Need Info on Old Benchrester/gunsmith
- Thread starter snert
- Start date
Yes, Don Geraci is still kicking. He lives in Independence, LA.....across Lake Ponchatrain from New Orleans. I live in northeast LA near Monroe. Don still shoots a little short range Br, but has taken up rimfire, long range shooting and prairie dog shooting. I don't see him very often but talk to him occassionally via telephone. James
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I am very happy with the various responses to my initial question regarding Ross and his actions. I am revisiting this post to update. I have located four rifles including Ross's personal rifle he used for woodchucks in Dryden NY. I have sent several PM's to people who have posted here. Thank you all for any help you can offer. I am also collecting articles, photos and memories of Ross or Superior action rifles. Anyone who can help is welcomed to PM me.
I too was working on an article that had some promise of publication in Precision Shooting. It was about Henry Christman, a bench rest shooter who appeared in Nosler ads in 1981. It is too bad we no longer have an outlet for articles that don't interest the more commercial national magazines. I am hopeful the IBS will vote to put their results in Precision Rifleman, as published by NBRSA, and that perhaps the combined magazine will begin to publish a few articles. Fortunately, I have been able to acquire a lot of Precision Shooting back issues and so 30 years of good information is not lost to me. As a bench rest "newbie" I'm soaking up as much as I can. We all owe Dave Brennan a debt of gratitude for keeping that publication going as long as he did and for covering such a wide range of interesting and important topics.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Ok, back to the thread...
Update: Several owners of Superior action rifles have PM'd me. I will be following up with them, seeking photos and info. I will be keeping the names of owners private, as well as location (no need to let anyone know what you really have!) but I am interested in any history, old articles, Ross Sherman related equipment, bullet dies, etc etc. So if you have any of these things, and are willing to help me compile info or photos, I would greatly appreciate it. Don't really have an explanation for my interest except that Ross was active in a community close by, and one of his old buddies is a good friend of mine. My friend pestered me for years to show interest in a Sherman rifle he now owns, and I stupidly (pridefully?) ignored him, until a few years ago and I lost my dad. That made me realize that eye-witnesses to the 50's and 60's benchrest era were passing on. So began my quest. Any help would be appreciated.
Snert
Update: Several owners of Superior action rifles have PM'd me. I will be following up with them, seeking photos and info. I will be keeping the names of owners private, as well as location (no need to let anyone know what you really have!) but I am interested in any history, old articles, Ross Sherman related equipment, bullet dies, etc etc. So if you have any of these things, and are willing to help me compile info or photos, I would greatly appreciate it. Don't really have an explanation for my interest except that Ross was active in a community close by, and one of his old buddies is a good friend of mine. My friend pestered me for years to show interest in a Sherman rifle he now owns, and I stupidly (pridefully?) ignored him, until a few years ago and I lost my dad. That made me realize that eye-witnesses to the 50's and 60's benchrest era were passing on. So began my quest. Any help would be appreciated.
Snert
i met Ross in the late 60's, when i was living in Rochester and shooting br. Clyde had just completed his "new" factory for Hart bbls, and he, Bob Hart, Mike Walker, Jerry Hart and Wally Hart had an opening picknic on the grounds at their home as the plant was just down the hill from Clyde's home.
later Ross chambered a hiWall for me in 225win, that was a very very good shooter. some time after that i had him make me some punch dies for a set of Dietch 6mm dies i had they were perfect.
as i remember he was making the carbide buttons for rifling of the Hart bbls and did some of their custom work. Clyde had refered me to Ross for the work on the hiWall.
quite a gentleman.
Bob
later Ross chambered a hiWall for me in 225win, that was a very very good shooter. some time after that i had him make me some punch dies for a set of Dietch 6mm dies i had they were perfect.
as i remember he was making the carbide buttons for rifling of the Hart bbls and did some of their custom work. Clyde had refered me to Ross for the work on the hiWall.
quite a gentleman.
Bob
JamesinAsheville
Silver $$ Contributor
I have 2 sets of bullet dies that I can get pictures of if you want themsnert said:
"We do?"
I'm not going to get into personalities here. Not everyone is going to like someone or what they do, so I suppose it was presumptuous of me to speak for everyone. Let's just say that some of us are grateful for the man's 30 years of effort. You can get a huge amount of information online these days. However, having an editor who is extremely knowledgeable about shooting to winnow out the chaff is quite valuable. Sure, the articles became generally less interesting of late, but a publication is only as good as what is submitted to it. I am happy that I have a pile of magazines with articles from people like Mike Walker, Creighton Audette and Seely Masker. A lot of that material is just as pertinent today as when it was published. I have been saddened that the only comments I have read online about the demise of PS are of the mindset "where are we going to publish our results now?" After I have given my life to a trade, I would hope to get more of a sendoff than "don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out."
I'm not going to get into personalities here. Not everyone is going to like someone or what they do, so I suppose it was presumptuous of me to speak for everyone. Let's just say that some of us are grateful for the man's 30 years of effort. You can get a huge amount of information online these days. However, having an editor who is extremely knowledgeable about shooting to winnow out the chaff is quite valuable. Sure, the articles became generally less interesting of late, but a publication is only as good as what is submitted to it. I am happy that I have a pile of magazines with articles from people like Mike Walker, Creighton Audette and Seely Masker. A lot of that material is just as pertinent today as when it was published. I have been saddened that the only comments I have read online about the demise of PS are of the mindset "where are we going to publish our results now?" After I have given my life to a trade, I would hope to get more of a sendoff than "don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out."
Ross Sherman of Dryden NY
Ross was set up in Dryden as you know He made the rifling broaches for the Springfield rifles for Uncle Sam, during WW2
He also did a lot of contract work for the government at that time. after the war Ross made tooling for Remington arms.
