2020 Frostbite 200 yd Postal

[semtav]

I wonder how many unicorn hunters are out there that haven't spoke up yet cause they haven't found the unicorn !!

[GrumpyBear]

I wonder how many unicorn hunters are out there that haven't spoke up yet cause they haven't found the unicorn !!

Trying too talk myself into a little unicorn hunting today, we'll see.

[Coltsmoke]

I feel a little bit guilty, this is not really a fair contest. I can go shoot about any evening in the 50's with calm winds, maybe a 5mph wind gust for a couple of seconds. Now, that has not been the case for the last two weeks, it has been real windy last week, and down in the 20's here in the mornings this week. I have to make another confession, I'm a bullet mold junky, I can't help it, so I have a new El. PP bullet for the .40 Ballard and have the first test loads ready to go. I'll be posting some 5 shot groups soon, maybe tomorrow evening or Friday. Friday is supposed to be a rain out, but I can still shoot.

I have to do a colonoscopy early in the morning so I have just downed the first flush out and waiting on the fireworks to begin. I already feel a little bit of rumbling starting. When that doctor in the morning asking me how I'm doing, I going to tell him I'm tickled $hitless to be here. Anyway I need to load up about 6 more rounds. Started at 71 grs. at "O" compression and going up from there, might make it up to 75grs. Target coming soon with 5 shot groups. Oppppppps! I gota GO!!!!!!!

[CptCurl]

Unicorn or not, a day of shooting beats a day of working! Today has been a glorious day here in Virginia. Sunshine all day with the temperature about 27 when I got to the range, but reaching mid-30s by afternoon.

I really didn't expect to do anything impressive today, and that's the way it turned out. I brought four rifles to shoot; three military and one .22 LR.



From left to right they are:

• Springfield M1 Garand;

• M1917 Eddystone;

• SMLE; and

• Winchester High Wall Musket

The three military rifles are completely original and unaltered. I shot them with the battle sights.

The Winchester is original also, but it benefits from aperture sights.

My shooting range has targets at 25, 50, 100, and 200 yards. The shooting bench is enclosed in a shooting shack. Here is the view from the shooting bench:



You can see from the photo that the sun comes from the right, and it migrates toward the rear. In the woods like this it makes for some challenging light as shadows of tree trunks constantly cross the target.


First up was the Garand.

My ammunition is 1962 Greek surplus ammo I bought from the CMP a number of years ago. It came in spam cans packed in bandoleers and mounted in Garand en bloc clips.



This is the headstamp:





Here's the rifle teed up and ready for action:





The result is next. Ok bigger is better, right?







So that one came in at about 13-3/4". But I wouldn't want to stand in front of it!



Next the Model 1917 Eddystone.

This happened to be my first time shooting this rifle, so that was a treat!

I used the same Greek surplus ammunition for this rifle (absent the en bloc clips).





Here are a couple details of the rifle, though I forgot to get a photo of it on the bags.







The targets left a lot to be desired. I just struggle to see the front sight on these rifles!







So chalk that one up to 11-3/4"



Next was the SMLE.

My ammunition for this rifle was German surplus ball ammo I bought from SGAmmo a year or so ago. It's pretty nice stuff.





Here's the rifle:












It punched about 11-1/4". Can't see the front sight!



Finally, the Winchester Musket.

I had my hopes up, thinking I might redeem myself with this rifle. I can't say the ergonomics or the trigger pull meet the standard of a Win. Model 52, but it is a good, accurate rifle.







I shot my first target with Federal Gold Metal Match.





I thought I was pretty well sighted in, but my group landed in the northeast corner. Fortunately, all 10 shots hit.









With calipers it measures 5.20". I think it suffered a bit from variable wind.



Hoping to improve, I put out a larger bullseye and changed to RWS R50.





I got these shots centered a bit better.







My calipers tell me this group is 5.31".

I would like to have had time to shoot another group using the larger bullseye and Federal Gold Medal Match. If the wind was dead I might have seen something nice. But there was no time left. I hope to have another nice day at the range before the end of February.

I shouldn't have sold my Marlin 39A many years ago!

