Well I got to shoot my new 500 barrel today. The load is 37 grains of H-4227, a 385 grain Remington HP, CCI-200 primer all in new Starline brass. This is the starting load in the 2006 Hodgdon Annual Manual, although I think it called for a Winchester Large Rifle Primer.
I setup a target at about 10 yards just to see were the open sights would allow the bullet to hit and it struck low in the bullseye.
I then moved the target out to 50 yards and fired 3 shots, when I walked to the target I was really disappointed with the group. The group measured 5.375".
The forearm that H&R supposedly fit to this barrel was terrible. I sanded out the barrel channel and also sanded some off the rear, where it contacts the frame and it still doesn't fit good like the forearm does on my 45-70 barrel. So with this knowledge and from reading alot on this forum, (Thanks everybody!) I decided to shoot a group with the forearm removed. I put some small pieces of masking tape over all the holes in my target so I would be sure of where the shots hit without the forearm.
I fired 3 shots with the forearm removed and walked back over to the target. OH Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!
These 3 shots came in at just under an inch, 15/16". I would never have though the forearm would have made that much of a difference, but I know it does now.
I'm going to have to go back through the FAQ's and see what I can find on fitting a synthetic forearm. I'm thinking of putting the forearm in the milling machine and taking just a little off the hole where it is pressing so hard on the hanger stud, any thoughts on this?
In this short range session I went from, Oh Crap to Oh Yeah, I now know this barrel will shoot once I get the forearm fitted properly.
Here's a pic of the target that took me from mad to glad.
GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot