Accuracy for the lever gun

[miningshawn]

Working on an accuracy load for the Mossberg 464 (the ugly plastic 30-30). I don't often get suckered into buying a rifle, but this one drug me in. I just love the ugly little beast with a ton of bad personality. I hung a Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4 on it and i am working up a CFE223 ladder, because I have over 25lbs of it. Exactly none of the books I have cover it (Lyman 50th, Hornady 10th, Sierra 5th and 6th, Nosler 8th, and Berger). So I am going from the Hodgdon Website and the almighty internet.

The Load:
- New Starline Brass
- Remington 9 1/2's (the last 1400 I have)
- Hornady FTX 160gr
- CFE223 (looking like 31.6 - 34.3 in 0.3gr increments)



My question here is how do you go about getting repeatable results on the bench? I have to pick the rifle up or turn it sideways to operate the lever, so I am forced to completely re-acquire my position and sight picture every shot. I could stack a bunch of blocks and bags up; or, should I wet and dry a cheap bag and talcum powder it after? I normally shoot bolt and AR groups from the bench or ground with a bipod and bag, which will not work well with a lever.

I don't hate this trigger, it certainly isn't as bad as an AR, and I should be able to work through it. It breaks around 5.5lbs. I will have to find a way to squeeze the lever without introducing a bunch of movement while squeezing the trigger.

I'll take any advice, I really would like to hear how anyone has set up a good and repeatable operation for lever gun accuracy before I go use some more irreplaceable primers.... So glad 2020 is in the rear view mirror.

 

[Homerange]

Get some Caldwell bags and pack them higher so you can work the lever without needing to move the rifle.
Sit on a cushion if you heed to get higher to meet the now higher rifle properly.

Heavy triggers can be made lighter to use with the addition of a trigger shoe if you can find one nowadays.

Butt ugly that thing is however beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....but what really matters is how it shoots.

 

[OLeveraction]

I don't even try to do more than bags anymore.
Even with raising everything up to lever the action there is to much movement, and every shot has to be adjusted.
The Butt drop of most lever guns don't accommodate benchrest.
Most of my lever guns need to set on the front rest at the barrel/receiver connection not to easy on a benchrest.
They are off hand shooters anyways.

 

[Randall D]

Ugly? Yes. But like you I find the usefulness in these to be so much fun. I bag or use a front rest and squeeze bag the back to develop a 1 inch or less group at 50 yards and then shoot Kneeling or off hand at 200 with open sights as they were originally designed for. For me it's just plain fun.
P.S. at pushing 60 my eyes aren't that good anymore so I use bigger targets.
Looks like a really fun project. Enjoy!!!

 

[Uncle Ed]

I wish I had known you were looking for a specialty rifle, my son would have sold you the over and under he made. He calls this rifle a Mossbuggery....................

 

[ebb]

Uncle is that real????? It can't be can it??? I love the seat belt

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Instead of the branch, you could use that short pic rail in the front and put it on a tripod! That would solve your cocking interference issue and really amp up the juxtaposition of old school and new age. I don’t know that it would help with repeatability though. Your still gonna have trouble with things moving around when you cock it.

 

[David Milisock]

I've been shooting since about the time I first learned to ride a bike and in my experiance those ugly rifles take alot of game. Ike was in office.

I wouldn't worry about the bench accuracy, that much repositioning after each shot is not going to give you bench rest groups even from a bench rest rifle.

Work your loads, then learn to work the rifle. The most effective rifleman is the person who has one rifle and knows how to use it.

I have a 444 Marlin with factory iron sights, Elk, Bear or Deer, give me 5 seconds to aquire and fire, out to 200 yards it's on the table.

Now my Marlin isn't esthetically ugly but in terms of precision shooting it certainly is.

 

[Uncle Ed]

Uncle is that real????? It can't be can it??? I love the seat belt

ebb

This is accurateshooter.com and the members here are very refined, and that is not a seat belt, it is called a restraint device.

P.S. The rifle is from an end of the world movie, and a movie prop. And the restraint device came from a 1964 Rambler Station Wagon.

