Range Report 44-40 Spencer

[PvtGreg]

Hi All,

Got to the Range today.  The pic is an 8in visi-shot over a large silhouette visi-shot.



20 rounds at 50 yrds.  The rifle has a noticeable left hand bias, but I was pleased with the way it shot, as you all can see.  A few fliers.  POA was dead center & I was benched.  Factory cowboy loads and the site was set at 50 yards.  I'll have to do some careful adjustments on the back sight, but I think I can zero it ok.

A couple of things about the rifle.  I am still very pleased with the fit and finish, but there were two small defects that i decided to fix myself.

1) The hammer engaged the percussion plat on the last 1/16" of the plate.  It shot my test blanks ok in that state, but I would be concerned it would casue extra stress on the percussion plate retention screws.  I noticed the hammer wasn't all the way down the hammer post on the tumbler, so I did some gentle filing and got the hammer seated right so it now completely engages the percussion plate.

2) The follower would pop out if I would bump the bottom of the end of the follower.  It ends up the metal bit (you have to remove the butt plate to see it) that engages the slot cut in around the end opposite the L of the follower was not high enough, so any slight bumping of the follower that resulted it it moving upward even a tiny bit would cause it to pop out.  I'm making a slightly longer bit to solve the issue.  I've temporarily dealt with the issue with a half turn of duct tape around the top of the follower (the L end) to keep it from wiggling, which worked well.

Annoying issues but I'd rather deal with them then sending it back to Chiappia.

Thanks - PvtGreg  

[Herbert]

A good start should get better with a run in and a little work

[PvtGreg]

Thanks Herbert.  The barrel slugs to .4285 the factory loads say they're .427 so I expect if I use .430 I should be good.

Another thing about the rifle - unlike my 56-50, the trigger pull is nice and crisp - I would say 6-7 lbs.  My 56-50 was about 15 lbs. before I worked on it.   

[Herbert]

The small bullet would account for the fliers,.430 bullet will fix that,keep us informed on how thing progress.Another good plan is to get  Lee custom sizing die 1 or 2 thou over groove diameter