Curl

[semtav]

Welcome to the shoot CptCurl !!
any day a guy can get out and shoot these rifles is a good day

Like those guns !!!!

now just to be clear see quotes below.

I'll still post your scores below the other iron sights with an asterik for using jacketed bullets
but To win all the prizes in the military match, they have to be cast bullets !!

Well okay, there aint no prizes either, so thanks for posting

Strictly Cast Bullets in the BPCR AND the Military I presume...…… ????

Yes

[CptCurl]

Sorry, I didn't read that.

I guess I figured military rifles would be ok with military ammo.
Those groups sure aren't going to win anything!

I can take them down and leave the .22 groups if you want.

Thanks,
Curl

[Woody]

I don't mind them at all. Shooting military irons at 200 with old man eyes ain't for wimps. Good shootin. That Greek stuff didn't perform well in my 03 or M1. The Lake City M2 Ball is good stuff, but getting harder to afford. The Federal Match has always shot the best in my 06 military rifles but is cost prohibitive, So I reload. I think that High Wall is going kick butt.

Woody

[semtav]

I guess I figured military rifles would be ok with military ammo.
Those groups sure aren't going to win anything!

Curl

we'll leave the old military ammo up there !! Its all about the shooting stuff anyway !!

[semtav]

BPCR

Scope

1.625... R. Moritz...CPA ? .........38-50............59.5 gr Swiss 1.5....GG
2.410...Coltsmoke..CPA............45-70............82 gr Swiss 1.5......PP
2.57.....Aviator......SR74...........45-70...........74 gr Swiss 2F........GG
2.804... Woody.......HW............45-70...........61.5 gr Swiss 2F .....GG
2.804... Coltsmoke... ?.............40-65............68 gr Swiss 1.5.......PP
2.81.....Aviator......SR74...........45-70...........74 gr Swiss 2F........GG


Iron
2.592...Kurt.................A77..........45 2.6..........100 gr OE 1.5........PP
2.750...D Gazaway.........HW ? ........40-65...........63 gr Swiss 1.5......GG
3.043...Woody..............SR77..........45-90..........69.5 gr Swiss 2F.....GG
3.108...DAG45-70..........SR74.........45-70...........66 gr Swiss 1.5......GG
3.25....semtav..............HW...........45 2 7/8.......105 gr Swiss 1F......PP
3.348...DAG45-70..........SR74.........45-70...........66 gr Swiss 1.5......GG
3.974...DAG45-70..........SR74.........45-70...........66 gr Swiss 1.5......GG (8 shots 1.487 vertical)
4.205...DAG45-70..........SR74.........45-70...........66 gr Swiss 1.5......GG
4.25....Firefighter1990...SR74.........40 2 5/8........100 gr OE 1.5........PP (3.5 vert)
4.599...DAG45-70..........SR74.........45-70...........66 gr Swiss 1.5 .....GG
4.5......SFogler............SR74..........45-2.6..........87 gr Swiss 1.5......GG (2 7/8 for 9 shots) (2 3/4 vert)
4.5......SFogler............SR74..........45 2.6..........84 gr Swiss 1.5......GG
5.00....semtav.............HW............45-90..........95 gr Swiss 1.5......PP
5.228...Woody.............SR77..........45-90..........70.5 gr Swiss 2f......GG
6.75.... Kurt...............SR74..........45-70..........71 gr Swiss 1.5........PP
7.50....semtav.............HW...........45-90..........95 gr Swiss 1.5........PP (9 shots 1.5 vertical)
11.50...SFogler.............SR-C.........45-70..........62 gr Swiss 1.5........GG



.22 Rifle


Scope
2.686...Woody..........LW............SK Match
3.188...GrumpyBear...CPA...........Lapua X (2.208 vertical)
4.754... Woody.........LW............SK Match
5.428... Kurt...........CPA...........Norma Match
9.625... Kurt...........CPA...........Norma Match



Iron
4.50.....Aviator.....................M39A................?
5.00....CptCurl.....................HW..............Fed Grand Match
5.31....CptCurl.....................HW............. RWS R50
5.320...Distant Thunder............CS75...........Eley Target




