Give me a brake, ffs!

[Damo300]

Been playing with some loads for my Rossi R95 lever over the last few months.
It's the classic 20inch version.
5 shot mag + 1.

It's fun to shoot, but it groups like buck shot would at 100yds, so not really something to chase deer with.
Lucky to have 5 on over an 8 inch target.
I nearly sold it, but thought I'd just modify it to look like some Armageddon gun.
I had the barrel threaded and fitted a grizzly radial brake.
When the brake arrive i saw that it wasn't shiny bluing and I thought I'd stuffed up. Instead the bluing is a matt finish, which when fitted to the rifle actually matches the action, so while the bluing on the barrel is shiny the brake and action are matt.
I stopped the mods there because I like the look of it. Gives it a modern touch to a western looking classic.

Screenshot_20260619_204426.jpg (685.34 KiB) Viewed 41 times

Screenshot_20260619_204452.jpg (486.73 KiB) Viewed 41 times

So I took it to kill some cardboard.
What a difference this brake has made to the rifle.
It's clover leafing now.
The handloads are perfect.
I'm stoked.

Screenshot_20260619_200317_edit_137350564658729.jpg (381.83 KiB) Viewed 41 times

Bottom right target.
4 shots there, 1st sighter shot just out of picture.

I now have the confidence to take this hunting cause I want to get a deer with a 30/30.
I am so glad this has worked out and I don't have to make excuses to keep a poor purchase.

[Damo300]

I've also been working some 175gr Sub X down as well.
Currently at 11.5gr of 2206h and still just over speed at about 1050fps.

I will load up some to 11gr and work up to 11.5gr. Reckon it will be 11.2gr in the end.

Here's the drop over 50m....haha.
Aiming center of top target.

Screenshot_20260619_200414_edit_137987021034152.jpg (362.38 KiB) Viewed 38 times

The circled groups are together ( I missed a flyer on the RHS in the circle) and the individual circled ones are together.
Used both sides of the target, not getting right wind drift there.

[No1_49er]

That extra weight of the brake is acting like a barrel tuner. It alters the harmonics. Take it off and watch your groups go to sh!t again.
Did you try "playing" with the forearm bedding, or the tightness of the barrel band? That can sometimes pay dividends.

[Damo300]

That extra weight of the brake is acting like a barrel tuner. It alters the harmonics. Take it off and watch your groups go to sh!t again.
Did you try "playing" with the forearm bedding, or the tightness of the barrel band? That can sometimes pay dividends.

It's all about the vibe your honor!


I did play with the forearm bedding.
Not bedding as such, although I am considering all that now.
I bedded my 243 timber stock the other week and it has sorted its sparadic grouping out.

The timber forend was a touch lose in hand. You could notice a very slight rocking/clicking movement, but not all the time.
The stock is just roughly carved out by a shop A student somewhere and they'd taken a tad to much out.
I glued some marine floatation foam to the inside under the mag tube.
It's a nice snug fit now.
I did this when I first got the rifle and it made no difference to groups at the time.


No barrel band to play with on this model.
I had read about all those little adjustments in desperation to rectify my bad purchase.
I knew levers werent the best, but I'd have better luck chucking a speer at the animal than using this thing.

I had a joke to my mate that I wouldn't stand beside me when I pull the trigger. We just don't know where this is gonna end up.