Well my new Henry Long Ranger arrived a few weeks ago. At NZ$2,000 it was not cheap 
and I looked at a nice vary power scope for it, but at another NZ$600 decided to wait.
I put on a no brand 3-9 X 40 scope and used a laser cartridge to get the scope "on paper", Unfortunately the laser cartridge, which chambered easily in my former Mini- 14 wouldn't allow the bolt on the Henry to close. Today took the rifle to the range. I was sighting in a couple of guns (Browning Buckmark and CZ75 PCC Carbine that I have fitted new Vortex Crossfire red dot sights to so I was set up on my club's 50 meter range.
The first three rounds at 25 meters off an improved rest grouped top left of the 25 meter ISSF target. After a while I had three rounds at 12 o'clock 50mm (2 inches) above POA. I moved a new target back to the 50 meter line and started to refine the scope setting. After another dozen rounds I had 3 rounds in the 10 ring just to the left of centre and a fourth (second round fired, called flyer) just to the left again in the 9 ring.
I turned the scope 2 clicks up and 2 clicks right and called it a day. I also have to resight my Mauser .243 after changing the scope and Win '94 30-30 after fitting a Lyman tang sight, so after my last competition of the year (7th-8th December) I will schedule some time on the 100 meter range with all three rifles.
One thing though, several times I had difficulty closing the Henry's bolt on a round. Now these were my own reloads and it may be that my sizing die is a bit sloppy, but like the laser cartridge I never had any issues with chambering these reloads in my Mini-14. I am suspecting an very tight chamber in the Henry.
I will "borrow" (liberate) some factory rounds from my brother and if they chamber properly I will have to visit my LGS and source a tight factory sizing die. Either that or ask my local gunsmith if he has a .223 chamber reamer on hand
and I looked at a nice vary power scope for it, but at another NZ$600 decided to wait.I put on a no brand 3-9 X 40 scope and used a laser cartridge to get the scope "on paper", Unfortunately the laser cartridge, which chambered easily in my former Mini- 14 wouldn't allow the bolt on the Henry to close. Today took the rifle to the range. I was sighting in a couple of guns (Browning Buckmark and CZ75 PCC Carbine that I have fitted new Vortex Crossfire red dot sights to so I was set up on my club's 50 meter range.
The first three rounds at 25 meters off an improved rest grouped top left of the 25 meter ISSF target. After a while I had three rounds at 12 o'clock 50mm (2 inches) above POA. I moved a new target back to the 50 meter line and started to refine the scope setting. After another dozen rounds I had 3 rounds in the 10 ring just to the left of centre and a fourth (second round fired, called flyer) just to the left again in the 9 ring.
I turned the scope 2 clicks up and 2 clicks right and called it a day. I also have to resight my Mauser .243 after changing the scope and Win '94 30-30 after fitting a Lyman tang sight, so after my last competition of the year (7th-8th December) I will schedule some time on the 100 meter range with all three rifles.
One thing though, several times I had difficulty closing the Henry's bolt on a round. Now these were my own reloads and it may be that my sizing die is a bit sloppy, but like the laser cartridge I never had any issues with chambering these reloads in my Mini-14. I am suspecting an very tight chamber in the Henry.
I will "borrow" (liberate) some factory rounds from my brother and if they chamber properly I will have to visit my LGS and source a tight factory sizing die. Either that or ask my local gunsmith if he has a .223 chamber reamer on hand
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