. And that's another ratty looking potentially ace little ratter......The stock is truly distasteful after being "customised" by some previous owner. But it's actually really ergonomic and handles well. On the scope, the windage turret has some nasty cover hammered on. And the elevation turret is hanging off. But it adjusts okay. Sight picture is excellent and I really like the simple single post (German sniper?) reticle. The quintessential barn / ratting gun.

well, I started reading this thread and thought Id chip in about scope reticles, but its turned out to be like watching a good season on netflix, and we are at the cliffhanger waiting for the new season . Anyway, my tuppenth worth about scope reticles - if you like a nice No.4 reticle, a single strand off of a toothbrush does the job - chop the end with a brand new razor blade to get it square as can be. I did it recently and it works a treat.

this thread is right up there with my favourites, the recoiless B2 and the 'its a bit rusty' thread! Classic sagas of overcoming adversity with the hero coming through at the end and presenting us with a rifle that defies sense and has us all oohing and aahing ... Im really looking forward to the finished article.
Was the copper colour that bad? It sounds pretty cool to me.. I love that bronze cerakote finish thats popular just now.

anyway, hope all is well with you guys... and looking forward to the grand finale!

[T 20]

Hi Donald.

The copper coating really was that bad and stopped the rust bluing, in hindsight what I should have done is strip the metal and start again.
I've never had rust bluing turn out as badly as this before and it's thrown me a bit, but I will get the gun built up even if I take it back to the white again.

The next step after I've cleared my other jobs is to alter the stock for the action to fit as the Weihrauch breech block is wider than the BSA breech block.

But I will carry on and update you good folks.




All the best Mick

[junglie]

Well you can't argue with that, family security takes precedence over guns every time.
Sorry to hear about the demise your perm too.
I hope all goes well for you and will continue to avidly watch waiting for the t 20 magic to happen.
I've been playing with my mercury challenger for nearly 30 years and still can't get it to shoot straight.
Regard
Jay

i had a 635 magnum like that, turned out to be sharp fine burrs either side of the cocking slot inside the cylinder that were cutting slits in the new 0 rings every time i rebuilt it, removed them & got single figure chrono results & full power. I'd push a pellet through the barrel with a rod to check the bore too, might have tight/loose spots.

[Hotrod75]

Hi there t20.
I know its an old thread but how did the mercury come out in the end?
Regards
Jay

[T 20]

Hi there t20.
I know its an old thread but how did the mercury come out in the end?
Regards
Jay

To be perfectly honest, Jay, I haven't touched it since bluing, due to some unforeseen problems.
After having a covid injection in late October which knocked me about a bit I suddenly realised that the sight had deteriorated in my right eye, so I took myself off to Hospital as I thought I had metal in it.
It turned out that I have Cataracts in both eyes and a problem with the optic nerve in my right eye.

So I've put tinkering on hold for the time being, and my shooting may be finished permanently.

I have a piston on my bench to modify for a forum member and I'm not even confident enough in my eyesight to machine that just yet, but bear with me and I'll try to get back at it as soon as possible.






All the best Mick

[nishijin]

To be perfectly honest, Jay, I haven't touched it since bluing, due to some unforeseen problems.
After having a covid injection in late October which knocked me about a bit I suddenly realised that the sight had deteriorated in my right eye, so I took myself off to Hospital as I thought I had metal in it.
It turned out that I have Cataracts in both eyes and a problem with the optic nerve in my right eye.

So I've put tinkering on hold for the time being, and my shooting may be finished permanently.

I have a piston on my bench to modify for a forum member and I'm not even confident enough in my eyesight to machine that just yet, but bear with me and I'll try to get back at it as soon as possible.






All the best Mick

Sorry to hear of your health issues. Jay's thread resurrection really piqued my interest as well.

[T 20]

Sorry to hear of your health issues. Jay's thread resurrection really piqued my interest as well.

No problem.

Unfortunately, I have a few other things going on in my life just now that need my attention more than my guns, but hopefully I'll get back on them sometime.



All the best Mick

[TonyL]

Really sorry to hear of these further issues with your health, Mick.. As a fellow eyesight sufferer I can fully sympathise. Fingers crossed that they can work some magic and improve things for you. I'll give you a ring over the next few days.

[Hotrod75]

Oh man.
I'm really sorry to hear that.
My mother had cataracts removed a few year ago which luckily was successful but scary for us all none the less.
Hopefully you'll be shooting/machining fit soon.
Regards and God speed
Jay

[CapitalBee]

To be perfectly honest, Jay, I haven't touched it since bluing, due to some unforeseen problems.
After having a covid injection in late October which knocked me about a bit I suddenly realised that the sight had deteriorated in my right eye, so I took myself off to Hospital as I thought I had metal in it.
It turned out that I have Cataracts in both eyes and a problem with the optic nerve in my right eye.

So I've put tinkering on hold for the time being, and my shooting may be finished permanently.

I have a piston on my bench to modify for a forum member and I'm not even confident enough in my eyesight to machine that just yet, but bear with me and I'll try to get back at it as soon as possible.






All the best Mick

Mick,
Don't go nicking my avatar...

Obviously, I had a cataract operation after the detached retina malarky. It was very starightforward, fully awake, less than 15 minutes per eye (they do one at a time) and they even correct your eyesight with prescription lenses replacing the cataracted lenses. Hope everything gets sorted for you Mick.

Mark

[T 20]

Oh man.
I'm really sorry to hear that.
My mother had cataracts removed a few year ago which luckily was successful but scary for us all none the less.
Hopefully you'll be shooting/machining fit soon.
Regards and God speed
Jay

Really sorry to hear of these further issues with your health, Mick.. As a fellow eyesight sufferer I can fully sympathise. Fingers crossed that they can work some magic and improve things for you. I'll give you a ring over the next few days.

Mick,
Don't go nicking my avatar...

Obviously, I had a cataract operation after the detached retina malarky. It was very starightforward, fully awake, less than 15 minutes per eye (they do one at a time) and they even correct your eyesight with prescription lenses replacing the cataracted lenses. Hope everything gets sorted for you Mick.

Mark

Cheers lads.

Obviously I'd have preferred not to fess up to my problems on open forum but I also felt you lads deserved an explanation on why I'd gone quiet on this one.




All the best Mick

[VALE BOY]

Guid luck wi any treatment you require Mick and for a satisfactory outcome.

I’ve had issues with my right eye since it was damaged in an accident back in 1984.
Multiple operations over the years including Laser treatment for a detached retina, 2 cataracts including corrective lens insertions, a minuscule valve and pump placement to minimise pressure and a plethora of follow up operations, tweaks and assessments for students as part of their training… I even had recent surgery to remove the wee valve assembly as it was no longer required as my sight in my right eye finally succumbed around 2014.
However, all that treatment including Hospital admissions and treatment etc in 4 different hospitals, possibly around the best part of 100 occasions/appointments in 30 odd years resulted in almost perfect vision in my right eye for about 30 years; the NHS, particularly in Scotland, as far as I’m concerned has been and is, brilliant.
but get this…

Not only did I shoot the ‘Quigley Bucket’ at 75 yards back at your June 2017 Bash, with my .22 Relum Tornado with a cheapo, piddly little 4x28 scope, 5 times out of 8 shots, ‘witnessed’ by ThisisDonald and yourself but… I shot it left-handed as I had to switch from my natural right-handed stance due to my right eye being gubbed for the previous 3 years! Maybe that’s an example of a ‘Double-Negative’ becoming a Positive! ����

A’ the Best,
Graeme ��������