The designation of a new class of Yukon.

Those with an eye for the night sky, will recall that "Orion" is a constellation in the Southern part of the Zodiac which is depicted as a "Hunter" with a belt and sword.

Several months ago, I had the idea for a hybrid design. I'd recently made some firing valve innovations. I'd been working on some of the guns with the 1" tube formats. I had been very pleased with several guns I'd previously made that put some ideas in my head. Planning ahead, as you have tio with all the projects I'm running and the length of time it takes to make these guns ... I decided to run in the parts for a prototype with what I was working on.

I also always have this foolish notion that I might one day keep a gun of my own. Hah!!!

And so, one evening, I assembled the raw parts, in the white. I had had a barrel set aside (with my name on it) for a year or more. One of the prototype 62 barrels. Jerry's Yukon was bumped to 62 ... and the barrels had been made at the same time. I'd pulled the barrel, in order to have a large caliber for the prototype. The new design was built on a 1" reservoir/frame because I hoped the new valve modifications might power the big barrel. I'd wanted to keep the gun light. A bit more slim. The Yukon has always been a magnificant bench rifle. A bit heavy for walking afield.



I assembled the gun and double checked everything. I filled it to a conservative 3,050 psi. I weighed a slug for the 62 rifled barrel - 567.5 grains, and loaded the slug into the slide breech. I was ready for my "First Fire" log entry. I prepared the chronograph, and lined the rifle action up thru the shop muzzler/bullet trap. BANG!!! The very first shot down the barrel ... had registered 614 foot pounds of muzzle energy

No tuning ... tweaking ... just raw power. At that moment ... I said to myself (because the gallery was empty that evening) ... "Wow ... that's Yukon power!"

As I worked to bring all the parts of various customer guns to the bluing room, I also prepared the group of parts made to this new design. It gradually settled in, that this new model should be a sub-category of the Yukon Class. Took me a while to decide upon an appropriate name ... but I feel good about this one. Yukon Orion. The Hunter.

I don't yet have pics, because none are assembled. I'd decided to sell one or two as the regular working capital for the business. I had to decide who, among those who said they'd like an immediate rifle, was in the position to take one. I'm working on the 58 model. I will show you as I work, along with the other guns I'm making for clients.

This past month has been unusual. I'd been feeling great for a couple of months. Finally had a good mix of treatments. And then, I had a set back ... and it just kept falling. The month has been pretty much pure misery. I realize it shows thru as I might not be as fun. Might grumble more than usual. Pretty much non-stop severe pain does that. You can't just stop, because the world really doesn't care - they're healthy, busy, and have things to do. You'll just become one of those bleeched skeletons in the desert, if you don't perform. Anyway ... I had two MRIs yesterday. Another specialist appt. Mon. am. We'll see. I suspect Mon. afternoon I'll be younger, fit, and everybody will love me again.

Hope you like the idea of the Yukon Orion.

Gary

Hi Gary,

I don't know from where you do get those names, but they fit the rilfes like a glove. I do like the Yukon-Orion name.


Just as a note, we do love you even when you are looking like this:

I do need a wrecked Gary smiley.

Julio

Sounds great. One more step up, for your bench rifles.

Will you be able to get 2 balanced shots at that power, with the 1" tubes.?

Since you probably shaved a couple of pounds off the rifle with, smaller frame, no bolt, and 1" tube can feel the difference in your shoulder? Dory



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2011 05:42PM by Dory.

Gary :

Sounds like it will be a beast. Looking forward to the pics when they are taken.

On a personal note, good luck with the docs. I hope you get some relief soon.

Karl

Hi Gary, bare with me as my reading comprehension can sometimes be lacking. If I understand correctly the Yukon Orion Hunter is a lighter scaled back version of the Yukon that is producing power approaching the full size model. Sounds quite exciting to an old hunter like myself.
I remember the Yukon introduction several years back and the hog hunt you took it on. Quite a rifle for sure, I distinctly remember thinking that that was one of your best.
I also remember reading something about coming across a knife you had made many years before on that hunt.

Hello Joe,

You're recalling correctly. I did take an orig. Yukon. Took a Russian boar with one. Took the Yukon 2 and took a Buffalo with it. Both of those guns were running around 600-625 fpe. They were both 1 1/4" format reservoir and frames. You have to do the geometry for area to see that the area of the 1" circle is nearly half that of the area of the 1 1/4" circle. Not what you'd first think, but the material around the entire outside of the larger circle really adds up. Now - all of the internal valve bodies and parts must be larger and heavier in the bigger tube. Obvious - but you wouldn't think how much heavier they are.

This new frame with it's firing valve does produce the same power. Now - it won't hold as much air - but enough. Probably will get the two shots - depending upon how it's tuned. Can be for two lesser equal shots - or one more powerful and the next lesser somewhat. It's physics. Can't cheat the system.

These are geared to carry more than the bench gun will be. I'll make the frame in different calibers. They also can exchange barrel hubs to accept different calibers.

I neglected to mention that I will judge the circumstances, and where individual orders are, and can exchange some orders for the new rifle. Same price if you are on the ledger. No bait and switch.

Gary

Interesting........db

Well, now ... ya see there. Here's a man that knows how to fill out a comment!



Gary

Since I will have an Orion here for shop testing, I'd try it on Helium ... as Allen has done ... if I could come across a suitable outlet. I have another welding supplier. I'll have to check with them. Of course, if it ran the gun up to a thousand fpe, as projected ... it might break an old man in half.

Another short comment. I like big bore in handgun and rifle. I have a sam yang shooting ball at .457 size and as shooting at 50 yard range, and filled gun to pressure. Pulled to cock and the rifle fired without trigger pull. It now sits in a case. DB

Hello Don,

Sounds as if the sear engagement is simply set too shallow. Or, if it's the design where a heavy spring on the trigger bar, overrides the mainspring's pressure on the hammer .... then the spring tension or link angles need to be altered. At any rate, you certainly need a dependable trigger ... and any competent airgunsmith should be able to make the required adjustments or repairs.

I also enjoy the fun of a heavy horse pistol. Started making them very early. The last was the HAWG, at 330 fpe in 62 smoothie.

Gary

I'll sketch out a nice scale drawing later. I've got all the parts, but I have to do engraving, carving ... I don't want to just dry fit the stuff and most likely scratch it all up. We'll get something asap. I want to get my hands on one at the range too.

Thanx for the information Gary.db

Sounds like a nice "little" hunter Gary. Can't wait to see pics of the prototype.
Cheers
Neil

Good name. The constellations give you lots of working room for later models.

i will be willing to bet , no other air gun site in the world has ,,,,, took a buffalo , ,,,,, slotted casually in the middle of a sentence discussing power curves.
no one
no where
no how
here ,,,,, middle of a sentence and just the norm.

... just rolls off the tongue! "Took a buffalo..."

I tell people about Gary taking a buffalo with his air rifle. The response is the same, they all think i am crazy and telling a story. My father is amazed at the power and accuracy and could not stop talking about it to my brother. Saotome think,s it is awesome, his personal interest is artwork.

I know it's hard to find stuff buried on the huge Barnes website. You might have never run across the account of that buffalo hunt.

Here's the link to pics and the story, from 2005 ..... Buffalo Hunt!

[www.glbarnes.com]

Gary

I remember well, i watched every movie over and over. My favorite one,s where, shooting the Yukon and the tundra. Also a good website, but i do think this one is better.