200 yd postal match Nov-Dec 2019

[desert deuce]

I’m starting to think the 45-110 is getting too much for me and I should upgrade to a 45-70. It’s an exceptional day when I can keep 10 shots on an 8-inch bull and a rare day when I can keep all 10 within 4 inches. Mike Herth

Although it did not make it to the current issue of Black Powder Cartridge News I did submit an article titled "The Balanced Load" as to some current experiences along the lines Mike is alluding to. And 'NO' there is no little blue pill you can take or give to your rifle that will make it shoot sub minute of angle groups. There are methods, however, you might consider before lamenting further.

A little hint, can you load your 45-110 to 1140-1150 fps using a Saeco #745 cast 1-20 at or slightly above groove diameter for your bore ?

The previous success in the 110 was with Goex Express 2F but you may find either Swiss 1.5 or 2F will work. It will take some experimentation but a lot cheaper than a rebarrel or new rifle.

I know, I know, you have a buffalo gun that will hot rod 530 grain bullets, but, you are not shooting Buffalo, you are shooting paper.

[John Bly]

I guess I shouldn't depend on my memory at 72 years old. That target shot with my trapdoor did not look like the one I normally use at 200 yards so I pulled the target from storage and it was shot at 100 yards, not 190 yards. Sorry if I got anyone excited.

[GrumpyBear]

Still good shooting John. Got me excited, as I just got my Dad's 1884 on loan from my brother,I don't believe that it has been shot in my lifetime.

Bore looks good, on a quick examination, and the Buffington sights have been removed and are soaking in a bottle of Kroil!

Would certainly be interested in your trap door load.

[Woody]

I feel better now.

That's more like what I'm used to with my Trapdoor.

Woody

Still, You should grab Glenn and come to Friendship.

Woody

[semtav]

Brian, I’m glad you started this postal match, it’s informative and uplifting and I wish I could participate. I’m starting to think the 45-110 is getting too much for me and I should upgrade to a 45-70.

MIke
Got to thinking after my comment, dont you have a chamber that wont allow GG or Patched to Groove bullets?
Brian

[mike herth]

Brian, yes,tight chamber for bullets patched to bore diameter.

[charlie young]

Brian, so when you patch a bullet to groove diameter, do you seat them in the case as you would a GG bullet? And second what is the diameter of the bullet before patching. I see in the old Sharps catalogues/ads that they had a 500 gr. bullet patched that was seated deeper in the case of a 45 2 7/8.

[Kurt]

Mike.
I read in the old book Thirty-five years of rifle practice 1851-1886 in six parts by C.D Westbrook that they used 3 grains of wood dust under the black powder in a 2.6/10 shell to reduce the 120 grain of powder to 110 grains and at the same time secure the cleanliness of the barrel. (something to run some tests to see if it does reduce fouling)
The whole book is very interesting to spend time with when it's cold out.

Kurt

[semtav]

Brian, so when you patch a bullet to groove diameter, do you seat them in the case as you would a GG bullet? And second what is the diameter of the bullet before patching. I see in the old Sharps catalogues/ads that they had a 500 gr. bullet patched that was seated deeper in the case of a 45 2 7/8.

Yes. When I got the mould from DanT, I cast some bullets and literally pulled the GG bullets out of the cases and put the PP bullets in. ( I shoot unsized loads)
That load has pretty much stayed the same since. I did have an occasional dirt digger tho, and switching to 12.5-1 lead alloy and improving my wiping stopped that.

My mould casts .454 dia bullets that I patch to .460 for the Browning .

[Woody]

Had a appointment this morning. Got home at 1300 hours and decided it would be a good chance to test the latest loads for the 45-90. Might have been a good day for the test, but the test didn't go very well. Shot six different five shot groups and nothing looked promising. Two loads were four-ish inches. The rest were worse. Not sure what I'll try next. I then tested some SK Long Range .22 to see how it performed at 200 yards. Price is a lot more affordable than the Eley tenX I've been using. That stuff shot pretty good. Nine shots into a four inch group. One went a little lower to open it. I didn't chase the wind, but I could feel it puffing up and down from the rear as I shot. Temp was 39 degrees, overcast, with mild wind from the rear. Next time.

Woody

[SFogler]

Maybe we should have a .22BPCR postal match next - our BPCR .22s: one ten shot target at 100 yards and one at 200 yards for the competition. Wives encouraged. ????

[Woody]

OK, I'll bite. I didn't take any pics yesterday, but I shot from the same benches I've used for my big bore testing. Target was placed at 200 yards. I shot five rounds off group to foul the bore and make sure I was centered on the paper. I then shot ten shots for group. I didn't chase the hits, but did feel enough changes coming from behind to give me some vertical. The rifle is a original Winchester receiver with double set triggers and Helm lever. The barrel is a stainless Ron Smith profiled and chambered by Dan Zimmerman. I stocked it in straight grained black walnut. Ammo is SK Long Range Match.

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Group widest measure is: 4.800 inch

Woody

[semtav]

Since the wx will keep us from getting a a lot of entries in the Jan-Feb , maybe we just need to add a 22 category to the Match.

[semtav]

Miroku 45-70 BH 209.jpg

Shiloh 45-70 BH 209.jpg

I started out with good intentions. After a couple days of freezing rain and snow, it looked like this afternoon might be doable, so i loaded up 4 guns and 5 loads to do a little testing. As I drove by the bank, I saw the temperature was only at 28, so I kinda bagged the BP loads and decided to just shoot the two BH209 loads I had.

Nearly identical loads for the Shiloh and Miroku HW 45-70's

didn't have sight setting for either one so it took a couple to get on paper.

The highwall was first and it started out a big disappointment.
After getting it to shoot two shots at the top of the Red, I made one more adjustment and got it just outside the 24 line at 10 and thought everything was moving on script. The next 6 shots were all over the board !! At that point I had 2 groups of two above my first counter and two down below.
Not planning of keeping this for score at this point I shot the rest of my shells, I noticed the last 6 shots grouped very nicely with the first shot for score. Only thing I could think of was my gun finally settled in or I did.

Until I shot the Shiloh,
I never did see it start to group and these shots were all over the place including one that went way low.
This was a shock as this was a very good load 3 years ago and I shot my highest score at the long range match with it.
No wonder when I tried this load last winter at the postal match it went all over the target.

Only thing I can think of, That's different is the alloy and the temperature. It's a pour it all together and get rid of it alloy.

[semtav]

209 test 12-14-19.jpg

209 target 12-15-19.jpg

Just couldn't let Fridays results with my 209 loads stay, so I did some macro adjusting of my load to see if it would improve.

took 6 shells out yesterday first two were low and then the others stayed the same.
So I took 12 shells out today to see if it would still need two fouling shots to settle down.

It did.

Group went from a 3" group to a 3 1/2 inch group with my last shot.
But still pleased with it.

Browning 45-70
38 gr BH209 PP'd