Ross made the rifling buttons for Remington and later Clyde Hart of Hart rifle Barrels. Ross was an avid wood chuck shooter and had over 5,000 to his credit.
He kept a log book on the count. Ross was also a wonder die maker and made bullet making dies on special request.
Ross also Had Ed Shillen working with him for a while Ed later moved on to John Dewey at Clinton corners NY. SSD [shooter service dewey}
Ross Sherman was married and was a widower for quite some time . He took a liking to Steve Borsh as I remember Great Friends
Steve was Good friend of Ross and worked along side of him on a few Personal projects in later years.
Ross tout Jack Sutton How to make his own buttons shortly before his death.
I mat Ross a few time very nice person.
Ross was set up in Dryden as you know He made the rifling broaches for the Springfield rifles for Uncle Sam, during WW2
He also did a lot of contract work for the government at that time. after the war Ross made tooling for Remington arms.
Ross made the rifling buttons for Remington and later Clyde Hart of Hart rifle Barrels. Ross was an avid wood chuck shooter and had over 5,000 to his credit.
He kept a log book on the count. Ross was also a wonder die maker and made bullet making dies on special request.
Ross also Had Ed Shillen working with him for a while Ed later moved on to John Dewey at Clinton corners NY. SSD [shooter service dewey}
Ross Sherman was married and was a widower for quite some time . He took a liking to Steve Borsh as I remember Great Friends
Steve was Good friend of Ross and worked along side of him on a few Personal projects in later years.
Ross tout Jack Sutton How to make his own buttons shortly before his death.
I mat Ross a few time very nice person.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Thanks Gerry.
I have completed interviews with most remaining associates, except those in Texas. Located burial site. Interviewed those who knew him.
I have one of the rifles here now. May buy it. I have located several others and two have sold as a result of this posting, changing hands from shooters who have retired them to younger guys with an interest in history. Still looking for any others. Found #31, #17, #7, and several actions.
Am still interested in copies of any logs, records, articles etc.
Snert
I have completed interviews with most remaining associates, except those in Texas. Located burial site. Interviewed those who knew him.
I have one of the rifles here now. May buy it. I have located several others and two have sold as a result of this posting, changing hands from shooters who have retired them to younger guys with an interest in history. Still looking for any others. Found #31, #17, #7, and several actions.
Am still interested in copies of any logs, records, articles etc.
Snert
1. I have been friends with Alan Hall for about thirty-five years now. Alan was partners with Ed Shilen many years ago, and designed the DGA action. Which stands for Damned Good Action. He and El parted company one Christmas Eve so that each could focus on what interested them the most. Ed with barrels, Alan with actions. Both seem to have done rather well.
2. I was under the impression that Mike Walker had invented the button rifling process early at the onset of WWII. He also designed the 7XX series of Remington actions. That from talking with him at the Super Shoot one summer.
I'm 70, and I may be the youngest of that generation from Precision Shooting Magazine before it deteriorated about 2000 (+/-) when the Irishman tried to do a couple magazines. Too much work, even for a man of his skills.
Seeley Masker was one of my heroes. He and a few others were so incensed over the Russian Assault Cartridge that he did his own wildcat, the 6mm SM Wasp. He and Dave Tooley and a few others convinced Federal to produce the 30 American basic case. It fared well, but too many preferred the ease of forming the 6PPC to the work involved making the 6SM.
They were giants in those days...
2. I was under the impression that Mike Walker had invented the button rifling process early at the onset of WWII. He also designed the 7XX series of Remington actions. That from talking with him at the Super Shoot one summer.
I'm 70, and I may be the youngest of that generation from Precision Shooting Magazine before it deteriorated about 2000 (+/-) when the Irishman tried to do a couple magazines. Too much work, even for a man of his skills.
Seeley Masker was one of my heroes. He and a few others were so incensed over the Russian Assault Cartridge that he did his own wildcat, the 6mm SM Wasp. He and Dave Tooley and a few others convinced Federal to produce the 30 American basic case. It fared well, but too many preferred the ease of forming the 6PPC to the work involved making the 6SM.
They were giants in those days...
My father purchased a rifle made by shilen and sherman many years ago. There was an article somewhere talking about this specific rifle. It is a 22-250 with a unertl scope on it. I still have the rifle and some of the original ammunition these guys made. I believe it was put together in or around 1957 which is before the cartridge existed. 
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Looks to be a Mauser. Pic is a little dim.
Yes it is based off a mauser action. I will take some time to get some better pictures
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Looks good!
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Updating this thread:
I now own #5 and #7 Superior ifles. Both were "updated" to Chet Brown/Lee Six stocks in 1980 by Fred Sinclair. Becky painted #7 with Old Yellar 3rd on the side. It was opened from a 222 to a PPC bolt face. I have two Sinclair barrels in 22 PPC for it. #5 was Becky's heavy gun and is chambered in 6x50 (from the RWS 5.6x50M).
#31 has passed on to another caretaker in Cortland NY after the recent passing of my dear friend Bud Morse, friend of Ross Sherman and certified gun nut.
Still on the lookout for other Superiors.
I now own #5 and #7 Superior ifles. Both were "updated" to Chet Brown/Lee Six stocks in 1980 by Fred Sinclair. Becky painted #7 with Old Yellar 3rd on the side. It was opened from a 222 to a PPC bolt face. I have two Sinclair barrels in 22 PPC for it. #5 was Becky's heavy gun and is chambered in 6x50 (from the RWS 5.6x50M).
#31 has passed on to another caretaker in Cortland NY after the recent passing of my dear friend Bud Morse, friend of Ross Sherman and certified gun nut.
Still on the lookout for other Superiors.
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