[Dithsoer]

Why do so many target-stlye rifles have hooked, quick-takedown breeches? The kind where the barrel hooks into the breech-plug/tang section instead of a solid hookup? I realize that this style possesses faster cleaning abilities but just about everyone that I've spoken to who sells these guns says that the hooked breech system isn't as accurate as the solid breech style. Can it be made or rigged to be as accurate as the other style? Why use it if it lacks accuracy? Quick cleaning can't be that important, especially on a gun designed for target shooting. Am I missing something?

[mykeal]

Yes, breech style does matter. Most of us can't shoot well enough to notice the difference, however; other variables have a greater effect. The difference is in the effect on barrel dynamics - any good high power bench rest shooter can lecture chapter and verse on it. But for those of us who shoot 50-100 yards offhand, well, my eyes aren't good enough nor are my hands and arms strong enough. I'm happy with a 3" group; a 2.85" group doesn't keep me up at night.

[Mike OTDP]

Quick cleaning may not be important, but thorough cleaning is. And you can get a patent breeched gun clean as a whistle pretty quickly.

[sundance44s]

The hooked breech helps hold the barrel to the tang , so it doesn`t put all the pressure on the wedge ..The original Hawken didn`t have the hooked breech but it had 2 wedges ..I`ve handled originals that were loose at the breech and the barrel would slide forward , it would take a tap of the butt on the ground to get it back into it`s propper place .The hooked breech was a modern invention to alleviate this problem .

[Voodoochile]

The hooked breech was a modern invention to alleviate this problem .
Yesterday 06:17 PM


I thought that the hooked breach was to be able to remove the barrel from the stock for easier cleaning.

[Dithsoer]

Pecatonica Muzzleloading Supply has a Rigby target rifle kit that I'm interested in. It has a hooked breech. I would really like to get a Gibbs copy by Pedersoli but this is out of my price range so I thought that I would go the kit building route. I have heard that some people solder or epoxy the hooked breech assembly on their rifles to remove one more potential problem, that of a loose breech/tang setup. Anyone have any experience with one of these rifles or kits?

[arcticap]

These came up doing an advanced search for "Rigby", and there may be more:

1. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=41311&highlight=rigby

2. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=237594&highlight=rigby

Pictures when finished:

3. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=300400&highlight=rigby

4. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=313936&highlight=rigby