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MEACHAM HIGHWALL RIFLE OPERATION AND CARE MANUAL

SAFETY WARNINGS

All Meacham Highwall actions, barreled actions and complete rifles are intended for use in competitive target shooting events only. Any other use of these rifles or rifles made from these components or the carrying of these rifles with a live cartridge in the chamber is outside of the intended use of these firearms.
The Highwall actions we make follow as closely as possible the designed function of a rifle that was designed and manufactured in the last half of the 19th century. A great part of their appeal is their no compromise faithfulness to the original design. This precluded the addition of safety features that would be incorporated into a more modern design. As a result of the design of the actions anyone operating rifles made on our (or original) actions MUST STRICTLY OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES.

SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE

1. One of the advertised advantages of the original rifle was that the hammer did not need to be cocked after the action was closed on a loaded cartridge. As with the original rifles, rifles built on out actions absolutely must not have a cartridge in the chamber unless the rifle is pointed in known safe direction. As the operating lever is raised and the breech block moves to close the barrel chamber, the hammer comes to full cock and the rifle is ready to fire. If there is a cartridge in the chamber, these rifles must be pointed in a known safe direction!

2. As with many original rifles, our rifles and rifles built on our actions are equipped with set triggers. The intended purpose of these set triggers is to increase the shooters ability to hit his or her intended target by reducing the disturbance of the rifles alignment with the target when the trigger is pulled. In normal operation, these set triggers may be adjusted so that only a few ounces of pressure on the firing trigger will cause the hammer to fall and the rifle to fire. Therefore, THE SET TRIGGER MUST NEVER BE SET UNTIL THE SHOOTER ISACTUALLY LOOKING THROUGH THE SIGHT AT THE INTENDED TARGET. Please refer to the operating instructions for the correct method of setting and unsetting the triggers.

3. Modern rifles actions are equipped with devices that are intended to prevent firing the rifle unless the shooter's finger pulls the trigger or the shooter's hand is holding the operating lever closed. These features were not included in the original design and we have not included them in our actions. Therefore, anyone using our actions must be made aware that any rifle built on one of our actions can be made to fire if dropped or bumped when it has a live cartridge in the chamber. A blow to the hammer can cause the sear of the hammer's half cock notch to shear off and the rifle to discharge. Once again, THERE RIFLE MUST BE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION IF THERE IS A LOADED CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER. Placing the hammer in the half cock position does not make a loaded rifle safe. Only unloading the rifle will make the rifle safe.

To load a cartridge into a MEACHAM HIGHWALL ACTION rifle:

1. As a competitive shooter you are required to shoot from a prescribed position. This position should be at least partially assumed before loading the rifle. If you are unsure of how to do this, ask the range officer for instructions.

2. Be absolutely certain that the rifle is pointed in a safe direction down range.

3. Hold the rifle with your non-trigger hand and grasp the rear of the action operating lever with your trigger hand.

4. Swing the operating lever down and forward to completely expose the barrel chamber.

5. A cartridge that is intended for use in your rifle can then be inserted into the barrel chamber.

6. At this point, the shooter should once again see that the rifle is pointed in a safe direction down range because at the completion of the next step, the rifle will be ready to fire.

7. The trigger hand should now be used to gently swing the operating lever back and upward, closing the action, and cocking the hammer. THE RIFLE IS NOW READY TO BE FIRED.

To fire the loaded rifle:

1. Before closing the action on a live cartridge, the shooter should ensure that the rifle is pointed in a safe down range direction, that the intended target is available and that the rifle will not have to be pointed in an unsafe direction as it is brought to bare on the target.

2. Take the final steps to assume the prescribed shooting position such as placing the butt of the rifle against your shoulder and aligning the sights between your eye and the target.

3. Only after the target is seen through the rifle's sights should the triggers be set. If they are not familiar with the proper way to set your rifle's triggers, refer to the trigger section of these instructions.

4. The finger that will operate the firing trigger should now be brought to a predetermined reference point on the bow of the rifle's firing trigger. At this point, a very slight rearward pressure on the trigger will fire the rifle.

