Issues with henry long ranger possibly forend.

[john 800]

My dad has had a henry long ranger n 6.5 creedmore for several years. It has always shot reasonably accurate, depending on how well it liked the load, maybe moa or a bot under, other loads not quite as tight, but never so bad that you wouldn’t be able to shoot a deer at 2-300 yds. All the sudden this summer it decided to start shooting 12”-24” inch groups at 100 yds. Through the process of checking scopes and mounts, there were a few good groups then they would open up again. One thing he found the other day os that the forend is a little warped and touching the barrel, and he hasn’t been back out to the range with it. If it was from 1” groups to 3” groups I would say thats a smoking gun… but two FOOT groups at 100? From a forend touching the barrel, Is that realistic?
If its not a optic or mount issue and the forend does not fix it what else should be looked at?

 

[243winxb]

but two FOOT groups at 100? From a forend touching the barrel, Is that realistic?

Copper fouling?

Have seen groups that big out of 2 rifles in 30-30. Facrory Ammo problem.

My lever action Marlin M39 22lr changed the groups point of impack from year to year, till i floated the forearm wood.

 

[joshb]

Check the crown, open up the barrel channel and bore scope it for “issues”.
Do you know how many rounds went thru it?

“Through the process of checking scopes and mounts, there were a few good groups then they would open up again.”
That sounds fishy, like something is loosening up quickly.

 

[john 800]

Copper fouling?

Have seen groups that big out of 2 rifles in 30-30. Facrory Ammo problem.

My lever action Marlin M39 22lr changed the groups point of impack from year to year, till i floated the forearm wood.

cleaning did not seem to have an effect on it.

 

[Bill K]

I would start with checking the crown for damage. May need redone and a new crown worked on the barrel.
Very easy to see if the forearm is the issue, just remove some of the wood where it is touching and see.

 

[john 800]

Check the crown, open up the barrel channel and bore scope it for “issues”.
Do you know how many rounds went thru it?

“Through the process of checking scopes and mounts, there were a few good groups then they would open up again.”
That sounds fishy, like something is loosening up quickly.

A little more info and insight regarding rounds: Last fall before deer season he verified zero and it shot fine, he then tried some significantly different ammo, and it shot a little bigger group at a different point of aim, he decided just to hunt with it with the old ammo, took his deer, put it in the safe. This year he was trying several kinds of ammo that were not grouping, then went back to the store older stuff that shot well (same box) and that shot terrible as well. Switch scopes first group was good, then they opened up again. He has been through roughly 3-4 boxes of ammo. My gut feeling is that the forend isn’t going to solve his problem.

 

[john 800]

Also, the crown does not have any damage I can see.

 

[CCM]

I've had 2 Long Rangers come into the shop now that jumped time in the rack for the bolt. Check to make sure the bolt is closing locking all the way.

Check that the buttstock drawbolt is tight, same with the forend bolt.

Other than that, I would think either the barrel is extremely fouled or there is an issue with the optic/mount. I know you said you addressed both already. Did you scope the bore and make sure all the copper has been removed?

 

[joshb]

Buy him a Tikka for Christmas.

 

[john 800]

Buy him a Tikka for Christmas.

I tried to talk him into a bolt when he bought the henry but he like the henry better at the time. I am not far off from doing that.

 

[john 800]

I've had 2 Long Rangers come into the shop now that jumped time in the rack for the bolt. Check to make sure the bolt is closing locking all the way.

Check that the buttstock drawbolt is tight, same with the forend bolt.

Other than that, I would think either the barrel is extremely fouled or there is an issue with the optic/mount. I know you said you addressed both already. Did you scope the bore and make sure all the copper has been removed?

His did have an issue with the rack when it was new, seemed to be corrected under warranty. I am still very suspect of the mount inserts.

 

[CCM]

His did have an issue with the rack when it was new, seemed to be corrected under warranty. I am still very suspect of the mount inserts.

That could certainly be an issue. One more thing to check, is the firing pin and channel. If it's rusty or dirty it can cause a lot of issues.

 

[Ringostar]

I’m not familiar with the rifle, so have to ask how does the barrel mount to the action? Many years ago I hunted with a Rem 742. It suddenly started shooting everywhere. I changed out scope and mounts, and still couldn’t put 2 shots together for sighting. Then noticed that the barrel was loose and I could wiggle it. The barrel didn’t thread in like a bolt gun.

 

[outasite`08]

Contact Henry to see if they have any suggestions. They may have had to deal with this issue before. Good luck. Jeff

 

[AlNyhus]

Henry has an excellent customer satisfaction and warranty program. My suggestion is to give them the opportunity to correct the issue.

 

[joshb]

His did have an issue with the rack when it was new, seemed to be corrected under warranty. I am still very suspect of the mount inserts.

Yup! If you tighten everything down, get 1 good group and then it starts to shotgun, it sure sounds like the base is loosening up on you.

 

[ArtinNC]

cleaning did not seem to have an effect on it.

How do you know that the Barrel is reallt clean ? The carbon ring at the start of the barrel is really hard to clean out , and a patch may come out clean ,and the barrel still be fouled , And the forend of the stock should be cut out to not touch thr barrel would really help .

 

[john 800]

How do you know that the Barrel is reallt clean ? The carbon ring at the start of the barrel is really hard to clean out , and a patch may come out clean ,and the barrel still be fouled , And the forend of the stock should be cut out to not touch thr barrel would really help .

I really can’t verify it without a borescope, I guess I may have to get one, but the rifle cant have mych more than 100 rounds through it in its life. It gets zeroed, and shot at deer and thats about it.

 

[john 800]

Henry has an excellent customer satisfaction and warranty program. My suggestion is to give them the opportunity to correct the issue.

I wonder if it would still be covered under warranty, I guess I assumed it was out, ill hav eto look into that

 

[ArtinNC]

A couple 200 rounds it would not have much of a carbon ring , that would cause trouble ,