This is my first post in what I intend to be an extended thread reporting on my new rifle that I will pick up from my gun dealer tomorrow (Sunday, 11/10/24). It arrived late yesterday -- after dark -- too late to ride my wheeler up to his place that he operates out of his basement. (I stay off the back roads after dark, especially on Friday.) Today he's hunting white tail; Sunday he'll be open all day (since Maine is one of two states that prohibits ALL hunting on Sunday).

Warning: This is a very long post, and subsequent ones may be long also. No apologies. I'm a writer. I started in middle school and never stopped. At 74, I'm mostly retired now, but my profession involved extensive writing -- essays, theses, a dissertation, reports, journal articles, blogs, etc. I love writing; it's in my blood. So my posts here are going to be long and edited, which annoys many people on forums like this in an age of TwitterX/Facebook one-liners. If you don't like long posts, then this one isn't for you. No offense taken.​

In this first post, I'm going to write about:

1. The basics of the Crackshot XT (vs their XBR, the arrow shooter): link, description and an image (not mine yet)
2. About Traditions Performance Firearms (aka Traditions) and their connection to Ardesa (Spain)
3. Links to three reviews of the Crackshot XT (henceforth, Crackshot), plus links to two reviews of their single shot, break action center fire rifles (just as examples of how the company is perceived)
4. Why I decided about three weeks ago to buy this rifle, my goals for it, and why it will likely replace my 10/22 before year's end

In subsequent posts, I'll describe:

1. my first impressions of the rifle (early week) and some images (once I get the scope mounted).
2. a test comparing groups from my 10/22 with groups from the Crackshot using three CCI ammo types: Subsonic, SV and Mini-mag (36 gr HP). We've got a cold, wet week in the forecast, so I'm not sure how fast that will happen. But certainly before snow flies and the state closes the ATV trails (to all but snowmobiles) that I use to get up to my shooting area (also my main camp).

Of course, I welcome thoughts from others about their experiences with the Crackshot, and/or other Traditions rifles, good or bad. I've searched this forum multiple times and find very, very little about the Crackshot XT or about Traditions. I found two references to the rifle by the same member in two older threads, but I got no response from that member when I queried him by personal message.

Three reviews (links below) lead me to believe it's a decent rifle, but ... who knows? Luck of the draw, and all that. I've never even handled one, let alone shot one. My dealer -- who deals in a LOT of high end guns -- texted me last night and wrote: "It survived the journey safely. Dude, it's a really cool little rifle; I like it!"
___

So, here goes.

1. Here's the Crackshot XT on the Traditions web site. (I'm annoyed -- and have told them so -- that the "description" and "specifications" sections are identical. Webmaster goof. It's not that way for most of their center fire rifles.)

As the title of this thread states, it's a single shot, break action in .22 LR. It weighs 4 lbs without scope. MSRP is $236. My dealer's distributor (Davidson's) was running a sale last week, so mine will be $158 out the door. That's less than I could have gotten it from Bud's (with my dealers FFL). That's spare change for most, but on my meager senior fixed budget (social security only), it's substantial. For most guns, I have to save up a month or more. But I'm not complaining.

This image from Tradition's web site has been my desktop image for the last two weeks. (I had to wait until payday (soc sec) to order it.)

View attachment 535418

For some reason, that image does not show the Weaver rail that's mounted on it from the factory, nor the hammer extension for scope use. I'm going to mount my Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40mm w/ illuminated reticle scope that's on my 10/22 now. I also plan to do a rattle-can camo job on the plastic stock. It'll wear my M1 Garand black canvas rifle sling, now on my 10/22 (with it's Magpul Hunter X-22 stock).

2. About Traditions Performance Firearms. I had never heard of them until about a month ago, but they've apparently been around for over 40 years. Here's their own description from their web site:

"Traditions Performance Firearms®, a leader in the outdoor industry, is a firearms importer and manufacturer that specializes in muzzleloaders, black powder revolvers, centerfire rifles, single action revolvers, cannons [which are miniature but functional], build it yourself kits, bullets, accessories, optics, and more."​

Here's a short review of the company in American Rifleman.

