Condor Outdoors shotgun scabbard

[Big Frank]

I bought a Condor Outdoors shotgun scabbard, but I'm not using it for a shotgun at the moment. My 10/22 fit right in there after I took the QD sling off it. If I wand to sling it across my back while I have a different gun in my hands, I can. The scabbard stays put better than the rifle alone does, and it's more comfortable. I took the 4 MOLLE straps off and snapped 2 of them together lengthwise, and it works well to snug down the folding stock and retain the rifle. It's not what I had in mind when I bought the scabbard, but it works better than tying to stick my shotgun in. I would have to take things like the light off to make it fit.

[MAUSERMAN]

I keep my Henry.357 carbine in mine. Makes it easy to carry and pack away. I also keep a Winchester sxp in my other scabbard.

[Big Frank]

My M94 Trapper .44 Magnum goes in deep enough to cover half of the lever, and there's 4" of room past the muzzle. A 20" barrel would fit perfectly.

[Big Frank]

Pix.

The peep sight is a WGRS (Williams Guide Receiver Sight). The rifle's an Angle Eject and the sight mounts to 2 existing holes on top of the receiver. No drilling and tapping needed. The hammer extension is stock, and it's mounted on the left side. The front sight is stock, for now, but will likely be replaced with a Wiliam's FireSight unless I mount a red dot first. The rear sight slot filler is a William's black aluminum one with a set screw in the middle. I found out I can get a profiled steel dovetail slot filler from Ranger Point Precision (RPP). That would look a lot better, so I need to see what other brands are available. The magazine tube was cut down to a half-magazine by yours truly. I measured 4 44. Magnum cartridges laid end to end, cut that much off the back of the tube, and put it back in. That gives me a 5-round tube instead of 9. If I can't hit something with 6 shots, I probably can't hit it with 10. The magazine cap is held by the same screw in the same hole as before, since nothing on the front of the magazine has changed. The sling swivels are Uncle Mike's, at least for now. I may go with QD swivels like all of my other long guns, but it's not a high priority. The buttstock shell holder has elastic loops for 9 more rounds. I replaced the saddle ring with a plug screw. Other than taking that off, mounting the peep sight and cutting down the mag tube, it's basically a stock 1894-1994 Model 94AE saddle ring Trapper carbine with the dates engraved on the right side of the receiver.

Turnbull Restoration makes a Red Dot Mount for Winchester Model 94 and 1892 Receivers with a Docter/Noblex footprint. It's compatible with Vortex Venom, Vortex Viper, Burris FastFire 3 and a bunch of others. They make a Red Dot Mount for Winchester Model 94 and 1892 Barrels with the same footpint. I wanted to get one and put a FastFire 4 on it, but I have a couple of spare red dots, and would rather use one of them. They make a Red Dot Mount for Winchester Model 71 and 1886 Receivers, too. They made a mount for Winchester Model 94 and 1892 Barrels with a Trijicon RMR mounting standard, but quit making it. They aren't likely to ever make a mount to fit my SIG Romeo and other red dot sights that share the Aimpoint Micro mounting standard, but may make a Picatinny Rail barrel mount sometime. If they do, they'll let me know. I'm not sure I want a dot on an adaptor to fit the rail. That adds an extra layer of height and complexity.

https://rangerpointstore.com/rifle-barrel-3-8-dovetail-filler-blanks

https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/red-dot-mounts/

[Big Frank]

I remembered something last night that was added after my '94 Trapper left the factory. I had a Pachmayr white line recoil pad installed at William's. I can handle the recoil of a .44 Magnum pistol, but the same ammo in the lightweight carbine hurts my shoulder. At least it didn't have a steel crescent buttplate like on my dad's .30-30. He said that gun kicked harder than his .30-06. Even before my arthritis got bad, I thought it felt like shooting slugs in my Remington (1100-ish) 12 gauge. I also had a pad put on my shotgun, but it's a non-ventilated one without the white line. Nuttin' fancy on that gun.

[Sponsor]

[MAUSERMAN]

I sold my marlin 45/70 stupidly because I hurt my labrum. Should put a pad on it first. The recoil was killer. Now I can’t find a 45/70 lever gun for under 1500$

[Big Frank]

You tore your cartilage? Ow! That's still probably better than not having any cartilage left.