Military

Big Bore

6.250... Woody.......TD........45-70...........58 gr Swiss 2F ....GG
7.125....SFogler......SR-M.....44-77...........62 gr Swiss 1.5....GG (4.50 --9shots)
13.375.. Kurt.........TD........45-70...........69 gr KIK 1.5 ......PP



Small Bore

5.748...Woody........Krag........30-40..........20.4 gr 5744........311284
7.375...semtav......Carcano.....6.5 X 52.......14 gr 4227..........BRP 268469 (not NOE)
7.75....DAG45-70....M1..........30 carbine....14 gr A5744.........Saeco #302
11.25..CptCurl........M1Garand...30-06......................Greek FMJ
11.75..CptCurl........M1917.......30-06----------------------Greek FMJ
13.75..CptCurl........SMLE.........303........................German FMJ



I think this is current and correct but double check your scores !!
CptCurl's Pics make me want to drag out a couple old military rifles I've never shot !!!

[desert deuce]

Seems like I recall being admonished not to try cast bullets in a Garand. Don't exactly recall the reason.
I also read somewhere that using the slower powders like IMR-4831 or 4350 was also not a good idea if reloading for the Garand.
Somewhere in my loading room I have the reloading data from the Marine Corps Rifle Team for 308 & 30-06.

[CptCurl]

.
.
Semtav, please make a correction: My group with Federal Gold Medal Match measured 5.20". You have it listed as 5.00". It wasn't quite that good.
.
.

Seems like I recall being admonished not to try cast bullets in a Garand.

That is my understanding also. No way would I shoot cast bullets in a Garand. The gas system will end up fouled.

Again, my apology for breach of the rule against jacketed bullets. I read the rules in the very first post to this thread and saw no mention of it. I now see it was mentioned a few posts down. My bad. Funny thing is, my groups with the three military rifles were so bad I hesitated to post them!

I may cobble together some cast bullet loads for the Model 1917 Eddystone and try again. It has a good enough bore if I can clean out all the copper fouling. The SMLE's bore is frosted, so I don't think it will tolerate lead. As stated above, the Garand is not going to see lead bullets, although it has an excellent bore.

Of course, anything I try with the Eddystone is going to be limited by my "old man eyes." Through the large rear apertures of these military rifles the front sight and the bullseye melt into shadows. A friend says, "This is not making an excuse, it's a reason." Whether it's one or the other, it's certainly a fact.

Thanks for the kind words in the light of my jacketed bullet faux pas.

Curl

[CptCurl]

Question:

The rules state as to a .22 -

2. .22 Rifle
Any period appropriate Rifle ( Need not be BPCR legal)
2 categories- iron and scope

Is there a definition of "period appropriate"?

I was fully confident in my Winchester Winder Musket, but what about a Winchester Mod. 52C? Just askin' . . .

Curl

[Woody]

Don't put a frosted bore into the non-shooting cat. It just might surprise you. As long as the crown and throat are good the rest of the barrel can have a number of issues and still shoot "lights out".

Woody

[Woody]

Several years ago I decided to look a little further into where the "Don't shoot lead in a M1 came from". I too had grown up with that same info. Looks like it may be bunk. At that time, I found many who are shooting lead in a M1. I didn't find anyone who could give me a valid reason not too. Just a few minutes ago, I again asked Mr. Google for some advice, and he sent me to the Cast Boolit web site. Pages of successful cast bullet M1 shooting. Hmm. Is this another debunking of the "Tooth Fairy"? I can't speak from personal experience, but if it's on the Internet -------.

Woody

[CptCurl]

There's also a debate of whether to shoot lead in an AR - particularly with the .300 BLK. Many people do it, but I personally would not. I think it's bound to result in lead buildup in the gas system.

I have a lot of experience shooting .22LR through a silencer. It's remarkable how fast lead builds up in a silencer, and cleaning it out is a pain. The lead is vaporized, and spews into the silencer behind the bullet.

I would think the same vaporized lead would tend to foul the gas system of a semi-auto rifle. On the other hand, there would be no problem at all with a recoil operated semi-auto, such as most pistols and the long recoil rifles (e.g. Remington Mod. 8 or Mod. 81). Those actions do not utilize the hot gases of combustion.

Curl