So it was range day today, and Proud Hillbilly and Bruce came along, making for a decent outing.
I took the Long Branch Enfield out for it's test-firing, and I'm pleased to say that it really shot well.
The trigger breaks clean and smooth with just a few pounds of pressure and the first shot was near perfect, after which it grouped nicely at 100 yards, although it put the group low right. Checking the stock more carefully, I found it to be loose up near the muzzle. I think the first shot loosened something up or somehow shifted the barreled action in the stock channel. Or maybe I just missed that since I was so concerned about the stock fit back at the receiver. Anyway...figuring I could try to fix it by tightening the forward barrel band, I took a screwdriver and tightened the screw. This took out much of the play in the stock, so, thus encouraged, I tightened it more. Now almost all of the play was gone. This must have been the problem, I thought. And wanting ALL of the play out, I give the screw one more little quarter turn and...SNAP! There went the screw, and the band popped open like a cheerleader's prom dress.
So now I need a new screw, and maybe a new band if I can't get the remains of the old screw out f that one. Big sigh. Just goes to show you that there's a fine line between "I've almost got it" and "Aw, shit."
But I'll get this fixed, and we'll be back out again. This rifle shoots too nice not to invest some more time and effort into it...besides, it's fun.
Hey Murphy.
ReplyDeleteDang...that sucks.....We at work have a saying..."If it ain't broke...fix it until it is". I have had stuff like that happen to me...and it bites...but you fix it and roll on
Hopefully you will need only a new screw.
ReplyDeleteDon't matter. The only place I can find so far that will sell me just the screw also has a $20.00 minimum order policy. Arrrgh!
DeleteI broke more than one M-1/M-2 Carbine stock trying to get that oil can/sling to seat properly. Same thing. When it happens, I feel like a monkey trying to fk a football.
ReplyDeleteI feel ya. I hate, hate, HATE trying to thread that mess together. Never broke a stock though. Those are scarce now.
DeleteSarco and Numerich would have the parts, and I don't think they have a minimum order. That Enfield looks really good. The fact that it is a Long Branch gun is makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Sarco is the one with the minimum order. I found one somewhere else though, and ordered two, just in case. And a new barrel band, since I wasn't impressed with the condition of that one anyway. Even found a genuine Long Branch band.
Delete"popped open like a cheerleader's prom dress"
ReplyDeleteCLASSIC!
Degreaser followed by a drop of BLUE loctite and moderate torque. Saves lots of cursing later.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's Tommy this and Tommy that, and Tommy broke the *$%*^%&*! screw.
ReplyDelete"a fine line between "I've almost got it" and "Aw, shit.""
ReplyDeleteI have a lump on the inside of my wrist that I acquired when 17 or so to remind me of that.
Glad you found the spare parts already.