Some sleuthing will reveal that they are directly connected to a Spanish company called Ardesa, located on the northern coast of Spain near the border with France. Apparently, they make the Crackshot and Traditions imports it to sell here. (Note: a web search on "Ardesa" yields several hits, but the other pages are in Spanish.) One bit of information lists Ardesa as "Tradition's factory", where as another lists Traditions as the US distributor for Ardesa. Who knows? I don't know if Traditions sells Ardesa products only, or if they also distribute other makers.

My experience so far with their customer service has been mixed. Two phone calls seeking info resulted in one call that didn't go through -- sounded like someone answered, but then hung up -- and a second one where I talked with a person who answered my simple questions courteously. Then, two emails via their contact page; the first with three questions, which were all addressed the next morning with thorough, helpful responses; the second -- a follow up about one of the responses got no response.

3. Reviews of the Crackshot XT. So far, I've only found one Youtube review* (but it's not very interesting; just a guy shooting his at cans but no real useful information about it), and three written reviews by quality writers. Here are the latter; as far as I can tell, all (but perhaps one) are pre-2020. Together, they convinced me to go for it. (* Note: there are tons of youtube reviews about the Crackshot XBR that fires arrows, but I have zero interest in that one.)

Game and Fish Magazine​

​

Shoot On​

​

American Hunter​

The upshot of the reviews? Good (enough) quality for the price. Well built, good fit and finish. Decent groups at 50 yards (as small as a little over 1" but less than 2"; ammo sensitive, of course). Biggest complaint is the trigger: breaks cleanly at around 5 pounds, but has a long take up that one writer called "gritty". But I'll bet it can be smoothed up by either me or a gunsmith.

Just for kicks, here are two reviews about two of their center fire, single shot, break action rifles. Both positive review.

​

Outfitter G2 in .357 Mag (also comes in 44 Mag., .45-70 Govt., .450 Bushmaster, .243 Win., .35 Whelen and .35 Rem)​

​

Outfitter G3 in .300 BLK​

4. Finally, why am I buying this rifle to (probably) replace my 10/22.

It -- and my 10/22 -- are mainly for fun target shooting and plinking, just exploring what they'll do, what they're capable of (mostly 75 yards and in), and what I'm capable of both with rest and free hand. I'm not a competitor. Never have been, never will be.

I hunted squirrels a LOT as a kid, and may -- underscore may -- try my hand at them again. I've got access to about 50 acres of woods behind my apartment that has a lot of oak groves and a healthy squirrel population.

But hunting is not at the top of my list. Mainly, it's just a hobby rifle, and exploring it as a survival rifle ... you know, just in case civilization collapses in my life time.

I've owned my 10/22 since 2017. I bought it then for the same reasons. I've owned many rifles in my life, but never more than two at a time. It is currently my only rifle. I've written pretty extensively about it in other threads. I mostly joined this forum just over a year ago to seek advice about upgrades.

On it, I've tried Tech Sights, a red dot (Feyachi), and three scopes (including a Vortex 2-7x33); it now wears the Bushnell which I like. I originally upgraded the stock to a Hogue overmolded in FDE, then last winter to a Magpul Hunter X22.

After pretty extensive research (including multiple threads here), I had planned to upgrade to a Kidd trigger and a Feddersen 16" tapered barrel last summer. But suddenly, about two months ago, I started asking myself why? Why put that much into a rifle that I'm not going to compete with, that I'm just exploring for fun, for something to do in retirement to keep me occupied.

Another factor is that aging -- again, 74 now -- caught up with me this year in the form of a pretty bad hip problem. I originally (a year ago) thought was mostly osteoarthritis and ligament issues, but X-rays and an MRI revealed osteonecrosis. Ouch. So I'm likely a candidate in coming years (months?) for hip replacement, athough the first orthopedist that I saw said, "It's not bad enough yet; postpone surgery as long as you can." I'm seeking a second opinion, but specialists here in the boonies of far eastern Maine are really scarce and hard to get in to see.

It's painful at times, but so far, I can control it with low does Advil (200 mg every two days) and being very careful how I walk -- slowly, with minimal weight.

BUT the ground in Maine outside of landscaped yards and campgrounds (which I never use) is very, very uneven and rocky (it's all glacial till left over from ice ages) and my stability is not what it once was. The 10/22 (with scope and stock) is feeling heavier than I want to cart around anymore. (I'm 145 lbs, and exercise a lot, but still ...). I find myself taking too many painful mis-steps on the uneven ground while carrying the rifle in the woods around camp, trying not to stumble and bust up the scope, etc. At less than 5 lbs with scope, the Crackshot will just be easier to tote around the woods.

