Mowrey percussion rifle??

[Kentucky45]

I bought a Mowrey .54cal percussion rifle at the gunshow this weekend. It has a 32" oct barrel, either brass or bronze (not sure which) breech and buttplate, and Curly Maple forearm and stock. It's probably 95% condition. The brass front sight is very thin and hard to see so I put a little removable black on it and a temporary cardboard hood and that helped some. Bad eyesight. Can anyone tell me anything about these guns? Thanks

 

[Maven]

I have a .50cal. (.495" RB) Mowrey (made in Waldron, IN), but without the brass receiver or buttplate (Both are browned iron). Although I purchased it new, there were some problems with it: Rear dovetail not square to the bbl.; one ramrod thimble was cold soldered; front sight thickness didn't match the rear sight slot. However, once I resoldered the thimble and changed the front sight to a T/C Patridge sight (for their Renegade), all was, and is well. It is a very reliable, well balanced, and accurate rifle. Btw, you should write to Deer Creek, Inc. in Waldron, IN about loading data for your rifle. They generally are quite conservative about Max. load recommendations for Mowreys. Enjoy the rifle for it's a good one!

 

[Eterry]

Bill Mowrey was a master machinist, gunsmith and made black powder rifles and pistols; one of my favorite stories he told was of him turning 16" battleship barrels during WWII at the shipping yard where he sat behind the cutting tool, riding the lathe as it made its cuts.

He had a shop in Olney, TX then later moved to Wichita Falls, TX. where I met him. He was a cracker-jack gunsmith but lacked some in business skills and sold the rights to his rifles. A good friend of mine bought his shop from his widow and still gunsmiths out of it and has several of his rifles. His rifles were well made, almost over engineered as I always thought they were heavy for caliber. Everyone I know who has one around here wont part with them, they are that well respected.

I could get more info, if your interested send me a PM.

Eterry

 

[Kentucky45]

I shot the Mowrey this morning a few times and it shoots great. Not quite sure what load to use in a .54cal.. I've shot mostly .45cal ad 50cal.. I'll look up your recommendation for the loads. The drop on the stock is much lower than any of the other bp's I have, and it's comfortable. I opened the side of the breech and was surprised at what I saw. The lock action is so simple that it almost doesn't look real. Like a toy might have. But it works great. And there aren't many parts to replace if something goes wrong. It almost makes other locks look overbuilt. Pretty ingenious technology.

 

[D Sanders]

I bought a Mowrey .54cal percussion rifle at the gunshow this weekend. It has a 32" oct barrel, either brass or bronze (not sure which) breech and buttplate, and Curly Maple forearm and stock. It's probably 95% condition. The brass front sight is very thin and hard to see so I put a little removable black on it and a temporary cardboard hood and that helped some. Bad eyesight. Can anyone tell me anything about these guns? Thanks

I too own a .54 cal Mowrey. I love it, it's a great rifle. My only gripe is it is not that easy to clean. Can't just remove the barrel like my Hawken. You have to use a cleaning tube that screws into the nipple hole if you use water to clean. I shoot 80 grains of double F and a .016 patch with a .535 RB. Had no problem taking deer at 75 yds with it. Not sure if you can even buy these gems brand new anymore. Hang on to it. I'm not turning loose of mine. :thumbsup:


HH 60

 

[luieb45]

At our last club shoot I talked to a guy about his mowrey that he got for only $200! It was a great gun and he even had a wild boar engraved on the metal. So now if I have the oppurtunity to buy one someday I will.

 

[pkarr]

I've got a mowrey .54 I got from Deercreek several years ago.Mine shoots really well with 80 gr. of 3fg, .530 ball and .15 patch. It's a really simple gun, you can adjust the trigger pull by a little allen screw on the trigger, you can also call Deer creek and get a spare spring just in case, my eyes aren't what they used to be so I put a williams peep on mine with a front bead off a TC hawken.I've taken deer, elk and antelope with it and plan on adding a few more tacks next month with a little luck of coarse.It's a good one you,ll enjoy it for sure.

 

[Kentucky45]

I shot this 54 again several times. After reading some of the posts here I see 80gr powder is fairly common. I used 100 grains. Woke up this morning with a nice blue bruise at the bottom of my right shoulder. The butt plate on this rifle sticks out top and bottom more than most other bp's and also has a curve on the bottom, and it'll leave a mark.

 

[E Poffinbarger]

Kentucky45:

Over the years, I've owned(3)three Mowery rifles all were .54 caliber, 1:56 ROT and extremely accurate. I can assure you that if the wood is in good condition and with the brass polished at a Rendezvous more than a few will try to buy it, which is what happened to mine.

When they were made in Olney,TX, there was a model and the one I always wanted to find had a "gain" twist. In other words, the rate of twist increased from slow to fast over the length of the barrel. Now I don't really know the advantage I just always thought it sounded neat.

Enjoy the rifle,

Osage

 

[torn moc]

Is your Mowrey stamped " Olney Texas" on the barrel? or is it a Deer creek model made in Indiana? I currently have a .32( sweet !)
a .40 & a .50.....at one time I had a .54 Scheutzen Mowrey and a 12 guage. as you can tell I Love em !!!
Hang on to it!!! they are getting far & few between nowadays.

 

[Kentucky45]

I'm not sure where this one was made. On the right side of the barrel it says Mowrey 54. The serial number is on the left side. Serial number is in the 15k's. No other markings. The entire gun is 95% - 100%. All the wood is Curly Maple striped beautiful with no dings or dents. Barrel is 100% blue. Black hammer. Rod guides, breech, trigger guard, buttplate are all either brass or bronze. Original blue half buckhorn rear site with vertical allen adjustment and the frontsite is brass base and thin brass blade. Wood striped ramrod. Rifleing is perfect.

 

[torn moc]

Your Gun was produced at Deer creek . The older Mowreys made in Texas are stamped " Olney Texas" on the barrel and also the caliber.

 

[gearheart]

You'all were holding it wrong if the pointy thing on the butt plate bit you on the shoulder. That hooked butt plate is meant to nestle in the hollow of you arm pit. The recoil will then spin you around a bit but not beat you up as much.

 

[Kentucky45]

Scalper thanks for the information. There's no doubt I was holding the Mowrey wrong. My first rifle with a curved stock. I'm a quick learner though. I took this Mowery in on a ml trade because it's an exceptionally clean rifle. I was really looking for a good .36cal squirrel rifle in the shorter Hawkens, Crockett, Mowery type guns. I don't have a .36cal. I keep thinking about a .36cal and may sell this rifle to buy one. When I get a "want" in my head it's hard to get rid of it.