why no love for the Lone Eagle?

[112Savage]

Just a random question for the short barrel, long range aficionados. Why is there not much written about specialty pistol hunting with the Magnum Research Lone Eagle? I have 3 of these passed down from my father 243,7-08, and 30-06 none of which have been tried at long range. Are these actions not as strong or accurate as say an XP or Striker? Or is it the extraction or availability?

Thanks for entertaining my quandary.

 

[bfr4570]

Had one in 30-06 good to about 100 yds. After that accuracy went south.
the powder burn was more out of the barrel than in. I did kill a few deer with it but short range.

The triggers are hard to adjust if you can get them adjusted. The firing pins break. Cant get them anymore. The stock you either like are dont. No after market anything for them. The standard muzzle brake torques the gun hard. The 2 piece scope mount wont stay tight. the one piece one is hard to find.

 

[112Savage]

Thanks for the response. I knew that the triggers could be hit or miss and the replacement parts are rare as hen's teeth, but I couldn't understand why such a solid feeling pistol never formed its on niche. For a follow up I also don't understand how something can be accurate to 100yds but not afterwards unless there is a stabilization problem. I think I'm going to play with some 87 grain V-max's in the 243 to see what kind of groundhog devastation I can get out of her.

 

[LouBoyd]

Thanks for the response. I knew that the triggers could be hit or miss and the replacement parts are rare as hen's teeth, but I couldn't understand why such a solid feeling pistol never formed its on niche. For a follow up I also don't understand how something can be accurate to 100yds but not afterwards unless there is a stabilization problem. I think I'm going to play with some 87 grain V-max's in the 243 to see what kind of groundhog devastation I can get out of her.

Unlike a Thompson Contender (T/C) the action is firmly attached to the barrel. You pay just about the full price (less stock) to do a caliber swap. I also find it's more difficult to shoot offhand in silhouette competition. The triggers on the older T/Cs were excellent by comparison. I own a Lone Eagle in 223 Rem but shoot it very little. My M1-S AR-15 and Carbon 15 semi-auto 223 Pistols give better accuracy. The Carbon 15 is lighter.

The barrel assembly itself is accurate enough but I never could get acceptable performance from the triggers. I have two guns with worse triggers. One is a Bushmaster M-17 bullpup, the other is the Swingline staple gun I use to hang targets.

 

[WVBugman]

I have one in .243 , I got it in the early 90s and sold my Contender to buy it. The Lone Eagle will flat out shoot circles around the Contender . It's better balanced ect ect .

 

[SunYenMoon]

I have a fondness for the Lone Eagle, I own one in each caliber except 7.62 x 39. Some exhibit the tendencies mentioned above while others are amazingly accurate, the 7mm-08 being my favorite. Sadly there is a scarcity of parts available except firing pins.

 

[LoneEagle]

I just recently bought a Lone Eagle chambered in .243 WIN from gunbroker. I have only shot it a few times but really like the pistol. I put a Weaver 2.5-8x28 on it. I would like to buy a few more but they are really hard to find. I like the older model with the squared off forearm.