Semisane

Can a neglected and abused muzzle loader regain it's virtue?

Can a lightly pitted barrel garner respect on the range?

Find out on today's episode of . . . .
. . . All My Guns . . .
(Hum dramatically to yourself HERE. Dum, dum, dum DUMMM! is recommended.)



Back on November 1st. I reported on my one and only range session with the Rescued Remington (http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...remington.html).

About the only things I was able to conclude in that short session was (1) the gun fires, and (2) the iron sights on it are about useless for my eyes. So I resolved to scope the tarnished lady to see if she would shoot.

Well hunting season came along and took priority, pushing aside any thoughts of shooting the Remington for the last few months. I got around to it today.

I mounted a $20 WalMart special end of season Tasco 3x9 scope with Weaver Top Mount Detachable Rings. Those rings are a tad on the "unattractive" side, but tough as nails.

After mounting the scope I ran its windage and elevation through the full range of adjustment as far as it would go three times to smooth everything out, then set each adjustment to the middle of its range.

A buddy had given me a partial pack of Hornady 240 grain all lead hollow point Cheap Shots with their supplies sabots and I decided to use up those ten bullets to get the scope adjusted.

I put a target out at 25 yards and loaded the Cheap Shots over 95 grains of Triple Seven FFG, which I figured to be a pretty stiff load. Here's what I got with the first five shots.



I was pretty happy with that, given that both scope adjustments were at the center of their range and I didn't bore sight it or anything. But I wanted to center the group a little better. So I adjusted the scope 24 clicks to the right and took five more shots at 25 yards. Here's that target.



THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT! Checked the scope mount and sure enough, the thumb nuts on both the front and rear rings were loose, with the front one being very loose. I must not have gotten the "hook" part of the rings fully seated in their recess when I mounted them. So I took care of that little problem and got back to the business at hand. I also adjusted the scope 24 clicks down because shot #1 on the last target was so high, and I figured the scope was probably still fairly tight for that shot.

The Cheap Shots were all gone, so I broke out a box of 250 grain XTP's and Harvester short black sabots. I put a target out a 50 yards and took five shots, making a scope adjustment after the first two. Here's that target.



About now I'm feeling pretty good. Good enough to give that load a try at 100 yards. Five shots later I had this.



After shooting that target I'm thinking "I may have to keep this gun".
Heck, that's with no load development at all - just picking a bullet and powder charge at random and blasting away.

Then I got to wondering what a 300 grain bullet might do. So keeping the powder charge at 95 grains I loaded up with 300 grain XTPs and took five more shots at 100 yards.



Yep! Might have to keep this one. She don't shoot half bad for a soiled lady.

gregrn43

Not bad there Semi, I think your ready to put something brown in front of your scope now.

cayugad

I know Sabotloader always bragged them rifles up. So yours is no surprise. That is a good shooter for sure. I think with load development, you would have a fine shooter. A pitted barrel is not a death sentence by any means. I have a couple rifles that can attest to that. That is some good shooting.

TNHagies

Looks good Semi. It's amazing how well guns can shoot w/pitted bores but this isn't the first one I've seen. Never know until ya try.

I love my 700 and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Breechplug

I think the MLer just plain ol likes you for saving it's life. It may be rusty, but it's still trusty. Nice Rerort Semi and Nice Shootin too!
(BP)

sabotloader

Semisane

One thing that you might check is how the barrel lies in the forearm. When the 700 first came out the fit of the barrel and forearm was great... like they were built for each other. Later as the 700 was reaching the end of its' run the fit was less spectacular and with the heating of the barrel - it could move your POI, not with a 1 1/2" group at a 100 you need to worry about it.

Semisane

One thing I forgot to mention in this report. As noted, I was shooting Triple Seven FFG and using standard precussion caps. I had no ignition problems at all over the course of those 25 shots. As is my standard practice, I swabbed the bore with both sides of one alcohol patch between each shot. There was not even the slightest sign of the dreaded crud ring (zero/zip/nada). I wonder if that's because of precussion caps vs. 209 primers?

sabotloader

[quote=Semisane;3759312]One thing I forgot to mention in this report. As noted, I was shooting Triple Seven FFG and using standard precussion caps. I had no ignition problems at all over the course of those 25 shots. As is my standard practice, I swabbed the bore with both sides of one alcohol patch between each shot. There was not even the slightest sign of the dreaded crud ring (zero/zip/nada). I wonder if that's because of precussion caps vs. 209 primers?[/quote]

yes! you are correct...

Backwoods7

Then remingtons are great shooters you gotta keeper there. Mine shoots 1in groups at 100yards with 110gr 777 and a 295gr powerbelt. I have the 209 conversion in mine bit never noticed it causing a powder ring. When I had a encore it always had the ring bit the remingtons are the best mls I've ever seen