My rebored Lo-Wall came home last week and I finally got to shoot it yesterday. I put the 4x scope the rifle came with back on it, since I haven't gotten any iron sights for it yet and I couldn't wait for another round of gunsmithing to try it. I took it out to the range yesterday and ran about 65 rounds through it. So far, I'm very excited.

I only had two loads to test, Federal 85 grain factory JHP loads and my 115 grain RNFP handloads using Federal brass and IMR 2400. The handloads were running about 1-1/4 inches for 5 shots at 50 yards. I moved out to 100 yards for the last 15 shots and put the last 10 into a 2-1/2 inch circle. With the 50 yard zero set about 1/2 inch high, the 100 yard drop was on the order of 2-1/2 to 3 inches. The factory loads gave me a 5 shot group under an inch at 50 yards. I was pressed for time, so I only fired one group.

Since I was shooting off a bench using a blanket as a rest, I thought that the results were pretty decent. The scope isn't particularly good (it's a Charles Daly) and I didn't quite get it straight when I mounted it, so I had to cant the rifle just a little and I wasn't always getting the cant consistent. In addition, until the end of the session, there was a wind blowing in gusts of 20 mph or so. The wind disappeared for the last few groups, which were the best. I think the rifle will shoot these loads better and I'm going to work on other handloads. I've got a number of cast bullets to try.

No visible leading, although I've got to clean the gun tonight when I get home to tell for sure. Bore sure seems smooth, though, so I suspect the barrel was lapped after the reboring. I'll check on the twist while I clean it tonight.

Now, once I get a chronograph and dig the benchrest out of the workshop, I'll run some real tests. However, I'm glad I did this and think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this gun. Wish Browning would build one, so you didn't have to spend the money to have on rebored.

Just curious about the 32 H&R. I have seen several rifles being offered in it lately. Is there a reason to choose the 32 H&R over something more common like a 38 SPL??

OEH:

I chose the .32 H&R because I already have a .32 H&R revolver (Ruger Bisley) and I wanted a companion piece of a sort to use this as a squirrel and turkey rifle. Unfortunately, while I was procrastinating on this project, my home state of Pennsylvania made squirrel hunting a less than .23 caliber sport.

I can still use the gun for woodchucks and turkeys, but I'll probably use it primarily for targets, once I get the iron sights on it. I'll tackle irons this winter after it gets too cold to shoot comfortably at my local range. Right now, I'm thinking tang sight plus some sort of globe front sight with interchangeable inserts and maybe even a spirit level dovetailed into the barrel. I'll have to get both professionally mounted, as this rifle has no iron sights at all and no tang and is not drilled or tapped for any kind of iron sight.

Out here you can use any firearm for squirrels. The difference is that we have few tree squirrels and even fewer tree squirrel hunters. Most guys shoot ground squirrels as varmints and if you said let's go squirrel hunting they would never be thinking of tree squirrels. I hunted a few of them back in Georgia. I am guessing that the population density is a safety factor in your area that is limiting the selection of firearms. I went through PA a few years ago while I was visiting DC. Nice state, friendly people in the rural areas. I didn't spend any time in the city's, not my favorite place. I don't like crowds.

One thing that I think is odd out here, we can only use shotguns for turkeys. I'd rather use a small rifle.

I could see the prohibition on rifles in the more populated areas, but not in the deep woods of northern PA, especially since you can still use rimfire rifles anywhere for squirrel hunting. With the new .17s, particularly the .17 HMR, I'm guessing they'll carry a lot farther than my .32 H&R will. Oh well, life doesn't always work out the way you plan.