I love Ballard Rifles, they are classic single shots from the golden age of target shooting. I am always on the look out for Ballards, especially projects that I can restore.
#4 Ballard 38-55
A good friend of mine in Manitoba knew this and found a pile of Ballard parts at a gunshow and picked them up for me. It included a forged steel frame that was rusty and missing and most parts but was a good starting point.
The rifle didn’t come with breech block assembly or lever but the one from my original Pacific fit perfectly. Now I use the block for both rifles. The good news is it is only 1 screw to take out to change them. I had to make an extractor as the pacific is 40-85 and that has a different rim size. The Barrel was made using a TJ liner 1:14 twist and the outside of the barrel was DOM tubing that I machined to an half octagon. The wood came from Windsor plywood. It has a bark inclusion but I filled that and it looks great. The rifle shoots so well it has quickly became my favorite BPCR rifle.
#3 Ballard 22 (My first one)
I purchased this rifle online via gunnutz and it was extremely rough. The buttstock was badly beaten, the barrel beaten and rusted beyond repair and so on. But I brought it back to life and it is now my favourite 22 for long range shooting.
Antique Rifle Restorations by the Gun Doctor 