The 10/22 -- and soon the Crackshot -- is a 4-wheeler gun for me, what most would call a "truck gun", but I don't own a truck (or a car; don't need either here in rural eastern Maine where I can get anywhere I need to go -- even into town -- on hundreds of miles of ATV trails and legal access roads). But securely toting an expensive (to me) rifle (the 10/22) on the ATV while carrying an additional 150 pounds of camping gear, water, food, tools, etc) has been challenging.

(Speaking of camping ... it seems that most people on this forum are mostly shooters who may occasionally go camping. I'm mostly a camper who shoots while he's camping -- or ride up to my camp on 50,000 acres of publicly accessible timber land (corporate) to shoot if I'm not camping. We have no shooting ranges anywhere near me, and I prefer shooting in the wilds anyway. I live to be in wild areas -- it's the biologist/ecologist/naturalist in me; I don't much like civilization which is why I live in the wilds of eastern Maine; I almost moved to Alaska a couple of decades ago, but came here instead.)​

Plus, I've often been frustrated by being limited to ONLY .22 LR ammo in it, and no Quiets (other than semi-auto quiet), no longs, no shorts. That's not an issue with the Crackshot.

Finally, after decades of .22 (and some center fire) repeaters -- semi-autos, bolt action, lever actions -- I've been bitten by the simplicity bug. I recently added a Ruger Super Wranger to my kit. (My only other hand gun now is my Glock 42.) I totally love the Super Wranger, especially the single action. Loading one chamber at a time, then taking single shots slowly, focusing on each shot, has changed my relationship to shooting (after years of fast shots with semi-autos).

I've started reading histories about single action revolvers and break actions, (here's another history of break actions) and confess, now that I'm older, I'm really drawn to the concepts.

So the 10/22 is likely going up for sale later this year. No, I can't afford to keep both -- too many other priorities require extra dollars -- and I really want to focus on just one. That's just me.

So I'll keep you posted if so.

More about the Crackshot this week.

Oh, by the way, I name all my guns (an other valued tools, like vehicles). This one is already named Aon, which is Gaelic for "one" (as in one shot). I'm Scotch and Irish with an interest in my ancient ancestors, so Gaelic is appropriate for me. In most dialects, it's pronounced as a single syllable instead of "A On". Requires some practice.

I read your post and it is quite good. We share some insights.

I didn't know Maine doesn't allow hunting on Sunday. I know PA had that same law and did away with it.

I would never live where there is no hunting allowed on Sunday.

 

Hickory, thanks.

Re hunting, only Maine and Massachusetts totally ban Sunday hunting. Other states put restrictions on it, but only those two ban it entirely. It relates to the old blue laws that banned a bunch of Sunday stuff.

Odd that Maine shares that with Massachusetts since -- once you get north, west and east of Augusta (state capitol), Maine is about as different from Mass as night from day. (I think of everything south of Augusta along the 95 corridor as "northern Mass". And historically, all of Maine was part of the Massachusetts common wealth.)

 

The prohibition re: Sunday hunting might go back to when Maine was part of Mass'. If I remember correctly Maine split off as part of the Missouri Compromise. The bit about Sunday hunting was just a guess.

I checked... yup. I remembered correctly.

Interesting rifle. I like single shots. Only need one shot. Makes one learn to make it count.

I thought you were looking to get a handgun?

 

The prohibition re: Sunday hunting might go back to when Maine was part of Mass'. If I remember correctly Maine split off as part of the Missouri Compromise. The bit about Sunday hunting was just a guess.

I checked... yup. I remembered correctly.

Interesting rifle. I like single shots. Only need one shot. Makes one learn to make it count.

I thought you were looking to get a handgun?

Most of the time we only need one shot. Other times, we need a follow up shot.

Nobody hits the bullseye every time, nobody.

We real hunters don't spray and pray but I have one brother that leans towards that.
My other brother is a crack shot and he makes the first shot count.

 

Struck & White…
Shakespeare…

 

Strunk, right? Elements of Style?

I tried Shakespeare repeatedly -- in high school and college. I guess I wasn't smart enough. Just couldn't decipher it. Double, double, toil and trouble.

