45/70 18" Handi

[tanoose]

Sorry i didn't get to chrony my loads but i did get a chance to shoot this weekend. Awhile ago i cut my 22" to 18" on a band saw . And while i was getting clover leaf groups at 50 yds  with the 22" i am now getting 1" at 50 with the 18 " my next trip will tell more as the recticle on my scope was the Leupold German #4 which i could not focus on a dime i was using a 1 1/2 " dot and the cross hairs are so thick it covered the whole dot. Not tring to make excuses buit i do believe a fine crosshair would tighten my group.And if it doesn't thats  fine as ithis rifle is to be used in tree stands and ground blinds where 50 yds would be around the max. I was using Hornady 350 RN and FP in front of 45.0 of IMR4198. The next time i go ill remember to chrony my loads.

[poncaguy]

Did you put a new crown on it?

[tanoose]

 What i did was cut the barrel and then i used  a tapered  hand reamer and recessed the muzzle to get of the Sharp edges. My friend took it home with him, he is some what of  a gunsmith and is going to do  a Little work on it for me. He wanted to do the job for me from the beginningg but you know how it is sometimes you just have to screw things up on your own. But like i said for the rifles use 1" at 50 will work just fine for me I'll let you know what he ends up doing to it and if it made a difference or not.

[Mitch in MI]

The important parts are to have the muzzle square to the bore (and flat), and to have a smooth, even crown.
I know a fellow who could chop a barrel with a hacksaw, square it up by eye with a file, and crown it with a big brass round-head screw and lapping compound, and have it shoot better than new. He is also an old-timer machinist, who learned how to use a file with precision when he was an apprentice. We mortals could probably use a good piloted crowning reamer to help cover up the inaccuracies of the cut.

[Country Boy]

I have the same cross hair in my scope, thought it would be better for bear hunting last in evening, It's ok but not what I expected. I have the same problem I can't shoot a group because the cross hair covers the target. I would switch back if someone wants to trade.

[tanoose]

Country Boy For,myself i just love the German #4 for hunting i get fine hunting accuracy , but i will try making a few different targets for the next trip maybe just a cross hair target I'll make a few at different thicknesses , that might work better for a tighter group I went to the #4 because for me my eyes focus faster  with the 3 thick posts and i can get off my shots faster. I just realized while typing this that i don't seem to have a problem with the same cross hair  i have on my 358 Winchester The 358 has a Leupold 1.5x5x20 while the one on the handi is a Leupold 2x7x32 i've got to compare them when i get the rifle back there may be a difference,I think the 2x7 has or may seem to have thicker cross hairs.

[Country Boy]

 My 2x7 leaupold with the # 4 crosshair is on my old BLR in .358 win. I use it for for bear hunting and hoped it would help for those late evening shots. But it is very difficult to shoot a group with it at 50 yds using a 3" target dot. Before I changed crosshairs I could put three in a hole. But, they are all centered in the middle of the target dot. I had no troubling killing my last two bears with it and both were at dark in a misty rain. They were whoppers ! The. .358 kills all out of proportion to it's size.