Oversized hinge pins

[Varmint Hunter]

How many of you guys have tried the oversized hinge pins? What were the results?

[Grumulkin]

I use them with most Encore barrels.  I can't swear that they make much of a difference so I guess my main reason for using them is superstition.

[Graybeard]

I tried them on several Contenders I had at one time. I did extensive before and after group testing with several super accurate and not so accurate barrels I had at the time. In no case did I notice an improvement in accuracy with the over size pin and in most cases a clear drop in accuracy resulted.

The tightness or looseness of pin fit really has no particular bearing on accuracy in the Contender or Encore platform it's really the tightness of lock up at the rear that matters. Now perhaps if you had one so loose the barrel wobbles side and side and up and down when closed it might matter but if you did installing a larger hinge pin ain't gonna fix it.

I had one old frame I'd used for many years in competition and for target shooting, hunting, etc. That sucker was so loose the pin would actually fall out on its own if turn sideways. With it in that sloppy loose condition it mated to my 7-30 barrel shot the single best group I ever fired with that barrel it measured right at 0.27" center to center at 100 yards. I shot hundreds of sub moa groups out to over 250 yards with the combination.

When the larger pin was used with the combination accuracy dropped off dramatically.

[Ladobe]

That sucker was so loose the pin would actually fall out on its own if turn sideways.

A few of my 20 Classic Contender frames are much the same as Bill's.   One with a pin that falls out, a couple of more that the slightest touch will drop the pin out and maybe a couple more that take easily push out with just my finger.   And all of them shoot every bit as well as the frames with tight pins I actually have to drive out with a brass bunch.   So IMO, the oversized pins are just a waste of money.

The tightness or looseness of pin fit really has no particular bearing on accuracy in the Contender or Encore platform it's really the tightness of lock up at the rear that matters.

Ditto that.

[Varmint Hunter]

So far, the very best group that I have shot with my 45-70 ProHunter is 2" @ 100yds. Most other loads shoot 2.5"-3", which is a bit disappointing. I thought maybe an ovesized hinge pin might help but now I've got second thoughts.

I might have to try shimming the forearm down a bit to see if that helps.

[Selmer]

I've tried them and still use them, but I can't tell you that they are better or worse for certain.  My 6PPC barrel shoots .2 inch groups with it installed, I left well enough alone and have never used a different pin, other than one size larger, and that didn't improve or harm groups.  Mine shoot good with the 1x pin, but since I bought them I've never used the factory pin.
Selmer

[Grumulkin]

So far, the very best group that I have shot with my 45-70 ProHunter is 2" @ 100yds. Most other loads shoot 2.5"-3", which is a bit disappointing. I thought maybe an ovesized hinge pin might help but now I've got second thoughts.

I might have to try shimming the forearm down a bit to see if that helps.

If you find the magic powder and bullet, I have little doubt that your ProHunter will do a lot better than that.  I have not had a scoped Encore or Contender handgun or rifle that I couldn't get to shoot 1.5 inches at 100 yards (for 3 shot groups) or better.  This has included such handgun cartridges as the 460 S&W Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum handguns.  As noted above, I usually do use oversized hinge pins but don't know that they help a lot; they're cheap enough to try though.  I've never done anything to the forearms I use.  My frames have all had trigger jobs which I think is a significant benefit.

[Varmint Hunter]

The ProHunter had a deluxe trigger job done by the censored guy when first purchased.

I expected to easily find a 1.5 moa load but it just didn't happen. I've used 300HP, 350 FN & 300 TSX bullets with 4 different powders and 2" was the best. I even switched the scope and put on a 9X which I knew was sound but that didn't improve the groups either.

I recently bought some LeverEvolution ammo to use as a test but haven't had a chance to try them yet. I also bought some Rem 405gr bullets in the hopes that this rifle just may prefer a heavier bullet. Who knows?

[Grumulkin]

I've found Speer 350 gr. Hot Core bullets to be pretty accuraty in a 458 Lott.  I've not been able to get TSX bullets to shoot well in all guns though they do very well in some.  I don't know if this applies to you, but some are timid in getting loads up toward maximum.  Sometimes, you have to get the load toward maximum to get the best results.

Also, don't be afraid to try more than 4 powders.  I've gone through that many more than once to find the best load.

[Varmint Hunter]

I've run them up to 2,000 ft/sec according to my Oehler 35. I'm not really interested in loads exceeding that velocity.

The 45-70 is one of those cartridges that really doesn't seem to favor too many different powders. 4198 seems to be the mainstay, with 4895 & RE 7 being good options. I've also use H335 and one other which slips my mind at the moment.

Personally, I think 2 moa is the best that this rifle will shoot in its current configuration but I'll experiment a bit farther before resigning myself to that fact.

[Graybeard]

I've never really messed around much with light bullets in the .45-70 but with 400 and heavier I've found IMR3031 to be superior to all others for accuracy. I was NOT trying for max velocity and generally pushed them to around 1400-1600 fps from my Browning High Wall BPCR with excellent accuracy. This was strictly for target shooting really but a 400 grain with wide meplat at that velocity took rather good care of the game I shot with it using my hunting High Wall.