exseparatist
CGN Regular
- Location
- Lower Canada
I told you that I will be back !!!!!
Well, Monday I got my Chaparral 73... An happy man !!!!
The exterior look good, better than I expected I would admit...
The metal finish was nice. I know it is not a Sauer, Weatherby MkV or a Blazer but I read so much bad reports (from US forums). The case hardening (or the coloring process to look like a case hardening) was pleasant.
Beautiful blueing... Marks on the picture are a mix of my digital prints and oil....
Very good wood/metal fitting. The flash of my camera make it worst than the reality.
But, I was disappointed of the wood finishing. As soon I touch to the stock or the forehand, I immediately feel the rough finish. One of my hobbies, since over 30 years, is the wood working and I make furniture...
Like I said, I know that it is not a Blazer, but the only other gun that gave me the same unpleasant feeling when I grab it was a Soviet made Toz in the 80's...
When you have a new gun, you have to know it mechanic. I have look on the net the instructions for the basic cleaning taking apart.
The metal finish inside was as good than outside.
Beautiful mechanic from another time... Opened breech...
Closed breech....
With a brass rod, I delicatly hit the left side cover plate to remove it.
The inside of the left plate was also well finished.
The toggles, pins and the firing pin lock.
One of the toggle links had a machining flaw!!! But nothing that may affect the strength or the safety of the rifle. Possibly the same guy responsible of the final sanding of the wood...
))
The day after, I was unable to live with that gun... I decided to refinish the wood!!!!
Another beautiful surprise; the extension of the receiver, normally hidden by the stock, was well finished. No tools, grinder or milling, casting or forging marks or traces.
After 10 hours of works, the new woods finish. It is now uniform, smooth, you see better the beauty of the wood (I think that maybe it is not walnut because when I stripped the old finish, it was almost white). I like the feeling now when I touch it.
I like the neat and sharp trigger; instead it is at 6 pounds. I would be happier with a 3 or 4 pounds, but I remember an old Ruger 10-22 and its 10 pounds trigger. - It is acceptable and is a typical US anti law suit trigger.
For the test, I had many bullet options.
My choices were 357 mag brass, 158 gr LSWC from Excell cast with 11 gr of 2400, Hornady 148 gr HBWC with 11 gr of the same powder and my classical 38 spl, 148 gr WC solid with 2 gr of Bullseyes. - In the past the 2400 always gave me good results with the reduced pet loads for my 303, 30-06, 30-30 and 45-70 .
The Caparral 73 feeded and worked fine without troubles with the 158 gr LSWC.
But for the Hornady HBWC and for the 38 spl, I had to feed manually one by one.
December 16 was very cold here... 14 Celsius under zero. I did not think one moment to take my Chrony. Another day!
50 meters results with the 357 158 LSWC....
Better results with the 357 148 HBWC....
My conclusion will be short;
The 73 is a beautiful and delicate fun rifle. I like the feeling, the action and the accuracy. I am shure that it is possible to get more accuracy.
About the manufacturer, I am seriously thinking about the possibility to buy another one for 2010, a Sharp 45-70 maybe????
Also, I am thinking that the explanations from the Canadian Chaparral importer about the bad quality control on previous us assembled rifles were possibly true.
Be happy
Ciao
Ex
Well, Monday I got my Chaparral 73... An happy man !!!!
The exterior look good, better than I expected I would admit...
The metal finish was nice. I know it is not a Sauer, Weatherby MkV or a Blazer but I read so much bad reports (from US forums). The case hardening (or the coloring process to look like a case hardening) was pleasant.
Beautiful blueing... Marks on the picture are a mix of my digital prints and oil....
Very good wood/metal fitting. The flash of my camera make it worst than the reality.
But, I was disappointed of the wood finishing. As soon I touch to the stock or the forehand, I immediately feel the rough finish. One of my hobbies, since over 30 years, is the wood working and I make furniture...
Like I said, I know that it is not a Blazer, but the only other gun that gave me the same unpleasant feeling when I grab it was a Soviet made Toz in the 80's...
When you have a new gun, you have to know it mechanic. I have look on the net the instructions for the basic cleaning taking apart.
The metal finish inside was as good than outside.
Beautiful mechanic from another time... Opened breech...
Closed breech....
With a brass rod, I delicatly hit the left side cover plate to remove it.
The inside of the left plate was also well finished.
The toggles, pins and the firing pin lock.
One of the toggle links had a machining flaw!!! But nothing that may affect the strength or the safety of the rifle. Possibly the same guy responsible of the final sanding of the wood...
))
The day after, I was unable to live with that gun... I decided to refinish the wood!!!!
Another beautiful surprise; the extension of the receiver, normally hidden by the stock, was well finished. No tools, grinder or milling, casting or forging marks or traces.
After 10 hours of works, the new woods finish. It is now uniform, smooth, you see better the beauty of the wood (I think that maybe it is not walnut because when I stripped the old finish, it was almost white). I like the feeling now when I touch it.
I like the neat and sharp trigger; instead it is at 6 pounds. I would be happier with a 3 or 4 pounds, but I remember an old Ruger 10-22 and its 10 pounds trigger. - It is acceptable and is a typical US anti law suit trigger.
For the test, I had many bullet options.
My choices were 357 mag brass, 158 gr LSWC from Excell cast with 11 gr of 2400, Hornady 148 gr HBWC with 11 gr of the same powder and my classical 38 spl, 148 gr WC solid with 2 gr of Bullseyes. - In the past the 2400 always gave me good results with the reduced pet loads for my 303, 30-06, 30-30 and 45-70 .
The Caparral 73 feeded and worked fine without troubles with the 158 gr LSWC.
But for the Hornady HBWC and for the 38 spl, I had to feed manually one by one.
December 16 was very cold here... 14 Celsius under zero. I did not think one moment to take my Chrony. Another day!
50 meters results with the 357 158 LSWC....
Better results with the 357 148 HBWC....
My conclusion will be short;
The 73 is a beautiful and delicate fun rifle. I like the feeling, the action and the accuracy. I am shure that it is possible to get more accuracy.
About the manufacturer, I am seriously thinking about the possibility to buy another one for 2010, a Sharp 45-70 maybe????
Also, I am thinking that the explanations from the Canadian Chaparral importer about the bad quality control on previous us assembled rifles were possibly true.
Be happy
Ciao
Ex
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