calling all Gallagher shooters

[kowdok]

Two teammates have new reproduction Erma Gallaghers. We need advice on specific bullets that will perform well in this gun. The twist and lands and grooves are amazing. Think I was told twist was something like 1 in 13 and looks like 10 plus lands and grooves. Also could use advice on powder load and where and how much new brass costs. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. If you want to email me directly, this is Jim Rogers, jjjrogers@abts.net.

[Steve Weems]

Over the years I have had a couple of these very well built carbines. I was never happy with them till I had Hoyt reline with traditional rifling— you just can not overcome that fast rifling. Also use the hottest caps you can find to ensure good ignition. The old CCI 0300’s were excellent but I believe RWS is now the way to go. Lodgewood and S&S should have the brass. I have heard some Gallagher shooters have chambers set up for Smith type cases which are way cheaper and use Smith/Maynard Type bullets. good luck to your teammates.

[JW 5875V]

My wife shoots one:
Very accurate.
Rapine 540300 mold
Soft lead
Size .535
40 gr. 3F with a styrofoam wad.
Styrofoam sheet is from vinyl siding under layment.
Used a 30/06 case with hole drilled out in
pocket primer for a nail to push out cut wads.
Cut case off below shoulder.
I place it in drill press, cut 5 wads, remove and push out wads,
repeat till you have enough for loading or just make a large batch.

Been planning to see if harder lead "Wheel weights" make a difference as some carbine shooters are doing.

JW 5875V Allegheny City Guards

[Jim Wimbish, 10395]

I had an Erma Gallager with the 'machine gun' rifling. Like any fast twist barrel, you had to use hard lead. I had the Rapine heeled bullet and could get it to shoot somewhat at 50 but couldn't hit much beside the backstop at 100. So I gave it to Bobby Hoyt to reline. I used a .516 Smith bullet in the Gallager cases and around 36 grains of powder and it shot like a Smith, meaning it could hit targets at both 50 and 100 yards with consistency. By greasing the bottom of the chamber, I was able to get the first round to go off, and didn't have problems with the rounds after that. You will need a somewhat larger flash hole, however. Sold mine years ago and would rate it below the Maynard, Smith, or Sharps as a skirmish gun. I still have all three of those that I can shoot in matches.

[gemmer]

Bob Hoyt relined my Erma to 3 groove .515 groove diameter. I use Lee's Smith .518 cast 30/1 with SPG lube. 35 gr Swiss 3F and corn meal filler in a Gallagher case. No modifications to the touch hole. Getting the reline was a smart move. Shoots better than I can hold at 50 yards with 67 year old eyes. I love my Gallagher.