...maybe with a C+/B-, But I think I'll keep it.
The GREAT news...after almost 100 rounds through it today, the mount is STILL tight...the surgery WORKED.
But the accuracy? NOT a "tack driver," BUT....
I shot over 40 rounds surplus Albanian at 25 sighting it in. I had enough elevation in the mount, which was my main worry, but I got all rounds finally centered dead on, into about 1" consistantly. While no one-holers, at LEAST it was consistant shoit to shot, not like the last two trips.
Then I went to 100, and with GREAT expectation, shot two 5 shot groups...and when I went to check, one was about 5", the other 6"... but at least centered.
So I checked my rest, got it really secured, got situated, concentrated, breath, squeeze and tried again. This time a 2 1/2 and a 3" 5 shot group, centered about 3=4" high, which is where I wanted it, elevation wise.
THEN it got confusing...
I switched to the WW 180 grain, and fired two 3 shot groups...one was LESS than 1 1/2" the other had two within an inch, with one flyer about 2 1/2 inches from the farthest, BUT....BOTH groups were about 5 to 6" LEFT of center!?!?!?!? But elevation fine!
SO I crank in 24 clicks, and fire my last three WW...and right on! two wthin 1 1/2". one called flyer (jerked it) the two were 3 " high, dead on windage.
BUT get this...I switched BACK to surplus, took my time and shot the BEST group I possibly could, and shot the best surplus 100 yd group ever...all 5 into 3". BUT 4 of the 5 actually into less than 2"...HOWEVER, this group was centered about 4" high, and get this, 6" RIGHT of center!?!?!?!
I split the difference, put 12 clicks LEFT, and fire another 5 shots (didn't hold as tight, I felt) , still 4" high, about 3 inch group, one flyer (had a split case again, think it was the flyer) CENTERED again...
Mount is still tight as a drum, absolutely NO movement...
IS IT POSSIBLE that two different bullet weights/manufacturers can shoot to different WINDAGES???? I've had differences in elevation, and group size, but never WINDAGE before....HHHmmmm...
I finished with two stripper clips fairly rapid fire (not as fast as I could, but squeeze whenever the reticle is roughly centered, work the bolt as fast as possible) and ended up with 9 of 10 shots into 4 1/2" centered about 2" right, about 4" high, with one jerked about 10" high, centered...
Mount is STILL tight, so THAT part is licked anyway.
At least I know the setup IS capaple of repeatable 1 1/2" groups at 100.
It also apparently prefers heavier bullets.
It does NOT like to switch between surplus and WW...
But overall, I'm pretty pleased.
Here's the lowdown...
Barreled action cost - $19.95
Stock - $47.95
NC Star 4x LER lighted reticle Scope and mount - $80
Mechanical skill/effort rating needed to mount it up originally - EASY/basic tool skills, however it SHOT LOOSE!
Mechanical skill/ effort needed to make the MOUNT work, Moderate/Moderate (drill press and tapping work)
The final product I have now I believe would be a decent "Brush Gun" for whitetails. With a little handloading work, I think it would even be capable of consistant 1 1/2" MOA accuracy.
And it was FUN! And what the heck, if I WANTED A/A+, I would have bought a $800 M700 with a Leupold package right???? What fun is THAT, any moron can do THAT!!!!
But I NO LONGER recommend the brass cased Albanian surplus! At LEAST the stuff in a gray spam can! My first can of it a year or so ago (shiny dark green can, late 80s dates) was GREAT. But this SECOND can (light "primer" gray, early 8Os dates) SUCKS. Two split cases so far, BIG variance in case rim thickness, some cases feed like butter, others you have to use various pressure to close the bolt, sometimes have to FORCE the bolt closed, feeding/stripper issues etc.
The WW cases (S&B actually) fed like BUTTER consistently.
The GREAT news...after almost 100 rounds through it today, the mount is STILL tight...the surgery WORKED.
But the accuracy? NOT a "tack driver," BUT....
I shot over 40 rounds surplus Albanian at 25 sighting it in. I had enough elevation in the mount, which was my main worry, but I got all rounds finally centered dead on, into about 1" consistantly. While no one-holers, at LEAST it was consistant shoit to shot, not like the last two trips.
Then I went to 100, and with GREAT expectation, shot two 5 shot groups...and when I went to check, one was about 5", the other 6"... but at least centered.
So I checked my rest, got it really secured, got situated, concentrated, breath, squeeze and tried again. This time a 2 1/2 and a 3" 5 shot group, centered about 3=4" high, which is where I wanted it, elevation wise.
THEN it got confusing...
I switched to the WW 180 grain, and fired two 3 shot groups...one was LESS than 1 1/2" the other had two within an inch, with one flyer about 2 1/2 inches from the farthest, BUT....BOTH groups were about 5 to 6" LEFT of center!?!?!?!? But elevation fine!
SO I crank in 24 clicks, and fire my last three WW...and right on! two wthin 1 1/2". one called flyer (jerked it) the two were 3 " high, dead on windage.
BUT get this...I switched BACK to surplus, took my time and shot the BEST group I possibly could, and shot the best surplus 100 yd group ever...all 5 into 3". BUT 4 of the 5 actually into less than 2"...HOWEVER, this group was centered about 4" high, and get this, 6" RIGHT of center!?!?!?!
I split the difference, put 12 clicks LEFT, and fire another 5 shots (didn't hold as tight, I felt) , still 4" high, about 3 inch group, one flyer (had a split case again, think it was the flyer) CENTERED again...
Mount is still tight as a drum, absolutely NO movement...
IS IT POSSIBLE that two different bullet weights/manufacturers can shoot to different WINDAGES???? I've had differences in elevation, and group size, but never WINDAGE before....HHHmmmm...
I finished with two stripper clips fairly rapid fire (not as fast as I could, but squeeze whenever the reticle is roughly centered, work the bolt as fast as possible) and ended up with 9 of 10 shots into 4 1/2" centered about 2" right, about 4" high, with one jerked about 10" high, centered...
Mount is STILL tight, so THAT part is licked anyway.
At least I know the setup IS capaple of repeatable 1 1/2" groups at 100.
It also apparently prefers heavier bullets.
It does NOT like to switch between surplus and WW...
But overall, I'm pretty pleased.
Here's the lowdown...
Barreled action cost - $19.95
Stock - $47.95
NC Star 4x LER lighted reticle Scope and mount - $80
Mechanical skill/effort rating needed to mount it up originally - EASY/basic tool skills, however it SHOT LOOSE!
Mechanical skill/ effort needed to make the MOUNT work, Moderate/Moderate (drill press and tapping work)
The final product I have now I believe would be a decent "Brush Gun" for whitetails. With a little handloading work, I think it would even be capable of consistant 1 1/2" MOA accuracy.
And it was FUN! And what the heck, if I WANTED A/A+, I would have bought a $800 M700 with a Leupold package right???? What fun is THAT, any moron can do THAT!!!!
But I NO LONGER recommend the brass cased Albanian surplus! At LEAST the stuff in a gray spam can! My first can of it a year or so ago (shiny dark green can, late 80s dates) was GREAT. But this SECOND can (light "primer" gray, early 8Os dates) SUCKS. Two split cases so far, BIG variance in case rim thickness, some cases feed like butter, others you have to use various pressure to close the bolt, sometimes have to FORCE the bolt closed, feeding/stripper issues etc.
The WW cases (S&B actually) fed like BUTTER consistently.