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I picked up the 45-70 Tuesday evening and was able to get off six shots yesterday before the weather shut me down. This is what has played out so far. Using the open sights at 25 yards with a six o'clock hold, the first two shots (R/L) were at eleven o'clock and touching. Shots 3 and 4, the right barrel was at nine o'clock two inches off the bullseye the left was touching the first two shots. Shots 5 and 6,identical to 3 and 4. Unsure what happened to right barrel. I was shooting from a standing rest. I was using factory Rem 300 gr JHP. I don't plan to make any adjustments unitl I have run a few more rounds through the gun and some different types of ammo. As far as the gun itself, I would say I got what I paid for. Some things I noticed with this brief firing session, the stock design does not (for me) lend it self to comfort or easy mounting. The pistol grip design reminds me of a stretched out semi-pistol grip and made it hard to hold, especically during recoil, and causing me to have to re-position my firing hand after firing. The recoil is stout even with these mild loads. The barrels heat up quickly and will flat burn your hands. When breeching the gun open the barrels rotate just far enough to allow for reloading, not a big deal with me but I would like for them to rotate a little more. The trigger pulls are terrible, I haven't gauged them but terrible is the only way to describe. Each trigger has enough travel to give you plenty of time to think about the gun going off. I tended to engage the rear trigger low without the crease of my finger on the body of the trigger, which resulted in the tip of the trigger biting my finger, I beleive the pistol grip design caused this. While cleaning last night I noticed something rolling around between the barrels, I removed the top abd bottom rib and found a piece of metal. After a quick look I found that it was originally mounted on the underside of the bottom rib. The L shaped piece lips under the front sight to hold the rib in place. It apparently is attached with some sort of glue. I will correct that twenty five cent piece of technology this evening. I also noticed that I could squeeze the right barrel and cause it to move towards the left (slightly). I tend to wrap my hand around the forearm, and wonder now if I was touching the barrel and applying pressure that caused the right barrel to shoot left of my first shot. I will certainly scope the gun, the rib is set up for ringmounts, I'm a little confused, since the rib tapers upward towards the muzzle I assume the front ring would have to be lower than the rear. I have seen some others with rings attached. Any idea's on the scope rings would be welcomed. Anyway this is my first (somewhat) real double rifle and I'm looking forward to enjoying it.

wcf