This supernatural soliciting
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of success,
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
That function is smothered in surmise,
And nothing is but what is not.

Say what? Cliff Notes got me though.

Besides, I'm a science guy. Science uses a different style from his ... and most other famous writers.

 

Interesting rifle. I like single shots. Only need one shot. Makes one learn to make it count.

That's part of my motivation. Hypothesis: my shooting will improve by working with a single shot ... again. (Had one as a kid.)

I thought you were looking to get a handgun?

I was and I did. Guess you didn't read (all of) my post above. Here: I'll help you out.

"Finally, after decades of .22 (and some center fire) repeaters -- semi-autos, bolt action, lever actions -- I've been bitten by the simplicity bug. I recently added a Ruger Super Wrangler to my kit. (My only other hand gun now is my Glock 42.) I totally love the Super Wrangler, especially the single action. Loading one chamber at a time, then taking single shots slowly, focusing on each shot, has changed my relationship to shooting after years of (relatively) faster shots with semi-autos."

Added by edit: here's my Super Wrangler, or Swrangler as I call it. It wears Hogue rubber grips that are thicker and longer than stock. I just put a set of Williams Fire Sights on it. Changes the whole experience.

 

The Tracker is a nice little rifle. If it starts getting fussy check the safety. It can get bumped. Mine was a backpack/Jeep/survival rifle. I removed the butt plate and slipped a rubber recoil boot over the stock. The butt stock can hold a lot of stuff. A simple light weight 4X scope works pretty well as does a red dot. I had a Simmons 22mag 4x32 on mine. I had a sighted in Bushnell TRS 25 in the bag for backup. I replaced mine with a Chiappa Double Badger 22lr/410. A lot heavier but 2 guns in 1. One gun I am sorry I sold but it wasn't being used. I am now at the age I need to cull the herd. Son will be getting at least a couple of guns for Christmas.
Just thought of this. You might need to put an O ring on the fore end bolt for accuracy.

 

Just thought of this. You might need to put an O ring on the fore end bolt for accuracy.

Hey JTJ, I just reread your post again, and realized I need some clarification about that last statement. I just read the manual (I have an online version), and think I know what you mean by fore end bolt -- that's the removable swivel stud, right? -- but I'm not following from there about the O ring and accuracy. Can you clarify that, please?

I'm going to be picking it up at noon tomorrow on the way up to my camp/shooting area with the 10/22 to start the ammo testing. I'll carry the Crackshot up there, too*, but won't shoot it tomorrow. I always clean guns before shooting first time, and of course, I need to transfer the scope from the 10/22. I'll do that at home. My bore sight should arrive Monday; that'll make sighting in way easy. (*I wanted to pick it up from my dealer on the way back around 4 pm, but he's busy then. So I'll get it on the way up.)

OK, off to bed, perchance to sleep, perchance to dream of a new rifle.

Some of those words were from Shakespeare, weren't they? I don't think he mentioned rifle though.

 

Thanks, JTJ, for the ideas.

Question: Is "Tracker" another name for Crackshot, or are you referring to a different rifle? Maybe an older name or a similar rifle from Traditions?

(Added hours later by edit). Oh, I just figured out Tracker. I knew I hadn't seen it on the Traditions web site -- I've explored their black powder rifles a bit since as a kid, my dad and I had a .50 muzzle loader from the civil war years. Springfield, I think it was. Cap lock. Had a name etched into the stock, but it was too worn to read clearly.​

​

But when I searched "Tracker rifle" on a search engine, this page on Midway came up. "Traditions Tracker Muzzleloading Rifle 50 Caliber 24" Blue Barrel Synthetic Stock Black --- discontinued".​

​

So I suspect you suffered momentary brain flatulence and conflated the names Crackshot and Tracker. I do that sort of thing pretty often, and it increases (no surprise) with age. ​

For now, I'll be putting my Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40 on it. I've already got that one and like it a lot. I had to order a set of Weaver rings since the 10/22 has a picatinny rail. But rings are inexpensive.

I looked hard at a Chiappa Little Badger for years. Years. I even looked at them again starting a few months ago when I realized that I was ready to move on from the 10/22. I really like the idea, mostly, and had a list of upgrades for it (scope rail; 3D printed pieces to make the wire stock more friendly, etc) ... but I think the Crackshot is going to be better for my uses. And it's roughly half the price of the Little Badger, especially after adding upgrades. And I confess, I just like the looks of it.