If you decide not to fire the rifle:

1. Move your hand away from the trigger.

2. Do not attempt to lower the hammer to the half cock position with a live cartridge in the chamber.

3. Carefully grasp the rear of the operating lever and slowly swing it down and forward until the live cartridge is extracted from the barrel chamber.

4. Remove the cartridge from the chamber and leave the action open.

If you intend to store the rifle:

1. UNLOAD THE RIFLE and carefully close the lever.

2. Carefully lower the hammer against the breech block by holding the hammer back with your thumb, releasing the trigger and then slowly lowering the hammer with your thumb until it rests against the breech block.

3. DO NOT allow the hammer to fall against the breech block by spring force. This will peen the metal surface of the breech block and hammer.

By storing the gun with an empty chamber and the hammer against the breech block you will have released the tension on the mainspring.

We strongly recommend that you join a local rifle club as a means of gaining further understanding of the safe operation of your rifle, and as a means of gaining access to competitive shooting events. If you cannot find a local club, contact the National Rifle Association for a list of clubs in your area or information about how to form a club.

OPERATING SET TRIGGERS

The Schuetzen double set triggers used on MEACHAM HIGHWALL actions are the common 2-lever "Kentucky" type as found on Sharps, Ballard, Stevens and many other cartridge and muzzle loading rifles. To set the triggers, the rear trigger is pulled toward the rear of the rifle, until it "catches" the front trigger. To fire the triggers, and thus the rifle, the triggers are first set and then a slight pressure on the front trigger will release the rear trigger which is under spring tension. The trigger then hits the sear, knocking the sear out of engagement with the hammer. The hammer falls, striking the firing pin and firing the cartridge that is in the chamber.

The set triggers should never be set before loading and cocking the rifle. They should only be set after the shooter is in firing position and looking through the rifle's sights at the target. "dry firing" the set triggers as a form of practice will not hurt the rifle. However, we do not recommend that the hammer be cocked when the rifle is dry fired. When practicing dry firing, be certain that the chamber is empty and that your rifle's muzzle is pointed at a target that is in a safe direction. Practice not setting the triggers until you are looking through the sights at the target.

To adjust the set triggers, be certain that the rifle's chamber is empty and that the hammer is uncocked. Turn the small adjusting screw between the front and rear triggers out (counter-clockwise) until pulling that rear trigger to the rear will set the triggers. Be sure to use only a small screwdriver that fits the adjusting screw correctly. With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, the chamber empty, the hammer uncocked and the triggers set, slowly turn the adjusting screw in (clockwise) until the triggers "fire." Back the adjusting screw out three-fourths of a turn (counter-clockwise). Re-set the triggers and try them. They should set the first try when you pull the rear trigger. Bumping the stock in any direction should not fire the triggers. A lighter trigger pull may be obtained by turning the adjusting screw in very slightly but you must be certain that the triggers cannot be accidentally fired by bumping the rifle. All of the "accuracy" complaints that we have received have been traced to triggers that were set so lightly that the shooter was not able to control the rifle. Any modification of the trigger or "smoothing up" will void the warranty of the parts involved. We will not be responsible for damage or injury due to such work, or due to trigger that is set so light that ir causes damage or injury.

ACTION AND RIFLE MAINTENANCE

We recommend that after black powder cartridges have been fired in our rifles, the breech clock, hammer and lever assembly be removed from the receiver. This assembly, the extractor, and the interior of the receiver may be wiped off with a cloth and given a VERY light coating of a rust preventative. The firing pin should occasionally be removed from the breech block, cleaned, and inspected for damage. As a special screw driver is required to do this, the job should be taken to a competent gunsmith. Reassemble the firing pin into the breech block with a VERY light coating of good rust preventative. We have seen these so gummed up with oil that the rifle would not fire. If you fire one match a month and practice one weekend a month, you may need to have a gunsmith disassemble and clean the firing pin and triggers twice a our. The barrel should be cleaned from the breech with a one piece hardened stainless steel rod using a rod guide in the chamber.

