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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Posted: March/10/2016 at 13:22 |
I recently picked up an interesting new rifle and thought I'd share with my fellow OT'ers.
It's the Big Horn Armory Model 89, in .500 S&W. For those unfamiliar with BHA, they are a new company out of Cody, WY who manufactures a line of lever action rifles that are an interesting blend of "old" and "new." I first heard about BHA a couple years ago, when they began placing ads for their Model 89 in gun magazines. I was intrigued by their concept but for at least 2 years after their announcement, actual rifles were nowhere to be found. I sorta wrote this gun off as a unicorn and moved on with life, skeptical of whether it would ever be available, while at the same time keeping my eyes and ears open on the gun auction sites. I finally located a nice one about 3 weeks ago, my sickness took hold, and it found a loving home. At first glance, the rifle looks just like a Winchester 1886 when you look at the loading gate design and receiver contours. Yet it's a little smaller than the '86, but larger than a Winchester '92. The '92 action is too small to accommodate the .500 S&W, and the '86 too large. Neither is designed to handle the 60K psi max pressure of the .500. So, rather than produce an exact reproduction of an existing classic lever action and attempting to engineer it to accept higher pressures than the design permits, BHA instead created their own action halfway between the size of the '92 and '86 (hence the reason for the "Model 89" designation), out of a superior steel. The result of their efforts is a unique action that looks like a scaled down Winchester '86, built entirely out of CNC machined 17-4 PH stainless, which has very high tensile strength. BHA offers 2 versions of the 89, a "carbine" version with 18" barrel and 7-shot tube magazine, and a "rifle" version with 22" barrel and 5-shot magazine. The standard version of either has natural matte stainless finish with a decent grade of uncheckered American walnut stock and forend. They also offer a "hunter black" finish, which is the same salt-bath black nitride finish used on many guns today as a better wearing, more corrosion resistant alternative to bluing. BHA also offers wood upgrades and checkering, as well as different front sight designs as options. The rear sight is a special Marble's aperture sight specifically made for this rifle. They also offer both carbine and rifle models in a Model 90 version in .460 S&W. My M89 is the "rifle" version with the "hunter black" finish, wood upgrade, checkering, and fiber optic front sight. It is extremely well-made, with great fit and finish and parts mated to tight tolerances. Again, it's a beautifully executed blend of nostalgia and modern manufacturing. Here she is: Note the rear aperture sight is attached directly to the bolt. Having the sight mounted on a moving component is rather odd, but bolt to receiver fit is very tight, and it does make for a very "clean" setup, without any protrusions from the side of the receiver... The forearm has a nice swell in the center, providing a secure grip and good feel in the support hand... The action is tight, but it operates very smoothly. Like some other lever actions, you have to work the lever "like you mean it," or you may get a misfeed. I never had any misfeeds as long as I cycled the lever quickly. The front sling swivel stud is machined integrally into the forend cap, a nice touch... I've now had 3 range sessions with it. It shoots great! This is a typical rested 5-shot group at 50 yards. Not bad for open sights, where the front sight completely covers the target. As for recoil, full house 450 gr loads can be a bit salty (feels about like a .375 H&H), but 300 - 350 gr loads aren't bad at all. The rifle's 8 lb weight and its thick recoil pad make it relatively pleasant to shoot. One can expect 400-500 fps velocity increase out of the .500 S&W fired from the M89 vs a revolver length barrel! Before anyone asks... no, I'm not going to scope it! It shoots plenty well enough for the purpose I have in mind for it: a potent close range feral hog thumper. Plus, I think a scope spoils the classic appeal and handling qualities of a rifle like this, not to mention it has nice open sights. My only complaint is the loading gate provides minimal clearance for the rounds, so inserting rounds is a tricky exercise for my big, clumsy thumb. If I had to load this rifle multiple times in quick succession, my thumb would be sore for sure! So there you have it: beauty and brawn! A 450 grain bullet leaving the muzzle at around 1800+ fps packs quite a wallop! Overall, I think Big Horn Armory hit a grand slam home run with this rifle! |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Very sexy! Man, those hogs are gonna hate it.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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Beautiful Stick!
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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Very cool. So I gotta ask, are they really $3500 smackers?
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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No, not even close. I paid $2600 for mine.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The bidness end...
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I would like one in .454 casull, that would be cool.
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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That is a beautiful gun Ted. It is very interesting they mount the sight to the bolt. I understand why you would not mount a scope on it. But also because I never much liked scopes on top eject Winchesters.
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Doug
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Steelbenz
Optics Jedi Knight ROLL TIDE ROLL Joined: January/03/2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Status: Offline Points: 5153 |
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Jeez! With the barrel on that thing I'm hearing "up 200 left 50 fire for effect" LOL!
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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"
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Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
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Stunning Ted
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Regards Chris
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Gorgeous!!!
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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Marine24
Optics Journeyman Joined: June/07/2010 Location: Monument, CO Status: Offline Points: 687 |
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Very nice. Great to see manufacture's adding beautiful wood to lever guns in big bore calibers. I have a Steve's Gunz Rossi 92 in 454 Casull but their Model 90 carbine looks very tempting.
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Sparky
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: July/15/2007 Location: SD Status: Offline Points: 4569 |
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Very nice!!
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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That is beautiful… does it, perchance, come in 45/70? Very aggressive grain… It is reminiscent of the custom 30-06 (in wood quality) I sold years ago. I've always regretted getting rid of that rifle… it was the "prettiest" I've ever owned. I wouldn't do it again….
Well, I went and looked… .500S&W, .460S&W, .454 Casull. .500 looks like a very good choice... |
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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urbaneruralite
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 479 |
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Schweet!
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Ted, the next step is a Turnbull.
😎 |
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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I saw this thread yesterday just after Ted posted it, but didn't have time to comment, but that is a beautiful rifle. I like that it's a miniaturized 1886 Winchester action, it just seems cool for the big revolver rounds. Can't say I'm crazy about the rear sight, but I also don't like scopes on lever actions either. As It's set up though, it is a handy rifle, and it just fits Ted, and Ted is RifleDude.
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Online Points: 11200 |
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Ted (RifleDude) does have a reputation to uphold! Sweet stick to be sure.
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Thanks, guys. You know Lynn, I wasn't real crazy about the rear sight either initially, but it's grown on me. Mounting the sight directly on the top of the bolt is weird and unconventional to say the least, but I certainly like the fact It doesn't involve the base being mounted on the side of the receiver, as is usually the case on aperture sights for lever actions. This makes for a cleaner, more low profile setup with minimal protrusions. Having the aperture that far back also keeps the sight radius as long as possible, which improves aiming precision. It works, and the rifle shoots well, so I guess that's ultimately what matters.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
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Ted You know I fell in love when I saw the stock. Beautiful rifle!
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Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.
Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow Now the rules have changed again. |
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