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- Feb 18, 2015
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I know there are several threads dealing with certain aspects of these critters, but I just got mine 5 days ago and I wanted to give a general report on how it is coming. I hope others will join in with their experiences/thoughts/dreams about these rifles as well.
My first day of shooting was frustrating, but mainly because I was in a hurry to shoot it and not really prepared as well as I could have been. I shot a total of 5 shots with different loads and got the cleaning jag stuck in the barrel so I had to come home to my vise and workbench rather than risk tearing up the ramrod with my pliers. I gave it a good scrubbing after removing the jag and tried again today.
I fired my first shot and realized the sun was on my sights too much to hold very well, so I moved my portable bench into the shade. Then I shot the first ever group with this new-to-me rifle, 3 shots using 80 grains of FFFG Goex. I was astounded and pleased, with a 3/4" group. I couldn't see any reason to change loads after that. I was using a bench, but only with a rest for the forend, no sandbags or butt rest, and my eyes are not what they used to be.
The group was several inches low, however, and I fired a few more shots while I played with the adjustable rear site. I begin to have problems with the hammer binding on the way down, and it was getting worse. I ended up having to loosen a lock screw before I could finish. It slowed down my shooting and I only shot one more three shot group at the bull after I was sighted in. It measured 2 3/8". The barrel was getting fouled pretty good by then, or maybe I was getting tired of pulling the trigger and not having it go boom, but that really wasn't a bad group at all, two of the shots were in the 2" bull.
Anyway, I had to share this. Now I need to clean it and try to shim that lock somehow before I shoot it again.
I think I forgot to mention I was shooting at 50 yards.
My first day of shooting was frustrating, but mainly because I was in a hurry to shoot it and not really prepared as well as I could have been. I shot a total of 5 shots with different loads and got the cleaning jag stuck in the barrel so I had to come home to my vise and workbench rather than risk tearing up the ramrod with my pliers. I gave it a good scrubbing after removing the jag and tried again today.
I fired my first shot and realized the sun was on my sights too much to hold very well, so I moved my portable bench into the shade. Then I shot the first ever group with this new-to-me rifle, 3 shots using 80 grains of FFFG Goex. I was astounded and pleased, with a 3/4" group. I couldn't see any reason to change loads after that. I was using a bench, but only with a rest for the forend, no sandbags or butt rest, and my eyes are not what they used to be.
The group was several inches low, however, and I fired a few more shots while I played with the adjustable rear site. I begin to have problems with the hammer binding on the way down, and it was getting worse. I ended up having to loosen a lock screw before I could finish. It slowed down my shooting and I only shot one more three shot group at the bull after I was sighted in. It measured 2 3/8". The barrel was getting fouled pretty good by then, or maybe I was getting tired of pulling the trigger and not having it go boom, but that really wasn't a bad group at all, two of the shots were in the 2" bull.
Anyway, I had to share this. Now I need to clean it and try to shim that lock somehow before I shoot it again.
I think I forgot to mention I was shooting at 50 yards.