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scoles has a critical eye, and makes a generalization that is true: It is virtually impossible to make a takedown gun absolutely consistent for accuracy when disassembled and reassembled, if the rear sight (or scope) is attached to the receiver which is divorced from the barrel at disassembly. I have mentioned the fine Browning .22 Autos, and they almost got it right. Only those who realized how very accurate these little guns were, discovered the minute flaw of inconsistency when the guns were disassembled and reassembled. The biggest reason is that MOST OF THESE GUNS STAYED ASSEMBLED during their life. It was only a minority of owners that regularly took them down. The owner that left his assembled with the scope attached to the dovetail on the receiver would never detect any problem whatsoever. A few more would occasionally disassemble them, discover a minor inaccuracy upon reassembly, and sight the gun back in, and thump jackrabbits all day and never give it a thought. Those who realized how very precise these guns were, discovered that when they put them back together, they didn't shoot where they did before. Redfield stepped forward with the cantilever mount (and a very high quality petite 3/4" tube scope of 4x) to match. Some were even marked "Browning" rather than Redfield. A marriage of the finest rimfire automatic ever made, and the finest optics of the day precision matched to one another.
Another rifle of finely accurate reputation suffered the same quirk: The venerable Savage Model '99 Lever-Action was offered for a great amount of its duration in a takedown version. No one will ever argue against Savage accuracy delivered by their fine barrels, and this reputation was built with the '99. All '99 owners have good reason to laugh loudly at any claims that bolt-action rifles are by design "inherently more accurate" than any lever-action gun. The Savage '99 disproved this "premise" soundly throughout its production, and for the lucky owners continues to do so. The takedown versions were just as legendary accurate: Until you put a scope on the divorced receiver.
These guns have a lock-up that when new or near-new, is vault-tight. A centerfire gun, so no rimfire leeway here. And yet, they still will show inconsistency when disassembled and reassembled as to grouping on target. Mind you: NO greater group size--the guns still drop jaws for accuracy, but the hangup is in repeatability of the group position on target. Takedown guns which have not been graced with optics or peep sights attached to the receiver still deliver phenomenal repeatablilty and accuracy comboined, utilizing their buckhorns on the barrel.
Another rifle of finely accurate reputation suffered the same quirk: The venerable Savage Model '99 Lever-Action was offered for a great amount of its duration in a takedown version. No one will ever argue against Savage accuracy delivered by their fine barrels, and this reputation was built with the '99. All '99 owners have good reason to laugh loudly at any claims that bolt-action rifles are by design "inherently more accurate" than any lever-action gun. The Savage '99 disproved this "premise" soundly throughout its production, and for the lucky owners continues to do so. The takedown versions were just as legendary accurate: Until you put a scope on the divorced receiver.
These guns have a lock-up that when new or near-new, is vault-tight. A centerfire gun, so no rimfire leeway here. And yet, they still will show inconsistency when disassembled and reassembled as to grouping on target. Mind you: NO greater group size--the guns still drop jaws for accuracy, but the hangup is in repeatability of the group position on target. Takedown guns which have not been graced with optics or peep sights attached to the receiver still deliver phenomenal repeatablilty and accuracy comboined, utilizing their buckhorns on the barrel.