New .223 Henry Long Ranger

[titus123]

So my Wife talked me into buying a Henry Long Ranger in .223/5.56 Saturday. I plan to reload for it, but I'm honestly not sure where to start. This is my first time reloading for a lever action, though this one is magazine fed, and the magazine length is fairly long for .223/5.56. Does anyone here have experience with loading bottleneck cartridges in a lever action?

 

[thatguyshm]

Treat it just like a bolt action. I hunt with a Winchester Model 88 in 308, it has a removable magazine as well. I use 150gr gold dots with it, very accurate for what it is. There no real trick, just make sure it fits in the magazine and go.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Nice looking rifle. Since 223 ammo is available, cheaper than most centerfire, you can try some premium factory first. Otherwise measure the chamber length, distance to lands for some base information for reloads.
1/9 twist so there are some good bullet options to try, including target types.

 

[titus123]

Treat it just like a bolt action. I hunt with a Winchester Model 88 in 308, it has a removable magazine as well. I use 150gr gold dots with it, very accurate for what it is. There no real trick, just make sure it fits in the magazine and go.

That was my thinking, it is basically just a sophisticated-ish bolt action

 

[titus123]

Nice looking rifle. Since 223 ammo is available, cheaper than most centerfire, you can try some premium factory first. Otherwise measure the chamber length, distance to lands for some base information for reloads.
1/9 twist so there are some good bullet options to try, including target types.

I have a stock pile of various " match grade" 223 on hand. Figures I'd test some of those to get an idea of what weight bullets it prefers, then tailor hand loads from here

 

[thatguyshm]

Perfect idea. You'll find how it wants to be run in that time too. It's frustrating at times because every single shot you are resetting your shooting position, so just remember it will take more time to get equal results to a bolt action.

Keep us updated, I've been watching these Long Rangers since they came out. I would love to get a 308 to send off to JES to turn into a lever 338 Federal.

 

[titus123]

Perfect idea. You'll find how it wants to be run in that time too. It's frustrating at times because every single shot you are resetting your shooting position, so just remember it will take more time to get equal results to a bolt action.

Keep us updated, I've been watching these Long Rangers since they came out. I would love to get a 308 to send off to JES to turn into a lever 338 Federal.

That would be an awesome set up.
THough I'm not familiar with JES.

 

[Eggman30]

Who is JES , and what can he do , I would love to have Henry Longer in a .221 Fireball

 

[titus123]

Who is JES , and what can he do , I would love to have Henry Longer in a .221 Fireball

Same

 

[STOMP442]

I had one. I wish it shot as beautiful as it looks. Best I could get with mine was a touch over MOA with just about any combo of bullet and powder I could get my hands on. CFE223 and 53Vmaxs seemed to shoot the most consistently out of it.

 

[Eggman30]

I had one. I wish it shot as beautiful as it looks. Best I could get with mine was a touch over MOA with just about any combo of bullet and powder I could get my hands on. CFE223 and 53Vmaxs seemed to shoot the most consistently out of it.

That's what neighbor says about his 6.5 Creedmoor in Henry LR, I sure wish it shot as good as it looks

 

[titus123]

I had one. I wish it shot as beautiful as it looks. Best I could get with mine was a touch over MOA with just about any combo of bullet and powder I could get my hands on. CFE223 and 53Vmaxs seemed to shoot the most consistently out of it.

I've heard that some some shoot really well and others are MOA at best. We shall find out

 

[thatguyshm]

JES Reboring only does rebores. Give them a Google and you'll see lots of talk about them through the different forums over the years.

 

[wkndwarrior]

My long ranger likes 69 grain SMK's over 25.1gr of Varget at 2.305 OAL. I get around .5 MOA at 2870 FPS. Remington BR primers.

I can't remember exact numbers, but when I bought it the trigger pull was something crazy like 6 or 7lbs. I installed trigger shims on all of the pivot points and brought it down to around 3.5 lbs and made the action as smooth as glass. It's definitely one of my favorite rifles.

 

[tbs]

That is just a great looking rifle, hope it shoots good for you.

 

[searcher]

Nice looking rifle. I wish my wife talked me into buying guns......

 

[Knotwild]

Reboring by JES

 

[Leo_B]

That's a beautiful rifle. I want two, the basic H001 .22lr and whichever is the model in .327 Fed Mag. Hopefully one of them will be next year's new gun.