Trailblazer
12-18-2005, 03:34 PM
I lucked into a good combination for my remodeled Sears 100 30-30. The rifle is the Sears version of the post 64 top eject Winchester 94. Mine originally had a 20" barrel. I bought a 24" AE barrel from Numrich for it. The barrel comes with the magazine tube for the princely sum of $45.00. I did have to cut a new extractor slot to fit the top eject action. Other than that it screwed right on and headspace seems to be just a hair tighter than the original barrel. This is the rifle with the longer barrel and the original forearm:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/355634.jpg ([url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=355634&c=557&z=1")
It just didn't look right with the short forearm so I made a longer one which isn't quite finished yet:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/355637.jpg ([url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=355637&c=557&z=1")
I have now shot the rifle twice with the new barrel in the levergun silhouette match. The 20" barrel liked the Lyman 311466 which is the 152 gr. Loverin. I shot the first match with the 24" barrel with the Lyman boolit a couple months ago. Results were not encouraging. Although the longer sight radius with the longer barrel really helps with iron sights, the load didn't seem to shoot very well. I put it on paper after the match and it patterned 5 rounds into 4" at 50 yds. Because of the longer sight radius I still didn't embarass myself as I scored a 28.
For yesterdays match I cast up some of the Saeco 311's which is a 165 gr. bore rider. When I tried some in the rifle and the rifling engraved the nose I got that warm fuzzy feeling that I had a winner! I did have to crimp them to keep the rifling from shoving the bullets deeper into the cases which I did with the Lee factory crimp die. I loaded them with 21 gr. IMR4198. It was overcast and dark and I forgot my good glasses so I wasn't real optimistic about how well I would do at the match. When I started shooting the match the warm fuzzy feeling returned. That 24" barrel really helps the tired eyes and the boolits seemed to be going right where it was pointed! The only trouble with this load is that there are no excuses. If you miss it is the fault of the nut behind the butt. I did not put it on paper and it probably isn't going to set any bench rest records but dang it sure shot good off hand!
http://www.hunt101.com/img/355634.jpg ([url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=355634&c=557&z=1")
It just didn't look right with the short forearm so I made a longer one which isn't quite finished yet:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/355637.jpg ([url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=355637&c=557&z=1")
I have now shot the rifle twice with the new barrel in the levergun silhouette match. The 20" barrel liked the Lyman 311466 which is the 152 gr. Loverin. I shot the first match with the 24" barrel with the Lyman boolit a couple months ago. Results were not encouraging. Although the longer sight radius with the longer barrel really helps with iron sights, the load didn't seem to shoot very well. I put it on paper after the match and it patterned 5 rounds into 4" at 50 yds. Because of the longer sight radius I still didn't embarass myself as I scored a 28.
For yesterdays match I cast up some of the Saeco 311's which is a 165 gr. bore rider. When I tried some in the rifle and the rifling engraved the nose I got that warm fuzzy feeling that I had a winner! I did have to crimp them to keep the rifling from shoving the bullets deeper into the cases which I did with the Lee factory crimp die. I loaded them with 21 gr. IMR4198. It was overcast and dark and I forgot my good glasses so I wasn't real optimistic about how well I would do at the match. When I started shooting the match the warm fuzzy feeling returned. That 24" barrel really helps the tired eyes and the boolits seemed to be going right where it was pointed! The only trouble with this load is that there are no excuses. If you miss it is the fault of the nut behind the butt. I did not put it on paper and it probably isn't going to set any bench rest records but dang it sure shot good off hand!