Well guys, that $137 Renegade may not have been such a great deal after all. Had my first range session with it this morning and came away disappointed.Here's a full report of the range session.
I didn't know how the sights were set, so I started with a target at 25 yards, and 85 grains Pyrodex RS under a patched ball. Things were looking good. Here's the target.
Really happy with that. So, I put a target out at 50 yards and shot three shots of the same load. DAMN, about a seven-inch group! I was so disgusted I balled that target up and threw it away. How can a decent group at 25 yards turn into trash at 50? Got to thinking maybe it was my fault. So I put up another target and took four more shots, but reduced the charge to 80 grains Pyrodex. Here's that target. (Makes you sick.)
Don't know where shot #4 hit, but it had to be over the top of the target because I had plenty of backing board to the left, right, and bottom of the target, and could have seen holes there.
Well, maybe conicals will do better. Put up another 50-yard target and loaded up with 80 grains Pyrodex RS and 410 grain Great Plains. Took five shots. Here's the target.
DANG!!! That same load out of my New Englander would have all of the holes touching at 50 yards. Well, let's try some 320 grain Lee REALs. Five shots later I had this target.
Oh poop! No answers there. Let's give the 250 grain REALs a try. Here's the 5-shot target.
Got nothing to lose now, so I may as well try some .458 405 grain Lee cast (wheel weight) bullets in MMP orange sabots. Only shot three of those - could hardly get them down the bore. Here's the target.
Getting late. Gotta` head home. One last try.250 grain Gold Dots in Harvester crush rib sabots. Got excited after shot #2, but 3, 4 & 5 cooled me off. Here's the target.
GENERAL INFO:
- All shooting was with CCI standard #11 caps - no misfires or hangfires.
- I swabbed with both sides of one patch moistened with Butch'sBore Shine between all shots.
- All shooting was from a bench with good rests.
- The double set trigger on this rifle is fantastic. All of the shots felt good with what felt likea good sight picture.
- The Renegade soaks up recoil - even the 410 GP and 405 cast bullets in a TIGHT sabot were not uncomfortable shooting with 80 grains.
- I knew the bore was "a little" pitted when I bought the gun, but the pitting turned out to be heavier than I had judged by looking at it with a bore light. The bore is prettyrough for the first four or five inches at the muzzle. Much better after that.
- I'm going to work the bore over with oiled steel wool and see if that improves things. If not, I may try cutting six inches off and recrowning it - nothing to lose, huh? Failing all else, a .54 or .58 GM barrel may be in my future.
Disappointing Day With The Renegade
