[frenchy]

Your a good man my friend.

[spinecracker]

The saga contineus. I didn't end up selling the 1941 Long Branch but, due to other circumstances, I had the chance to restore it to 1941 configuration. Photos are here:

Restored Long Branch 1941 pictures by spinecracker - Photobucket

It was a labour of love (you do not know how much early Long Branch parts cost until you try to find them - just the hinged front band sells for $350 at Springfield Sporters - yikes!), but the bills keep on mounting and it has to go.

[spinecracker]

Time for a range report. Because of tired eyes, I decided to scope the rifle. I went with the Fulton's steel "no-gunsmithing" mount ($200 from BDL Ltd. - expensive, but worth it - steady as a rock). The scope is a very cheap (but surprisingly good )Tasco Pronghorn 4-9x2. Here goes for details:

Weather on during shoot was no wind, 90 degrees F, excellent visibility, no haze. Shooting was performed seated using a bag front rest. Ammo was Sierra 174gr .311 GPBT, 38.3gr Varget, Prvi brass and CCI large rifle primers. Typical 5-round grouping at 100 yards was 1" or better (best was 0.75"). Last 3 rounds at 200 yards made a 1" grouping. I did try out the Hornady .312 174gr BTHP too, which was about the same at 100 yards, but things opened out slightly at 200 yards.

This photo was taken of the 100 yard target after the first series of 5 rounds. The right hand most hole is acutally 2 holes, but it is very hard to make out. The left upper hole was my flincher in this series of 5:

[spinecracker]

Went out again this weekend with the 1941 Long Branch, with everything the same as the time before, except that I had taken the scope and mount off and tried it on a different rifle, then put it back on, so it needed to be rezeroed. The bottom hole was my sighter after boresighting at 100 yards (a bit flukey lol), and then I fired 5 rounds. Group size using "On Target" software is 0.45" - whoopie!!!!