Need Info on Old Benchrester/gunsmith

[snert]

Snert, who's Becky?

Becky Sinclair...sorry....Fred's wife.

 

[Michael Huebner]

I am trying to do some research on a gunsmith/machinist/early benchrester named Ross Sherman, from Dryden NY. He had some involvements with Hart and with Shilen, I think, doing DGA work maybe. Any old photos, information, stories,leads or reference articles would be helpful. Thanks in advance,

Snert

I believe Ross Sherman made a couple of the bullet die sets that Jeff Fowler was using. Pretty sure these dies are in Australia as a friend of mine had one of the sets and when he passed away due to cancer I sold them for his wife. They were still making great bullets - who knows how many those dies had made.
Cheers
Michael

 

[butchlambert]

I believe Ross Sherman made a couple of the bullet die sets that Jeff Fowler was using. Pretty sure these dies are in Australia as a friend of mine had one of the sets and when he passed away due to cancer I sold them for his wife. They were still making great bullets - who knows how many those dies had made.
Cheers
Michael

Hello mate, been a long time!

 

[bsekf]

Snert, please take the time to get all this history into something savable, so it is not lost.

In the 50's and 60's I used to hang out in Rixford, PA at Taylor and Robbins gun shop. Clair and Don made a few nice rifles! Most everybody is gone now and so is a lot of the history.

Bill

 

[Michael Huebner]

Hello mate, been a long time!

I am going well Butch. My 3 x boys are keeping me busy and I get to compete occasionally at the odd Benchrest Match.

 

[snert]

Snert, please take the time to get all this history into something savable, so it is not lost.

In the 50's and 60's I used to hang out in Rixford, PA at Taylor and Robbins gun shop. Clair and Don made a few nice rifles! Most everybody is gone now and so is a lot of the history.

Bill

I have a poorly written (I was in a hurry) packet that includes PS articles, letters from BR shooters who knew Sherman and a record of my conversations with Jim Hart and the guys at Hart Rifle Barrels, plus the location (no printed names published for privacy) of owners of about 10 Superiors. Also a copy of a newspaper article on Ross from the mid 1980's. It was fascinating as it covered his background as musician, car sales, entrepenuer, machinist and advisor to the US Army on rifling for the Springfield.

 

[Maxden]

He made neck turners (Little Shavers), rod guides (bore savers), bullet spinners, primer pocket cleaners (crocagators), strongbacks for a couple of different receivers, trigger guards, Neck Sizing Dies, Seating Dies. Sold Parker-Hale Cleaning Rods (which I still have 3 or 4), sold Helios Dial Calipers, Dial Indicators (.0001"), jewelers screwdrivers, stock finish, bore cleaner, rawhide mallets, JB (Jim Brobst) Bench Rest Pedestals, sizing lubricant, etc. He was located at Clinton Corners, New York. He was a fine person.

Indeed he was. I shot at his SNOBALL LEAGUE match held in Clinton Corners, NY. PROBABLY CIRCA 1964-5. He looked like a famous actor of the period and smoked a pipe. Also, he repaired Lugers

 

[snert]

Quick update:

Becky's rifle, #7, is shooting incredibly well (at least for a guy like me) and of all things, so far after trying BArts, Eubers, Conoways, and some No Names, the best groups are coming with...gasp...55 grain NBT.

Sadly, the owner of #31, my dear friend Bud Morse, passed away last summer. I did his funeral which was a great honor. His gun has passed to his grandson. He is a good kid.

 

[Maxden]

UPDATE
Thanks to all who have responded. I have unearthed some great info, and now have in my temporary possession an undocumented but serialized Superior rifle (#31) in 222, with a HArt BBl. It is the very rifle pictured on cover Precision Shooting, Vol 29, No5, Sept 1983. I have about 100 of Shermans bullets, 53 Gr HP match. i intend to do a "Then and Now" comparison of bullets and optics on the rifle as soon as our weather clears. This should be a great "time capsule" endeavor, because though the bbl is a sporter, it is my hope that i can gain some appreciation of the action that won many BR events in the early 60's. I am hopeful that I can produce an article that would be accepted at PS.

Snert

Any updates?

 

[snert]

No updates as far as #31 or an article. As mentioned I have #5 and #7. I shot #5, a 6x50 in the recent Dust off your Duece and wildcats match. After Jan 1 we will have those results.

I have been busy on other stuff...like getting older, marrying off the offspring, etc.

 

[snert]

Ross Sherman, BR HOF photo


#7, Fred Sinclair's Superior in 22/6mm PPC


Becky Sinclair's #5 Superior, stock by Fred, barrel more recent by Bibs Machine, Greeley CO, 6x50 RWS Mag.

For those interested, Ross is holding #31, his personal rifle, with a turned down (and painted black!) Hart in 222, stock of Japanese Yamma wood, a groundhog rifle. I shot that rifle with the original weaver scope and at 75 yards it shot touching. I put a 6.5-20 Leupold on the bases and something wasn't right. I couldn't dial enough windage into it to get it on paper. Not sure if I goofed or if Ross did and then built in some windage to his rings? Either way, the gun shot great using some 53 grain bullets he made on his dies.

 

[snert]

I was fooling around with #5 and shot at these "flies" . I honestly think the misses were induced by the shooter, not the gun

 

[snert]

6x50 27 gr h322, 66 gr Cheek. 6 rounds