But I've really enjoyed the 10/22 (that I wanted first at age 13 or 14 but didn't get one then), and don't regret getting it when I did -- 2017 was the end of seven hellish years (worst in my adult life; I'll spare you the story) -- and the 10/22 was sort of ... a gift to myself that I survived those years.

I've really liked shooting it, exploring ammo, different sight options, different stocks ... learned a lot about barrels (like harmonics and stuff) and triggers by researching them.

I like Chiappa's combos, too, and if I needed a shotgun, I'd go with the one you got. But I just don't need a shotgun. I've owned several in my years -- including my two favorites: a Remington 870 Sweet 16 (when I was a teen; doves and quail) to an 870P in 12 ga that I used for studio defense when I lived and worked in a warehouse in a commercial industrial district of a west coast city for ten years.

 

Shakespeare
Hamlet, in the second act, where Polonius says, “Since brevity is the soul of wit / And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief…

The Elements of Style aka Strunk & White

 

I can be brief when the ... situation, circumstances, occasion requires it. Like this.

But sometimes, like when we're trying to clearly and completely convey important, complex concepts or just tell a good story, those tedious limbs and outward flourishes can be useful.

 

I was just funnin’ with you. You write very well.

 

As a boy from Memphis, I say, <best Elvis Presley voice> "Why, thanka. Thanka vury much."

It's a spectacularly beautiful Sunday morning in downeast Maine. Total blue sky, mid-40'sF (heading toward 50 for a high), low wind (unlike yesterday ). Drinking coffee with a snack. Heating up some home made chicken stew for the thermos, and in less than an hour, going to walk over to the garage to get the wheeler and ride up to get Aon, then on up to my camp/shooting area for some fun with the 10/22 (aka Dearth, but not Aon until I clean it).

Pics tonight ...

 

Looks like a fun stalking rifle, suitable for carry when hiking and worry free when transporting on your atv or utv.
Interested in a range report, as i would consider one of those for a truck gun. My current truck gun is an air rifle, but its uses are very limited.
Thinking one of those for pcc work, 357 or 45lc and an air rifle, would cover most any need.

 

This is my first post

Welcome to RFC ! !

.

 

Your Crackshot reminds me of my H&R Sportster. The one upgrade I did was get a SAP Velcro on magazine holder for the stock. I use a plastic 10 round CZ magazine to hold my extra ammo.

Great post by the way, an enjoyable read.

 

🥰🥰🥰🥰🍭🧁🍩✨👍🏻
Love love love love love
Your h&r as I have several also have several New England firearms rim fires 22 , 17 HMR , 17 Mach 2 .
I prefer the bull barrel very heavy.
But I love this company shame they went out of business for many years ago . Extremely accurate . Tack drivingly accurate . Thank you for sharing ❣

 

Put the O-ring between the fore end and the barrel stud. May or may not help with accuracy. It takes fore end pressure off the barrel.

 

I have a Traditions Muzzleloader that has been just fine. I have seen the Crackshot at some sporting goods stores but it was priced higher than the KSA Crickets and the excellent Savage Rascal.

I'm looking at a KSA 6061 Precision Overlander for a similar role as a "truck gun" pack around everywhere lightweight rifle.

Good luck with the new rifle, I hope it works out great.

 

I'm looking at a KSA 6061 Precision Overlander for a similar role as a "truck gun" pack around everywhere lightweight rifle.

I had to search that one. Here. Very interesting. I can see the appeal. Looks more like a Chiappa Little Badger than a Crackshot, but higher quality.

 

Well, I picked up the Crackshot around noon today.

It's not what I was expecting.
---
---
---
It's more than I was expecting. I'm really impressed.

It's hard to know how light a 4 lb rifle is until I actually picked it up. It's a feather compared to my 10/22. I can hold it with one hand and could shoot it like a pistol. The balance is great.

And the size is truly small. I don't think I had imagined how small it would be. NOT too small -- at least for me -- but just perfect for a truck ... I mean wheeler gun. The length of pull is great, and it shoulders very easily. The little comb riser is a good height, I think. And the fore end is quite narrow compared to the beefy 10/22. It feels more like my Nylon 66 of yesteryear.

