I put a scope on the last rifle that dad ever built the other day it was a Douglas barred 308 Win, on a 98 Mauser action. He cut the barrel down to 22 inch and put it in a synthetic stock. He was wanting a feather weight rifle for dear and elk hunting in the Big Horn Range. I remember when he started it about 4 years ago before he started having problems getting around. It doesn't look like much, because he never had it polished and blued. The last thing dad would do is polish and blue a gun. He wanted to make sure everything else was right on it.
I had a small bag of once fired military brass, so I dug out 20 pcs and went to work on it. After I cleaned it up, reworked the primer pockets and flash holes, then resized them, I started digging through the books looking for a load. I chose the Lee 309-180-RN out of my 50/50 alloy. The gas check is my standard 11 thousandths Bud Light aluminum bottle, and all sized to 0.309 dia., and was tumble lubed 3x in straight JPW. I used a CCI large rifle primer, and 35 grains of IMR4064. I seated the boolit to where the gas check was still in the neck and the riflings just barely left a mark on the boolit when I chambered and then extracted a loaded round.
I sat down at the 50 yard mark and shot. Centered up but 3 inches low, but at least I was on the paper which was better than I usually end up with when installing a scope. I shot two more shots and had a lovely 3 leaf clover. So far so good. I moved the scope up 16 clicks which should have been 2 inches at the 50 yards, and let the gun cool back to the ambient temp of the early morning air. I shot the fourth shot, and it was right there with the first three. The scope must not have moved. I bumped it and shot again. Now I have a 5 shot group that I can't quite cover with a nickle but can easily cover with a quarter. I raise the scope 16 more clicks, chamber a round, take aim and fire. Now I have a six shot group I can still cover with a quarter. While the gun was cooling I cranked the turret one full turn. When I went to shoot the boolit went in with the rest of them.
I shot the rest of the box of shells at a basket ball sized rock on the hillside about 120 yards away. I could smack it every time if I held over it about 6 inches. After I finished off the box of shells I loaded up and came home pleased and disappointed at the same time. Dad knew how to put together a shooter, which pleased me, but having that 45+ year old Maverick Scope not work was a disappointment. I should have known better than to have used it considering I found it on the bottom shelf of dad's work bench, but it had a set of steel Redfield rings on it and Dad had put a Redfield base on the gun. I say that scope is 45 years old or older. I remember dad having it on a couple of different guns when I was a very very young.
I had ran the remaining rounds through fairly quickly. I wanted to see if I would have any leading problems. I was pleased to be able to look through the bore when I got home and see shiny riflings that were not filled with gunk. I changed the old scope out and put on an older Tasco made back in the early 90's but it was new in the box. I hope it is not raining tomorrow so I can see if this one will zero. I know the gun will shoot and shoot well, I just may have to buy a scope and I don't have the spare money to buy one this month. If this old Tasco will work I will probably deer hunt with it. Also I will post some targets from tomorrows trip if I get to take it.
Best wishes,
Joe
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Originally Posted by Az Rick
