Well I got the to the range today... altho it was a beautiful day with temps into the 60's!! I did not have "fun"...
I had the shorty Maxi set aside as its too short to stand in the rifle rack. I gathered all the ammo, Spotting scope, rest sand bags. Then gun cases and finally firearms. I brought my 25-35, 17M2, FL Maxi, 454, 22Hornet, 25-20 Savage and 30-30.
You will notice I did not mention the Shorty maxi... thats cause I FORGOT IT!! Strike one against me...
Shot the 25-35 first. This was new loading of a old favorite bullet... 117 Hornady RN. It was a faster loading and grouped nearly in one hole at 50 yards. Out at 100 it was about 1.25" but that's fine as that's about as far as I will be needing it to shoot.
Next up the 454. This one was refit to a new receiver and HD springs added to the latch. I refit it because I was able to swap it between the FL Maxi and remove all shims from both! It was printing all over the place.
This gun shot quite well last year with other receiver. The lock up is as perfect as I can attain, forend torqued and floated. I also had 5-6 FTF's that never happened before, but DID occasionally happen when it was on the FL maxi. SO looks like I have something going on with that receiver. Back in the case, with notes on its performance. Strike two...
Next up Hornet... This one got new stocks. I moved the yellow and black from the maxi to the Hornet. this gun always shot great with my two main loadings. 35G bullet and Lil Gun and 45G SP and 4198. One hole at 50 and at or under 1" at 100. It proved to be just as good, BUT NOW SHOT 6" HIGH!!!! Just changing stocks, same forend torque, 6" high same ammo at same distances... No big deal but interesting. Still a great shooter.
Next up 30-30. This one got a new receiver too. I bought it form a friend and it fit nearly perfect to the 30-30 barrel. Same loads shot right on NO scope adj needed!! I was amazed to say the least. This gun is a solid 1.25- 1.50" shooter at 100 and its no difference now.
Next was the 25-20. I added a Red Dot last week and also loaded up some hot 86G bullets. The shoot great and seem to be going faster then the 75FP Speers I have been shooting as they hit higher. It shoots about 1" at 50 and about 3" at 100. (Remember its a red dot, not so precise.)
Next the FL Maxi. This one has a new receiver because I was able to swap and remove all shims. This one has been shot a bit but never really sighted in. I had brought 7 different loads to check accuracy of both maxis once and for all. (Did not happen
) Well after two loads and not so great accuracy I noticed the butt stock getting loose. Not awful but loose, accuracy is not attainable with a loose butt stock. Lo and behold, accuracy was getting worse as 4" hundred yard groups.SO instead of wasting bullets I cased it... Strike three for me..
Lastly the 17M2. This one is my all time most accurate H&R. I removed its walnut thumb-hole stocks fr a set of hard wood checkered monte carlos. It shoots spot on no change. I meant to bring Hornady bullets to try but forgot those too... My buddie has grown quite fond of this little shooter! He was shooting the 1/2" pasters every time at 100 yards....
SO now I need to go back with the maxis and 454 to get them sited... I hope!!!
CW