New TVM 'Jaeger' Rifle

[fischereco2]

After much waiting I finally received my TVM rifle in the mail yesterday. I ordered their 'Jaeger' model in .62 caliber, with a 36" barrel. It has an L&R Germanic Lock and brass furniture. I bought this piece with the intent of using it as my go to hunting rifle, and to dabble in some historical trekking as well.

Overall I'm very happy with the gun. The fit and finish is excellent and the gun has a very solid feel to it. There is only one thing which I found disappointing, and it's really my fault for not doing my research. On all of TVM's rifles they list a patch box as an add-on for an additional charge. However, on the Jaeger rifle page, there is no mention of a patch box as an option. I assumed (and you know what happens when you assume) that because the gun was pictured with a patch box, and a patch box wasn't an available upgrade, and a patch box is one of the defining characteristics of the 'Jaeger' style, that it was factored into the base price. Well, I was wrong. I feel like it makes my rifle more of a Jaeger shaped object, but I can live with that. Other than that minor SNAFU my experience with TVM was great, very friendly people to work with and they delivered the goods.

What would someone recommend as a starting load, and does anyone have any advice on sighting in a rifle when you need to file the rear sight notch yourself? I have never done this before and I don't want to screw it up.

Thanks!

 

[Daveco]

That is a beauty! I especially like the stock- lots of figure and not too glossy. Congratulations!

Daveco.

 

[Vaino]

Beautiful rifle and your joy to own and shoot. Looked it over pretty good and my only advice to TVM.....the lock panels should have been a lot smaller. Too much much wood surrounding the lock.

The architecture is good and well as the apparent finishing...all in all, a well done jäger which you can be proud to own.....Fred

 

[BigBoreBLR]

My friend's allen martin 62 cal uses 110gr FFg. His barrel is longer, so the gun is probably heavier and can make that load a bit more comfortable.

I'd see what 85gr's would do and take it from there.

If you send the gun back to TVM, they could put a patchbox on it. They might be able to do it. I can imagine if done carefully it will not effect the gun finish.

What's the screw on the bottom of the stock? Is it for a sling?

 

[F.G. Ford]

Beautiful gun!
Doesn't need a patch box!
The metal to wood is VERY GOOD, why hide it with a patch box that has little, if any use.
My .62 likes 90 grs. 2F for target and hunting anything less than elephant.
My .62 has a 31" barrel.
I use a cast .610 ball, .018 linen patch, with 1/3 bee's wax, 1/3 olive oil, 1/3 Murphy's soap.
At 50 yds. five shots will produce one ragged hole.
At 100 yds. group opens up, because I can't see well enough to keep the group as tight.
Good luck, and congratulations on a mighty fine looking rifle.
Also my compliments to the gun maker.
Fred :thumbsup:

 

[F.G. Ford]

As to sighting in.
Post your first target 13 feet ( yes 13 feet )
from the muzzle. ( Saves time walking back and forth to check your target, and also this is the distance where your ball first climbs to the top of your front sight)
Shoot from a rest.
Fire a fowling shot, then reload, then shoot for center of the target.
Fire three shots without adjusting to verify where your gun is shooting. Move your rear sight to the right if it is shooting left, or move your rear sight left if it is shooting right.
Only move your sight a little, cause a little does a lot. Don't worry if your gun is shooting high or low. ALWAYS shoot for center of target, do not try to correct your gun by pointing it a little to the left or right, or up or down.
If your rear sight does not have a vee already, with masking tape paint a white line on your rear sight in the middle of the sight.
After you are finished sighting for left or right, then file a small V in the rear sight, only deep enough so that you can see the top of the front sight.
Load again, fire three shots.
Most likely it will be shooting low.
Now carefully file the front sight a little ( no more than 1/64 of an inch )
Fire at least two shots, if close do not file, if still low file again.
When you are an inch low, move your target to 25 yds., you should be close, shooting low is good.
Now move your target to fifty ( 50 ) yards.
Now finish sighting your gun in.
Remember, every time you file the front sight, you will raise the impact point of your bullet.
So go slowly. If you go too quickly, you will be buying a new front sight. How do I know this :redface:
Good luck with you fine rifle.
Fred

 

[hoochiepapa]

I'm with the Old Ford. Why hide that gorgeous wood with a patchbox?