I didn't shoot it today. As I mentioned earlier, I clean all new guns before shooting them, and this one will be no exception. I did take it up to my shooting area and took some side by side photos with the 10/22. But they're on my cell phone and transferring those to my iMac for editing and uploading is always a challenge, and I'm too tired and hungry tonight to do it. So tomorrow will be a washout weather wise so I'll have plenty of time then.

I also completed my test of the 10/22 with three different ammo types at 30 yards. I'll post that result tomorrow because that will be the standard that I hope -- suspect -- the Crackshot will match. (Hint: my 10/22 does much better with Mini-mag 36 gr HP than with SV.)

One thing I'll say for now: I'm already rethinking the scope for the Crackshot. I had originally thought I'd just put my Bushnell 3-9x40 Rimfire on it. But after seeing and handling the Crackshot, I think that scope will just overpower the Crackshot in terms of size and weight (24 oz). I may mount it temporarily just to do the ammo testing for comparison with the 10/22 because I was using 9x today and want to keep it the same for the Crackshot.

But I think after that, I may try my red dot on it for a while, then consider something much smaller and simpler, like a Simmons ProTarget Rimfire 4x32 (8 oz, and only $55 on Amazon) or a Vortex Crossfire Rimfire 2-7x32 ($114). I had one of the latter previously and liked it ... but traded it for the Bushnell. (Bigger, better and brighter is always so alluring ... )

OK, dinner time, then some sleep. I didn't sleep well last night because I was so eager to get the new rifle. I'll sleep well tonight.

 

Hawke makes a fairly light and small 4x32mm AO scope that sells for $108

Hawke Sport Optics Vantage Rifle Scope 4x 32mm Mil Dot Reticle Matte

Simplicity is underrated. Sometimes, there isn't a need for bells and whistles. All that is needed is a solid product to do a job. ...

www.midwayusa.com

 

Phil, thanks for that. I saw that scope in a "best of" kind of review, but had never heard of the brand before. I like the simplicity of it. One factor that makes me love the Crackshot is it's utter simplicity. No frills. Just function.

And the price is doable for me.

Do you have any experience with Hawke? Good products?

 

Not with that particular scope. I have a Hawke Vantage Side Focus 4-16x44mm on my Weihrauch HW100S PCP air rifle; it has worked flawlessly so far for a couple of years. It is lighter than most other scopes available in that magnification range and not terribly bulky either at 14" long and 17.8 ounces. The adjustments work as they should. Optics are excellent, I can't tell any difference between the Hawke and other similarly priced scopes. The airgun crowd are big into the Hawke brand scopes, they came highly recommended as something durable and well made.

That HW100S is a big heavy rifle! Not compact and lightweight at all.

 

11:30 pm. I thought I'd be in bed by now, but got caught up attempting to mount my red dot on the Crackshot (that works fine), then my Bushnell 3-9x40 scope.

The Bushnell is not going to work. The problem is the adjustment ring. When the scope is mounted far enough back for the eye relief (~3.5") to work, the magnification adjustment ring sits over the hammer. Even with the hammer extension attached (it came that way), cocking the hammer is really difficult. It clears the scope, but there's not enough room to get my (relatively small) thumb onto it for easy manipulation. I can, but only partially. Doing it 20 or 30 times would be really uncomfortable. And decocking it with a live round would be dicey. (I'll try to make a pic of this tomorrow.)

A Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32 would cause the same problem, I think, since it has the adjustment ring in the same spot, even if it may be slightly smaller.

It looks like to me I'm going to be restricted to a straight up 4X scope without variable power. Like that Hawke. If I measure the distance from the back of the eye piece (ocular) to the front of the adjustment ring on the Bushnell, it's 3.75". The measurement on the Hawke from the back of the eye piece (ocular) to where it tapers to the 1" tube is only 2.8". So the hammer is sitting under the 1" tube instead of under an adjustment ring (which of course a fixed power scope doesn't have).

Added by edit: Some might say "use taller rings". But I'm already using high (1") rings at Tradition's advice. Their rep told me that's what they use on their scoped rifles to make sure the hammer clears the scope's bell. Since I belong to the "mount the scope as low as possible" tribe, I don't want to go higher. I'd rather use a smaller scope.​

OK, so Hawke Vantage 4X AO it is. And that's OK. I was really leaning towards something simple for this rifle anyway. Set it and forget it. It's mostly going to be a 20-30 yard shooter anyway.