Use a cotton patch wrapped around a bronze brush that is one size smaller than the brush manufacturer recommends for your rifle's bore size. We do not recommend brushing the bore. There are a number of good bore cleaners available. If you are using black powder, use a cleaner recommended for black powder and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Smokeless powders (at reasonable pressures) and jacketed bullets will not harm any of the barrels that we install. Use a bore cleaner recommended by its manufacturer for smokeless powder and follow their directions. I have personally ruined good barrels by using ammonia containing solvents to remove copper fouling. They work, but I do not recommend them.

Exterior metal surfaces should be lightly coated with a rust preventative oil. Color casehardened actions should be kept out of direct (ultraviolet) sunlight as much as possible to keep the colors from fading. The stocks are finished with tung oil. Avoid getting bore solvents and oils on the stock finish. Wipe dirt and finger prints off with a clean, dry, soft cloth.

DISASSEMBLING THE ACTION

The following tools are needed to prevent damaging the rifle:

1. A vise with padded jaws. A clean soft rag or paper towel wrapped around the rifle's barrel will help prevent scratches.

2. Use a screwdriver with the tip ground with parallel sides and a blade the same width as the screw, to prevent possible slipping and marring finish

3. A 3/16 soft-tipped punch. This may also be used as line-up tool for reassemble.

4. A light hammer with either nylon or brass faces.

First, be absolutely certain that the rifle is unloaded. With the action closed, hammer down, and the rifle upside down, clamp the rifle by its barrel in the padded vise jaws. Use a properly fitted screwdriver to loosen the small set screw at the left end of the operating lever pivot pin. Opening the operating lever will allow you to easily tap the pivot pin out with a soft-tipped 3/16 punch, work from right to left. With the breech clock in an "open" position allow the operating lever to fold to a "closed" position and gently push the operating lever forward until you hear a click. The link will have allowed the hammer to rest on the rear face of the breech clock. If this is not done, the hammer spur will not clear the hammer slot and you will not be able to remove the breech block. At this point you may lift the breech block and lever assembly clear of the receiver. If the breech block assembly hangs up, there are four things to look for:

1. The sear is caught in the half cock or full cock notch of the hammer. Push the rear trigger forward.

2. The firing pin is caught on the bottom of the barrel camber. Temporarily lift the hammer slightly off the back of the breech block, allowing the firing pin clears the barrel, let the hammer back down so the hammer spur can pass through the slot in the receiver.

3. The lever has been moved such that the link is holding the hammer up off the breech block. Because of this, the end of the hammer spur is caught on the back of the hammer slot in the receiver. Move the lever until the hammer falls back against the back of the breech block.

4. The extractor is caught. The extractor must come out of it's slot in the barrel and come out of the receiver with the breech block. Reading through he reassembly instructions may help you understand how the extractor must fit around the face of the breech block until it can fall forward into it's slot in the barrel.

It is a good idea to hold your other hand under the breech block mortise because the extractor will fall out when the breech clock is removed. After the breech clock and lever assembly have been removed, you will want to remove the detent cup and spring and put them somewhere safe until you are ready to reassemble the rifle. No further disassembly is usually needed or recommended.

RE-ASSEMBLING THE ACTION

1. Make sure that the detent spring and cup are installed in the hole at the front of the opening in the bottom of the action. These parts keep the operating lever from sagging.

2. Slide the breech block and lever assembly into the breech block mortise with the operating lever pointing to the butt of the rifle.

3. A this point, the hammer will rest on the sear. Raise the breech clock until the link pin is even with the bottom of the receiver (now on top) and slip the extractor into it's slot, rounded edge forward, and lower the breech block.

4. Squeeze triggers together, this will allow the hammer to pass the sear. Lower the breech clock until it stops.

5. Keeping pressure on the triggers, use your other hand to pull the hammer back just far enough to allow the firing pin to clear the barrel face. With slight pressure from the thumb of the same hand you can push the lever into place.

6. Insert lever pivot pin from the left side. This may require some wiggling of the lever to line up the pin through the extractor.

7. Tighten the set screw and close lever.