No firearms or Ramblers were hurt or injured during the making of this posting.

 

[rr2030]

P.S. The rifle is from an end of the world movie, and a movie prop. And the restraint device came from a 1964 Rambler Station Wagon.

Impressive, that lap belt preceded the 1968 mandatory safety equipment in all USA manufactured vehicles. Rambler was way ahead of the times, or was it a non OEM add-on ?

 

[CaptainMal]

I have tuned all of my Marlin 30-30's and bench shot them to 600 yards. At 300 yards, two of them make 3-4" groups with triggers changed to about 3# and some stock/barrel band grinding to free up the barrel a bit.

What kind of mods you can do to that Mossberg is unknown to me. Shooting from a bench is NOT a problem. Look at where you place the forend and butt. Then just tip it sideways, eject a case, place another in and tip it back in the same place.

It works but I am a long-time benchrest shooter and have a certain "feel" for things like this. Play a bit and you will find that tipping issue to be of little detriment for the accuracy level of the rifle.

One tip - I have only 223 experience with CFE 223 and use LeverRevolution with my FTX's. Seat the FTX out past the cannelure if you action can operate like that. For my Marlins's there is no issue and that seating depth out a bit seems to help me a bit with accuracy.

 

[ebb]

Ed you are mistaken in 1964 no Ramblers had seat belts.

 

[Bill K]

My old Rambler sure did not have them. Watch out Feinstein and others will be after that evil looking assault rifle/shotgun and it even has some black on it.. the most dangerous one's all have that, you know.. SMILE.

 

[bozo699]

Ed you are mistaken in 1964 no Ramblers had seat belts.

Correct!... I had a 63 and a 64 and neither had them but my buddies 66 did.
Wayne

 

[chop house]

I just love the ugly little beast

sorry, just can't

now, back to the original question.... you are describing the exact problem i have with the savage bolt lift... as i've said it is more like shooting 5 one shot groups....

does that thing have a short pic rail? try a pic bag rider from urban rifleman...

 

[Uncle Ed]

Ed you are mistaken in 1964 no Ramblers had seat belts.

My dads 1950 Packard didn't have seat belts but his 1964 Rambler did, they were listed under optional safety equipment. meaning you paid more for them. If you were a cheap bastard then your Rambler didn't have seat belts.

1964 Rambler Classic 770 Cross Country Wagon
https://www.kloompy.com/cars/1964-rambler-classic-770-cross-country-wagon_i13150

1964 Rambler Classic 770 Cross Country Wagon, 77,000 miles, totally rust free, gorgeous Woodside Green paint, perfect original Green interior, beautiful chrome and trim, smooth and thrifty 196 cu in 140 HP 6 cylinder engine, automatic transmission, loaded with options including power steering, power brakes, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM radio, dual side view mirrors, remote mirror, floor mats, fully reclining split bench seat, roof rack with canvas luggage carrier, seat belts, dual master cylinder, windshield washer, radial white wall tires, original spare tire, cigarette lighter and ash tray never used, all books and literature, always garaged, meticulously maintained, very rare and drives like new!

 

[ebb]

I learned to drive in a 1954 Chevrolet, and after he traded the Belair in dad would let me practice in the Rambler. I don't remember the year but it was seat belt free. It was junk compared to the Chevy. Those were his work cars mom had a new 63 Belair with a 250 inline 6 and a powerglide. I don't think any of dads ramblers (he had 2) had enough power to make anyone think they needed to wear a seat belt.

 

[yotehater]

You might try one of these inexpensive tripod type shooting rests for AR's that have the twin rails. While not bench steady they do a pretty good job if you are careful and not bump it out of sight. And you can work the lever without picking up the gun.

Mine is the Caldwell Deadshot Fieldpod Max

 

[EOD Rob]

I wish I had known you were looking for a specialty rifle, my son would have sold you the over and under he made. He calls this rifle a Mossbuggery....................

Bro, that thing is sweet!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Man that thing is some kind of awful ugly. Im hoping the rights to all the lever guns went to ruger with marlin. That thing should never see production again- probably one of the main reasons for the bankruptcy