 

Lately, I've come to appreciate AO on a scope more than high magnification.

 

Monday afternoon. I ordered the Hawke Vantage AO this morning at 5 am when I saw that Amazon only had 2 left. Fixed power rimfire scopes appear to be going the way of dinosaurs and dodo birds, and I didn't want to chance not getting one. (I'd rather have ordered from Midway -- same price -- but Amazon said they could get it to me by Wednesday (I'm betting Thursday {added by edit: I was wrong; Wednesday}) where as delivery from Midway would have been next week (without paying extra for shipping), so ...

Today turned out to not to be a wash out -- the rain mostly missed us, and we've had blue skies most of the day. But I worked on photos for this thread anyway. (My hip needed a rest after yesterday at my camp/shooting area.)

So here are some shots from yesterday. I have more (including the target results from the 10/22), but I'll put them in a later post (since they are the benchmark for the Crackshot).

These photos are more about my camp/shooting area than the Crackshot. (I've mostly broken down camp for winter now.) But since that space will play a major role in my work with the Crackshot (and my Super Wrangler, and has been where I shot the 10/22), I'm including photos of it here.

Here is the Crackshot XT along side my 10/22. With the Magpul stock (which weighs 2.5 lbs) and the Bushnell scope (24 oz), the 10/22 is just shy of 8 lbs, compared to the Crackshot at 4 (sans scope so far, but the Hawke will add 13 oz).

Next is my wheeler partially loaded with camping gear. (I travel solo in the outback, so I always go with gear in case of an emergency, or just want to stay out overnight.)

My camp/shooting "range" is in a 30-year-old skidder track. Skidder tracks provide some of the only open, flat, (mostly) vegetation-free spots for camps on the entire 50,000 acre timber land. (Trust me on that; I've looked there for four years; most of it is dense woods, a lot of it conifer, with lots of dead fall and undergrowth, or else wet (marsh, swamp, bog)). That company doesn't do clear cuts -- fortunately -- but selective cutting with many parallel skidder tracks in any given section.

The Crackshot is lying on the large duffel bag on the tool box; the 10/22 is sitting on a small duffel bag and shooting bag in front of the handle bars and console. The barrel is right at 30 yards (so I have a shooting bench with wheels ). (By removing a few more saplings down range, I can extend the clear shooting distance to 50 yards.)

If you look closely down the track in front of the wheeler -- sight down it's right side -- you'll see an old 6' 2x12 standing up (it used to be part of a washed out bridge nearby); that's the target stand. I'm building a better backstop behind the board using old logs. (There's nothing but wild woods, swamps, marshes and bogs behind the target for about 10 miles; in fact, the nearest paved road in any direction is 4 miles away.)

Below is my main camp in the track (again, mostly broken down for winter). The rope is for hanging a hammock. (The track is about 30' wide, too wide for easy hammock hanging, so I string a static climbing rope between trees and use climbing gear to secure the hammock to the rope.) Just this side of the rope marks 15 yards, which I'm using to work with my Super Wranger.

Here's the target where the skidder track bifurcates into two branches. The target stand is made from two pieces of a small aspen, sharpened and driven into the ground with a birch cross piece on top. The target in this case is three 1" sharpie dots on cardboard, one each for (top to bottom) CCI Mini-mags, SV and Subsonic; results later.)

This is the (wet) bog a couple of hundred feet from camp (which I call "Bog Camp"); it's right on the trail on the way in/out. The standing dead trees suggest that it was once (before the logging road went in) a beaver pond; trees die in the beaver pond, but continue to stand for 70-80 years.

It may not look like much to most, but it's one of my favorite places on Earth (and I've been in some awesome places in the high country of Colorado and the canyons of NM, AZ and UT). The peace and quiet there is exceptional -- even stunning; no roads anywhere within miles. I can sit there on my wheeler (this shot was taken from it) for lunch or dinner and watch for deer, bear or moose. (There are a couple of bear bait/trap stations nearby.) There aren't many places on the land that are so open; sunsets there are fantastic before heading back over to camp.

 

OK, brace yourself for a tiny bit of OT.

