austin halleck?

[kevin k]

hi was wanting some input a dunhams store by me has 2 420s one with high check rest maple with extra syn stock for woods for 375.00 and the other one with out syn stock for 325.00 there real nice looking heard they shoot great so what do ya think worth getting or should i pass on adding to collection oh they both come with 209 adapters any one know about these good and bad thanks. kevin

[rossman40]

Nice rifles, back in 2000 when I was picking out a muzzleloader it came down to the Remington 700ML, the Ruger M77/50 and the Austin & Halleck 420. These were all bolt actions that felt bolt actions.The two stock deal with the A&H was neat, the wood on the wood stock was awesome. The only turn off for me was the Spanish extruded barrel but it was the best of the extruded (different steel, heat treating and proofing then the CVA and BPI POS). Our old buddy RW was plugging them pretty hard but back then he wasn't bad mouthing the barrels. A&H did limit loads to 100gr. Strangely all three rifles are no longer produced with A&H going under a couple of years ago. I do not know if somebody picked up the license/name so the chance of getting parts may be slim to none. In early 2007 you could pick up 420s for about $275.

As far as which rifle I bought out of the three, none, I bought a Savage 10ML-II instead.

[wilmsmeyer]

If buying an Austin and Hallick, check out he bore very carefully! Some of the first models had the front sight screw drilled too deep! This resulted in a dimple that is visable in the bore using a light. Had a friend who shot 100's of shots in different combo's before realizing this. I saw it.

Food for thought. By the way, it was a beautiful gun (nice wood stock too) and shouldered like a dream. Shot like a nightmare.

[kevin k]

thanks guys yea after getting my savage my omega sits thought it might want a pretty friend to sit with i think you cured my impulse thanks again you two i respect both of you very much on advise.kevin

[deadeye]

the halleck imo @ one time was ahead of a lot of other manufacturers,features i like on it were the beefy bolt with the ability to adjust the bolt spring tension to where it snaps a cap very consistently . i have owned 4 hallecks & i still have one in blued synthetic & is braked if you are interested for $300.shoots 1.5moa@ 100yds,,- regarding 209 conversion on spring loaded bolts,they simply dont work in the accuracy dept,been there done that too many times,spring gives more letting blowback gas more inconsistent with groups opening up in my findings,209 needs a locked breech.

[Al]

Apr 17, 2009 7:33:33 GMT -5 kevin k said:

hi was wanting some input a dunhams store by me has 2 420s one with high check rest maple with extra syn stock for woods for 375.00 and the other one with out syn stock for 325.00 there real nice looking heard they shoot great so what do ya think worth getting or should i pass on adding to collection oh they both come with 209 adapters any one know about these good and bad thanks. kevin

Kevin, those blue or stainless guns?

[ourway77]

I had my A&H FS here a while back and got no reply's. I offered it for $250 and it has a TH Laminated stock I paid $250 alone for. It is a very good shooter, but is very heavy. That didn't bother me cause I aint no fly weight ;D. Still have it, and have decided to keep it. As for parts any good gunsmith cam make Breech plugs for it, other than the bolt what else can go wrong? I will say this for A&H, I had a problem I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. I sent it back to A&H, they rebarreled it, from that time on I could shoot 1" groups or less with it. So I will shoot it on occasion and maybe hunt with it. The action seems pretty beefy, I am wondering if a smokeless barrel could be put on it? I have never heard this, has anyone else. Lou

[kevin k]

thanks guys AL they are blued they look great that would be great if they could be made smokeless kevin