 

[kopfjaeger]

Sweet looking rifle. :thumbsup:

 

[hanshi]

Yes, you don't need no stinking patch box. No need to cover up that beautiful wood. I like TVM's Jaeger and sure would like one but it would mean my life if I walked in with a new one.

As is usual for Matt, the rifle is finely built with quality parts and will be your reliable woods companion. I have a few of his guns and can speak from experience. A batch box, maybe a wood sliding one, can be added if you want one but they are really not necessary.

The only thing I can pick at are the large lock panels. This is not a usual thing for Matt but sometimes he has a few that scoot by. I have one TVM rifle with overly large lock panels; the rest are quite petite. Congratulations on a beautiful rifle.

 

[PaulN/KS]

That is a very fine looking rifle and the stock benefits from not having a patch box.
I have a 54 caliber TVM Jaeger that I bought about 10 years ago. They are good shooting rifles.

 

[fischereco2]

Thanks for the replies. I am inclined to agree about the patch box the more I handle the gun. The wood is really nice and the pictures don't do it any justice, it would be a shame (not to mention expensive) to retrofit it with a patch box. As far as the chunky lock panels go, I can live with that. You get what you pay for; TVM doesn't make a mass produced gun, but they don't make an entirely custom gun either. The quality is what I was expecting for a middle of the road piece and I'm satisfied. I've owned some caplock guns in the past, but this is my first flintlock. I think I made a decent choice, and if you knew my economic situation and how long it took me to scrimp and save for this gun you'd understand why I'm so happy about it! I'm hoping that next weekend I'll have an opportunity to sight her in throw some lead downrange.

 

[PaulN/KS]

^^^
You're half the age that I was when I got my TVM so I'd say you are doing just fine. :hatsoff:

 

[Jaegermeister]

Very nice, solid looking rifle! I agree with a good load being about 85-90 gr of ffg. My 31" .62 Colrain barrel (measured out to be actually .61 cal) prefers .600 balls with damp pillow ticking. Big time fun shooting these beasts. Congratulations. And if you add a sling don't use one with a buckle or it will skin up your rifle. I think it deserves a good leather sling.

 

[fischereco2]

I made sure that a present arrived for my wife in the mail on the same day I got the rifle. Probably the only reason I haven't been shot with it yet... :thumbsup:

 

[F.G. Ford]

I made sure that a present arrived for my wife in the mail on the same day
You are smooth & wise :bow:
Fred

 

[BigBoreBLR]

You haven't been shot because she doesn't know how to load it.

That 62 cal bore will be a hungry beast. Great time to pick up a mold and a melter.

I agree, I think your doing fine w/o a patchbox.

Just get a touch bigger possibles bag when you get a chance.

 

[Dean2]

I really like the gun. As others have said, I like it better without the patch box and on the Jaeger style rifles I actually like the larger lock panels, to me it looks more balanced with the larger Germanic lock. If I were going to do anything to that rifle to make it more Jaeger like I would think about some tasteful carving and engraving. Outside of that it should be a great shooting very usable hunting rifle.

You have many years to enjoy it but go out just as often as you can. You will be amazed how fast 40 years goes by.

 

[Jaegermeister]

Fischereco2, I see you live in Carbondale. I live in Wolf Lake (near Anna-Jonesboro) and my wife and I cruise up to eat at Quatro's every now and then. Small world.

 

[RonRC]

Very nice rifle!
I like the looks just fine without the patch box and with all that nice striping visible.
Ron

 

[F.G. Ford]

You can always get some spare balls at the bowling alley :rotf: Fred