CaptainBeaky

I had considered that, but the metal is an unknown aluminium alloy, so I wasn't confident about welding into it (never fine ally welding before, either). As getting a replacement block is a near-impossibility, I thought this method was somewhat safer!

The Higgins trigger block has been repaired - it now has new ears 😁 Photos in my New Ears thread over on the DIY section Tomorrow, I shall go and shoot with it...

So, having stripped down the Higgins model 20 to see what horrors lay within, I discovered that the two little "ears" that locate the front of the trigger block had been broken off by a previous ham-fisted idiot, sorry, enthusiastic owner... This resulted in noticeable vertical movement of the trigger mechanism - disconcerting, if not actually dangerous. I had considered making up a spacer to lock the trigger block into the frame, but in a flush of inspiration it occurred to me to use metal repair putty... Cleaned the broken ends Drilled for supporting pegs Pegs fitted (1.6 mm welding rod) Putty applied Pegs shaped Polished down and reassembled No movement in the trigger mech, and the action is as slick as before

Complete and utter bovine excretion! Codeine is present as the analgesic, paracetamol is present as an anti-pyretic (fever-reducer) - it's not really a painkiller as such. It's difficult to o/d on codeine, and it probably won't kill you. If you o/d with co-codamol, liver failure from the paracetamol is what they will put on the death certificate, but that is NOT the reason for it's presence.

Double post!

Thanks, Roland - enjoy the show! If I don't get out to shoot this weekend, it will be my last chance until December, as I'm working every weekend until then 😨

Change of plan on replacing the "ears" on the Higgins' trigger block: If metal putty can mend the cylinder block on a car engine, it should be strong enough to fabricate some non-load-bearing locating lugs... A quick exercise of my Google-fu turned up some stuff called Quiksteel, which also comes in aluminium flavour, looks like being an adequate material (as per the engine block mentioned above). It arrives tomorrow, cast tomorrow evening, file to shape Friday evening, take it to Hawley on Saturday and shoot it! Photos will appear when I have done the deed 😁

You have every right to be proud

Thanks for that, Mark - that Imperial model does look nice, although perhaps it loses the somewhat agricultural charm of the standard models Fixing the broken lugs by drilling and tapping the receiver does, I fear, reveal a complete absence of style!

Aren't all model 12's take-down?

I think the meal of this tale is, "Don't DIY!"

Hold gun in right hand, load with left. Cartridges in left pocket.

Thanks all. Took it apart last night (having been reading up on it all week...) Too late on the locating lugs on the trigger group - some muppet has already broken them off :( Still, not a load bearing part, so I will groove the front corners of the trigger block and make up a separate locking lug in a sort of H shape. Action was quite sticky when I picked it up from Chateau Bosher, hence the strip down. Having removed all the rcap, including some oil that had made transition to varnish, and re-lubricated everything, it now does the "push the action release and it opens all the way under it's own weight" thing The batch number gives a delivery date to Sears of 11/6/1956, and it is a plain (no rib) barrel, full choke. I had planned on a quick visit to Hawley on the way home, but time and the M11 conspired against me - maybe next weekend. I'm certainly looking forward to shooting it 😀

I have succumbed...

Another vote for Justin - he's very good, tutorials are well paced and easy to follow. He has a set of "absolute beginner" tutorials on his site as well.

In Nevada, they have a "none of the above" option on the ballot form, apparently!

Signed

This... Be the secretive philanthropist, but keep schtum - make any donations via solicitors who will keep their corporate trap firmly shut.

Interesting - the profanity filter didn't like the MP 155! The reason your mag cap comes off is possibly that the previous owner has shortened the thread on the mag tube to fit an extension. A couple of the extensions that fit have shorter nuts than the original, so don't lock down onto the forend. Or it may just be that your mag cap is worn York Guns may still have some spares as well. The problem is political, not mechanical...

We know you don't like them, but please cite your source for this information.

Here you go: https://softwaregeeks.co.uk/product/windows-7-home-premium-3264bit-product-key-coa/ My mistake - £15

You can get win 7 for about £13 online - search for Software Geeks. If you're currently on Vista, don't even think about 10. In fact, even if you're on Windows 8, still don't!

A feral or even semi-feral tom will roam over a 5-7 mile radius - is it further than this from anywhere a cat might be living?

Interesting that the announcement of the cull coincides with the granting of some major gas drilling contracts...

Well done!