I just read a review (see below) about a rifle that looks and operates very, very similar to my Crackshot, but (will be) available in center fire calibers including .350 Legend (now), 5.56 (January, 2025), .300 Blackout, 6.5 Creedmoor, .357 Mag and two others.

It's the Rossi LWC. I mean look at it! I looks like a brother to the Crackshot XT, and it's threaded. And the street price will likely be less than $300.

Reviews abound. Here's one.

I've long wanted something simple in 5.56. I had no interest in an AR, but pined for a Ruger American Ranch Rifle (bolt action) in 5.56. (I'm not really interested in deer hunting any more else I'd opt for .350 Legend.) My dealer has one in 5.56, and it hasn't moved (people here want larger calibers for hunting, not long distance flat shooting), so he offered me a "great deal". Still over my budget so even though tempted, I passed.

But this Rossi in 5.56 as a big brother for my Crackshot -- Aon -- oh, my.

My oh my oh my. Dreams for another day ...

 

Rossi in 5.56

While i cant speak to this model of Rossi, or how their barrels in that particular chambering fair, i can say that my R92 in 357 is very accurate. Matter of fact, its the most accurate of my lever action rifles, beating out much more exspensive rifles from winchester and marlin. I'm sure the winchester and marlin die hards will take exception to my statement, but the targets dont lie. Definetly a rare occurance when you get more than you pay for.

 

I deleted this post since it was redundant with my next post.

 

Six images of my Crackshot, first four in its current configuration with Hawke Vantage 4x32mm AO scope attached with Monstrum Weaver 1" (high) rings attached to the stock weaver (plastic) rail and M1 Garand canvas sling, pre-camo job on the stock. Last two are of it wearing the Bushnell scope that didn't work with it. Again, rifle is now 4lb, 13oz (with Hawke scope) and 32" long.

Close up showing 1) barrel catch lever in front of trigger guard, and 2) how I had to "hang" the rear scope ring half way off the rail in order to mount the scope far enough back for comfortable eye relief without craning my neck forward. (Scope has 3.5" eye relief.) That rear ring may look wonky since only one screw is providing a secure attachment. My sense is even though it looks wonky, it is secure. {Added by edit: in a later post, another member recommended offset rings. Doh! Why didn't I think about that?! I've never needed them before, so ...}

Oh, and if I could change one thing about the rifle (so far), it would be to remove the word "Crackshot" engraved into the frame. It just feels a bit cheap, like a Walmart special or something. It's classier than that.

The butt pad (below) is too thick to allow the scope to be mounted "normally" (further forward) so that eye relief is comfortable without straining my neck (even if only slightly). (Length of pull is 13.75".) I'm looking at ways to reduce the thickness of the butt pad slightly, from replacing it with a thin plate* to grinding down the stock pad to make it thinner to buying a 1/8" Delrin blank and fashioning a DIY plate. (No decision yet.)

{Added by edit: with offset rings, I won't need to adjust LOP.}

*The problem with a thin plate, aside from the small stock (5" x 1.5"), is that the screw holes are not standard and don't match what I'm finding; they are 4"+ apart, near the very top (toe) and bottom (heel). I would have to drill new screw holes.​

Here is a closeup showing the increased space between the hammer and the scope. Note that the scope rides further back than the Bushnell did (see below) so that the hammer rides under the 1" tube instead of under the ocular bell/adjustment ring (of the Bushnell). There is enough room only because there is a hammer extension on the right side of the hammer.

Here's the same view with the Bushnell Rimfire 3-9x40mm. Note that I had not moved the rear ring back here so that the hammer is immediately under the magnification adjustment ring. Even if I had moved the rear ring back, {or used offset rings like I plan to do next}, I think the adjustment ring would still have impeded access to the hammer and hammer extension. Plus the Bushnell was just too large. Maybe a 32mm variable would have worked, but I'm happy with fixed power for this rifle. It just fits it functionally.

Finally, here is the full Crackshot with the Bushnell, which I'm going to sell now to help pay for the Hawke.

 

Offset rings would solve one of your problems. A Burris mini 4x, or 6x, wouldve solved both, as they have very generous eye relief, something around 5"... but i think you'd have to shop used, not sure they are still in production.

 

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to research offset rings. I think I've stumbled on the concept before, but I can't remember what they are.

<5 minutes later> Oh! OK, I see. Here's one example. Yeah, that's what I need.