Well I couldn't go on without a H&R Maxi, the contender just wasn't enough.  Sent a receiver in awhile back and got a new barrel, reamed her to max and here are the first results.
Didn't start out with the 180ssp's, thought I would break her in with some other types.  Had some 180 gr silhouette bullets.  Not bad for the first round.  It looks like I should have brought it all the way up to max, cause the group seems to be coming together.