I thought the .444 Marlin sounded like a good caliber, but I wanted a .375 Winchester. Not a Big Bore rifle but a T/C Contender barrel. It used to be a standard offering, and custom barrels were made in .38-55 Winchester, its parent caliber. It would be nice if it shot both. I always thought a .375 Winchester case cut down to magnum length would be a great revolver caliber. It's bigger than .357 Magnum but 5 rounds would fit in a 6 round .357 cylinder with .018" of room to spare between the rims. And in a .41 Magnum/.44 Magnum/.45 Colt size gun, it would be 6 shots. .The rim diameter is ..008" smaller than a .44 Magnum and the base diameter is .037" smaller. Since the max chamber pressure is 55,000 psi instead of 40,600 psi, it could be loaded hot and at a higher velocity with 200-220 grain bullets.

[Big Frank]

Regarding my previous post about the .375 Winchester, .375 and .475 calibers always appealed to me. The .375s are halfway between a .35 and .40 caliber (and halfway between .30 and .45). And .475 is halfway between .45 and .50, but it's not a compromise. I would much rather have a .475 Wildey Magnum than a .45 Winchester Magnum or a .50 Action Express. Any of the other Wildey Magnums based on a .475 necked down would also be awesome to own, except you need to handload them. AFAIK , no one has ever made ammo for them, but .475 is/was available from a couple of "boutique" ammo producers. Wikipedia lists .50 AE at 1,600 ft⋅lbs for the most powerful load on the chart, a 300 grain Gold Dot from a 6" barrel. And .45 win. Mag is only 1,307 ft⋅lbs with a 230 grain Underwood JHP, the weight it was it was designed to use. But the .475 Wildey Mag. kicks both their butts at 1,900 ft⋅lbs with a 250 grain SP from a 10" barrel(?), 300 ft-lbs MORE than the .50 AE!

[Big Frank]

I finally tried putting a shotgun in my shotgun scabbard. I had to take the cheap Harbor Freight flashlight off the left side, then tried cramming my 12 gauge shotgun in. It went as far at the sidesaddle and extended bolt handle. I yoinked the bolt handle out and was able to shove it in. If I didn't have the sidesaddle on the receiver I think it would have fit really well. It definitely would with a standard bolt handle which takes less than half a minute to change. It will also fit a flattop AR with no optic mounted. I stuck mine in up to the front scope mount. If you wanted to carry a spare upper, like a 20" while you're using a 16" upper, it would work great. You'd just need a QD scope mount for the long barrel and another QD mount for a red dot on the short barrel. You could carry the spare optic in your pack so it won't get smashed up. That's already a common practice for some people. When I put my shotgun all the way into the scabbard the front sight hung up deep inside, going in and out. I had a thread lodged firmly between the back of the blade and ramp, but was able to pull it out with just my fingers. A regular shotgun bead wouldn't hang up like my rifle style ramp on top of the rib does.

If you have a shotgun without a light, and with a plain shotgun bead, or a lower mounted bead like an XS Big Dot on it, it should work great. I put my Olight PL-3S Valkyrie on instead of the free HF flashlight. The 3-position adjustment on the lug allowed me perfectly center it on the 3-slot Pic rail of the Strike Shotgun Barrel Clamp. And I can hit the top and bottom switchs with my forefinger and thumb by pulling my thumb away from the forend. The Strike Shotgun Barrel Clamp sticks out far enough to mount a light with a big head on it. I have a half inch clearance. Hitting both momentary/regular on switches goes directly to the 1,000 lumens strobe. I torqued it down to 15 inch-pounds with my F.A.T. Wrench, which seemed like a bit too much, but 10 isn't enough. I used a Sharpie to black out most of the markings, everything except the little part that tells you lefty loosey/righty tighty, which is smaller and close to the gun. I like the subdued look a lot better on my all black and blued gun. I'll take a picture or three if anyone wants to see it.

[Rastus]

I sold my marlin 45/70 stupidly because I hurt my labrum. Should put a pad on it first. The recoil was killer. Now I can’t find a 45/70 lever gun for under 1500$

I kinda feel your pain.  I bought a 450 Marlin back around 2000 or so.  I shoulda woulda have bought a 45-70 and I could have run full power loads in it but seeing the 450 new in the store I had to have it...so I got it but I wish I had a 45-70 instead.  Kicks like a mule...2-3 rounds is OK...more than that becomes a chore.  After 5 rounds I'm done.