Lets fight? 96/44 ruger Making it shoot?

[Sharps-Nut]

    I have combed the ruger and the lever pages here and know Greybeard don't have any use for one but.  I bought one before I knew of the short comings, What little I have shot mine the accuracy seems way better than the sheet of newspaper groups some are reporting.  My frist two shots are touching at 50 yards but as the barrel warms the groups change.  Checking the barrel band it touches on one side not on the other.  The 10/22 accuracy guru's have long polished the barrel band till it does not touch the barrel, would tihs be a fair treatment for the 96-44.   I like my gun not real tarditional looking for a lever but it feels good.  Shot a doe this year with it and it proved great as a brush gun.  So who has done what to address the accuracy issue.  Those who own or ever owned, what lengths did you home gunsmith prior to coming up with the accuracy load of "loading it in the truck and taking it to a gun show."  That was Greybeards accuracy load and  I liked to fell off my stool, funny and honest.  But my question is why would they not shoot? Is it the lock up system, poor barrels, poor stock inletting, sights?  Lay it out on the table lets figure out what ruger did wrong to some and right to others.  Would like to post this on the Ruger page to get full effect but I don't think the mods like double posting so I will leave that to their judgement.   SN

[jhm]

Before I started grinding away on the barrel band I would just remove the screw and open it up a bit, then fire the weapon and see what kind of groups I got and gradully apply a little more preasure with the barrel band after re firing the rifle until it started falling off then back it opp.   JIM

[Ranger J]

I don't think it is the barrel as it seems to be the same barrel with the same rate of twist as my Deerfield and that barrel will group any bullet that will work the action.  I seriously considered getting one instead of the 1894 Marlin I eventually got.  I went ahead and got the .44 Marlin as I had great luck with the 1894C 357.  Mine is one of the 'new' barrels but I am yet to find a load that will come anywhere close to shooting like the Deerfield.  If the Ruger has a problem I'll bet it is not the size and twist of the barrel.

RJ

[Castaway]

I not so sure you have a problem.  Most every rifle will shoot differently when the barrel starts to warm up.  Allow time between shots to let it cool.  It's the first shot and maybe the second that counts.  If it's consistent, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Sharps-Nut]

I am not sure I have a problem either.  I got to wondering about the gun and others likes and dislikes of the gun and searched only to find more complaints than compliments.  I have shot mine off a bench very little, seems to shoot ok.  When I practice offhand on a nra highpower pig at 50 yards mimicking my real world deer hunting oportunities it seems to shoot where I point it.  My idea of this discussion was less about making my gun more accurate but to see if anyone felt there was a common failing within the rifles design.  I know from reading some of the people who fell out with them seemed like fairly sharp guys. Good call on  loosening the barrel band prior to grinding away at it, I agree and that will be my approach. It seems to me the quality is there and the minute of newspaper accuracy some found had to be cause by something reasonably simple.   Just was thinking this might be the format to find out what other owners thought or had done to resolve issues would be fun.   What do you think?

[Lloyd Smale]

i really dont have any advice to help you as ive never owned one. Almost came home with one one day if that counts. About all i can add is that it just may take a pile of load development to find something that makes that gun vibrate just right. Id be skeptical about loosening up the screws or relieving the barrel band. thats not a 22 your dealing with and if you let that wood wander a liittle its eventually going to crack.

[Oldtimer]

I would say that, if you bought the rifle for hunting, you don't have a problem.  The only time I have ever had more than two shots on game was when I was shooting long range and the animal could not figure where the shots were coming from.  If your first two shots touch, you will have a long happy game-filled relationship with that rifle.  Enjoy!

[Sharps-Nut]

I guess  can't argue with your logic.  Figured when I posted it all of the 96-44 ruger haters would come out and share their experiences good or bad.   The barrel band pressing only on one side made me believe it could be the warm up coulprit.    I have spent many afternoons at the range or more recently back 40 playing with load develpoement for other handguns and centerfire rifles and have always found winning combo's.  This rifle has maybe 100 rounds fired thru it over two years and though I would not call it a tack driver my plinking has lead me to believe it is fairly accurate. Time does not allow for this fun so much any more hence the 100 rounds in two years. But my reading has found many unhappy 44/96 owners, so I thought maybe a thread might shed some light on the guns possible weakness and possible tweaks to improve it. I guess a 22 would vibrate different than a 44 but I always heard a barrel had to vibrate consistent if it did point of aim would remain consistent hence smaller groups.  Loyd I have read many of your posts and enjoy them so I really do appreciate your advice on the topic.   With no further input I am guessing I did not open the can of worms I thought I might when I made the original post.  Thanks for all of the input everyone its  appreciated.  Maybe summer will allow for some bench testing as you said as a hunter two shot will do all you need.   SN   

[John Y Cannuck]

On my wifes '96. relieving the band helped a bunch. So did relieving the stock pressure at the forend a bit

[Sharps-Nut]

Thanks John I may still tinker with mine when warmer weather and time permits a true range session with it to prove its accuracy or lack there of.