But it's not all Beer and Skittles - I have only fired 70 or so Shots from the Rifle and I have had 13 Cartridges Fail to Fire due to light Hammer Strikes.
Now the interesting bit - When I took it back to the Dealer to have the Light Hammer Strikes repaired under Warrantee he informed me that the Warrantee would not be honoured unless I could prove the Light Hammer Strikes with Factory Ammo and not the Handloads I have been using. He is happy to send it back to the distributor for repair but cautions if it goes "Bang" when they put a Factory Load in it I will have to pay Freight and for their Time. Sticks in my Craw Big Time - I will not be buying Factory Loads - their is nothing wrong with my Handloads. Principals Folks, I will not compromise my Principals.
I have used Winchester, CCI and 2 different batches of Remington Primers, the worst offender being the Remingtons just to satisfy myself it is a mechanical issue. I have paid very close attention to Primer seating depth. Today I bought some Federal Primers as they are supposed to be the Softest and will be trying them tomorrow. I fully expect more Cartridges to Fail to Fire. The Locktime is markedly slower and softer than my 3 other Lever Rifles.
I know it's an easy fix, Shim the Hammer Spring but to be told my Warrantee is Void because I shoot Handloads
Back to the Happy Things - Load Development. 40 grains ADI AR2206H [ Hodgdon 4895H ] 405 gr Lee HB proj OAL 2.585, cast from straight Aircooled Wheel Weights and lubed with Lee Liquid Alox leaded the barrel severly and printed a 5" group at 50 yards. Approx Velocity 1420 fps. I was shooting off what amounts to a Card Table in the middle of a Cow Paddock so a very unstable Bench.
Same Load but Lubed with LLA blended with Parrafin and STP Oil Treatment - minor Leading but hugely improved groups
The first 5 shots are in the Bottom of the V and as the slight Leading built up, the wind Blew and the Table woobled the impact shifted low and Right. I think this mild Trapddor Leval Load shows a lot of Promise. Recoil was a Big Slow Push and I could sit at a Bench all day with a load like this. It would generate more than adequite Performance to Hunt any Critter I'm likely to Hunt. Plan is to buy a Gas Checked Mould though and step things up some.,
Next I shot 45gr AR2206H 350 gr Westcast commercial Hardcast [ they have a Teflon Like Coating ] OAL 2.540 The group is in the Left of the Photo, the 2 holes cutting each other - the other 3 Shots Failed to Fire
I Pan Lubed a Heap of Proj last night with White Label Carnuba Red blended into Bees Wax with a little ATF added. Works good with my 35.303 at 1885 fps so should solve any leading issues. If not I could drop a grain or 2 Powder or alter my Wheels Weight Alloy. Gotta make my Mind Up re the Gas Checked Mould
It is interesting to note that if I pay attention to OAL my Rio Grande will Feed and Chamber a 2.585 OAL Cartridge with the Lee 405 HB proj seated. Now I gotta sort out this light Hammer Strike thing.
regards Jacko
