New X in .357 Magnum
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:11 pm
Found this last week & snatched it up right there. Pre-panic price, plus they happened to have all lever guns on sale (it was a good day!). Cleaned & took to the range right away. Not much daylight left, but managed to get her zeroed with the factory sights.
Like leather slings on my walnut rifles, but the paracord sling seemed like a good fit with the X. Put a Ranger Point Precision sight on today, with a standard round aperture. Note that it wasn't because the factory sights are bad... they're actually very good. The aperture does help with smaller targets at longer ranges, and gives a longer sight radius, but the main reason was to have an easily adjustable rear sight. 357 Magnum is a very versatile cartridge, but different loads can produce massively different POI. While the RPP doesn't have nice graduated clicks like a good scope, it's very easy to adjust. Have also found it predictable in adjustment once you get a feel for how much things move for each 1/8 turn on the screws. Two small adjustments & I was in business.
Very pleased with the accuracy! The handload that was used has done well in several rifles & revolvers. Had no problems with feeding, extracting, or ejecting. Action is fairly smooth out of the box. Used the side gate exclusively on the first trip and it's both easier & less critical of exact alignment than the one on my Marlin. Prefer to top load from empty, (& definitely prefer unloading from the top!), but I do like having the option to top off through a gate. Best of both worlds, well done Henry. Same can be said of the lever- I like having an enlarged loop for gloved hands, but many are way larger than necessary. This one's just right; big enough for a gloved hand but not much more.
Trigger is crisp & breaks right at 5 lbs. Might prefer a pound less, but like the results both from a bench & offhand, so I'm calling it good.
Probably going to get a Versacarry ammo caddy for the stock. Also contemplating factory rear sight removal & replacement with a dovetail filler. The rear sight didn't seem to bother me today (it & the RPP are actually co-witnessed, lol), but it does occupy most of the sight picture's lower half. No problems today with a bright orange target on a white background, but want to try it with something more field realistic... maybe tape up a plain brown grocery bag & see if I can center it without issue.
Length of pull is ~3/4" longer than ideal for me. Not Henry's fault that I'm 5'8", short armed & barrel chested, of course. Can't say it affected accuracy today, nor cycling, but I was making a conscious effort to throw the lever open all the way. Can envision a scenario where I short stroke it a bit & an empty doesn't quite make it out, especially if I have a heavy coat on. Not sure yet how I'll go about the reduction.
All in all, I'm a happy camper!
Like leather slings on my walnut rifles, but the paracord sling seemed like a good fit with the X. Put a Ranger Point Precision sight on today, with a standard round aperture. Note that it wasn't because the factory sights are bad... they're actually very good. The aperture does help with smaller targets at longer ranges, and gives a longer sight radius, but the main reason was to have an easily adjustable rear sight. 357 Magnum is a very versatile cartridge, but different loads can produce massively different POI. While the RPP doesn't have nice graduated clicks like a good scope, it's very easy to adjust. Have also found it predictable in adjustment once you get a feel for how much things move for each 1/8 turn on the screws. Two small adjustments & I was in business.
Very pleased with the accuracy! The handload that was used has done well in several rifles & revolvers. Had no problems with feeding, extracting, or ejecting. Action is fairly smooth out of the box. Used the side gate exclusively on the first trip and it's both easier & less critical of exact alignment than the one on my Marlin. Prefer to top load from empty, (& definitely prefer unloading from the top!), but I do like having the option to top off through a gate. Best of both worlds, well done Henry. Same can be said of the lever- I like having an enlarged loop for gloved hands, but many are way larger than necessary. This one's just right; big enough for a gloved hand but not much more.
Trigger is crisp & breaks right at 5 lbs. Might prefer a pound less, but like the results both from a bench & offhand, so I'm calling it good.
Probably going to get a Versacarry ammo caddy for the stock. Also contemplating factory rear sight removal & replacement with a dovetail filler. The rear sight didn't seem to bother me today (it & the RPP are actually co-witnessed, lol), but it does occupy most of the sight picture's lower half. No problems today with a bright orange target on a white background, but want to try it with something more field realistic... maybe tape up a plain brown grocery bag & see if I can center it without issue.
Length of pull is ~3/4" longer than ideal for me. Not Henry's fault that I'm 5'8", short armed & barrel chested, of course. Can't say it affected accuracy today, nor cycling, but I was making a conscious effort to throw the lever open all the way. Can envision a scenario where I short stroke it a bit & an empty doesn't quite make it out, especially if I have a heavy coat on. Not sure yet how I'll go about the reduction.
All in all, I'm a happy camper!
