22 gallery practice rifle

[usmc0302]

I just acquired an1898 22 gallery practice rifle in 95% condition, but someone replaced the 22 barrel with the original SA 30 caliber barrel. Everything is correct for the rifle except for the barrel.
What is the chance of finding a correct 22 barrel?

[usmc0302]

Serial number is 477077.

[Dick Hosmer]

Off the top of my head, NOT good at all. Of course, I once found a stock for an 1884 experimental rod-bayonet trapdoor, so miracles do happen.

It MIGHT be practical to have a liner put in - of course you would have to mimic the Pope system (barrel offset high at breech) since duplicating the SA extractor plate design would not be worth the expense. However, it then would not be "right", so you'd STILL have a problem. Hope you didn't pay any premium for the rifle, because, basically, you have a .30-40 - worse yet if you really want to get depressed, you do not even have a "correct" .30-40.

Please note that the above is NOT intended to be mean-spirited, simply a reinforcement of the #1 rule in acquiring "rare" guns. KNOW what you are looking at and ask questions BEFORE you buy. If I'd had the chance, I'd have advised against the purchase, unless you would be getting a significant discount for the mismatch.

[RetiredArmy]

I agree. Slim to none. I have never seen one for sale.

RA

[sdkrag]

I know a fellow who bought one in a bundle of barrels on an auction. His dad bought the .30 cal. Krag with the matching action at the same sale. Thus a complete .22 Gallery practice rifle.

[amber]

Zero

[Kragrifle]

Is there any interest in selling this rifle?

[John Sukey]

Am I missing something? A .30 calibre barrel with a rimfire bolt??? they must have replaced the bolt as well

[Dick Hosmer]

Bolt isn't rimfire - bore was offset at the breech. High at the Pope-barreled variant, extractor used normally. Low at the SA version, with an awful Rube Goldberg (do I date myself or what?) spring-loaded extractor plate.