.54 '63 Sporter
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:25 pm
Having been away from my guns all summer due to cancer treatment, I got some much missed trigger time over the past two days ....
First it was with my Shiloh Military Rifle in 50-70 (my preferred hunting rifle) and a pet M1 Danish model Garand. Both shot to expectations and more. The Garand has taken my largest mule deer to date.
Today I warmed up with "my wife's" Uberti RB in .357 with BP loads - 21 grs FFFg and a 158 RN. What fun! Grouped well off hand at 50 and then I rang the 100 yd gong for a while.
Then it was 'paper' Sharps day, my .50 '63 carbine and .54 '63 Sporter coming out to play. I've never taken game with a '63 as yet, so I thought I'd better be ready.
The carbine shot true to form at 50 and 100 yds on paper, the max range I would ever use it on deer with it's 55 gr powder capacity and Lyman 515141 bullet. Ringing the 12" x 10" 100 yd gong is no real trick every time while sitting, 3/5 off hand.
Then the .54 Sporter was up ....
I had loads using Charlie Hahn's tubes and my own paper cartridges rolled out of copier paper (!), both holding 75 grs and a 'Xmas Tree' bullet.
The rds with Charlie's tubes came right to the rear of the chamber, just short of being sheared.
My rds were a full 1/2" shy of the rear of the chamber, but the ignition thru' the paper towel base was flawless. Same for the Hahn tubes.
Residue in the bore was nil after the Hahn tubes and occasionally a bit of copier paper with mine, easily blown out between shots.
The paper on my rds covered the grease grooves whereas the Hahn tubes had the base of the Xmas Tree glued on, lubed by hand before loading. Mine would be my choice for hunting, especially with a little shellac to waterproof the paper.
My rds hit 8" high with a 6 o'clock hold, but right at 12 o'clock. The rds using Charlie's tubes printed 7" left but the same 8" high - go figure. Both 3 shot groups measured 1 1/2" centre to centre.
This was with the factory semi-buckhorn sights! This rifle really deserves a good tang sight and front globe.
Before heading to the range, I scooped the gun grease from the breech cavity of the carbine and repalced it with a bees wax based boot grease.
The Sporter block had been lubed with the boot grease last time it was cleaned, including the tapered part of the shear plate.
After 20rds, the carbine was getting a little stiff to open, but the Sporter was still opearting as smooth as after the first shot. I had the impression it would do so as long as I would be willing to shoot it. Lubing the block with the beeswax grease did the trick.
First it was with my Shiloh Military Rifle in 50-70 (my preferred hunting rifle) and a pet M1 Danish model Garand. Both shot to expectations and more. The Garand has taken my largest mule deer to date.
Today I warmed up with "my wife's" Uberti RB in .357 with BP loads - 21 grs FFFg and a 158 RN. What fun! Grouped well off hand at 50 and then I rang the 100 yd gong for a while.
Then it was 'paper' Sharps day, my .50 '63 carbine and .54 '63 Sporter coming out to play. I've never taken game with a '63 as yet, so I thought I'd better be ready.
The carbine shot true to form at 50 and 100 yds on paper, the max range I would ever use it on deer with it's 55 gr powder capacity and Lyman 515141 bullet. Ringing the 12" x 10" 100 yd gong is no real trick every time while sitting, 3/5 off hand.
Then the .54 Sporter was up ....
I had loads using Charlie Hahn's tubes and my own paper cartridges rolled out of copier paper (!), both holding 75 grs and a 'Xmas Tree' bullet.
The rds with Charlie's tubes came right to the rear of the chamber, just short of being sheared.
My rds were a full 1/2" shy of the rear of the chamber, but the ignition thru' the paper towel base was flawless. Same for the Hahn tubes.
Residue in the bore was nil after the Hahn tubes and occasionally a bit of copier paper with mine, easily blown out between shots.
The paper on my rds covered the grease grooves whereas the Hahn tubes had the base of the Xmas Tree glued on, lubed by hand before loading. Mine would be my choice for hunting, especially with a little shellac to waterproof the paper.
My rds hit 8" high with a 6 o'clock hold, but right at 12 o'clock. The rds using Charlie's tubes printed 7" left but the same 8" high - go figure. Both 3 shot groups measured 1 1/2" centre to centre.
This was with the factory semi-buckhorn sights! This rifle really deserves a good tang sight and front globe.
Before heading to the range, I scooped the gun grease from the breech cavity of the carbine and repalced it with a bees wax based boot grease.
The Sporter block had been lubed with the boot grease last time it was cleaned, including the tapered part of the shear plate.
After 20rds, the carbine was getting a little stiff to open, but the Sporter was still opearting as smooth as after the first shot. I had the impression it would do so as long as I would be willing to shoot it. Lubing the block with the beeswax grease did the trick.