Goatwhiskers
Member
A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far,far away, actually it was 1969 in Houston, I walked into a surplus place and there on the wall was a Peabody Martini with PH sights front and rear for $75. It had been sleeved to .22RF, marked converted for the NRA by W.W. Greener. Wasn't too smart back then so got with my favorite gunsmith in Pasadena and he got me a .30cal barrel from P. O. Ackley and I picked the 30/40AI for the chambering. Engineered a scope mount and made a hanger for the forend so it would float. I did the wood using crotch cut walnut from Fajen and a Neidner buttplate and grip cap.A bit of load work and settled on 49gr of 4831 pushing a 180RN Hornady. About 2200fps giving a 3/8" group, which it will still do today. Have taken several nice bucks with it thru the years. Love a single shot! Yeah, I know, pics. I'll take some more and post, my old 'puter crashed and lost everything. Recently started with cast in the old girl, seems more fittin' you know. The RD165 is quite acceptable, but recently got a NOE TLC-310-180-RF mold, using Al gas checks. Think this will be the one. I'm using 1-1 mix of JPW and alox dip lubed like Ranch Dog, then an over coat of the same stuff thinned with mineral spirits. I loaded 3 yesterday using 17gr of 2400, didn't check velo. At 100, two touching, one an inch left--I might have done that, we'll see. No leading, still need to find some of the liquid wax. Starting to rain, gonna go to the shop and load some more. Need to try a few more and decide whether to take these or the original load when we go to W Texas next week. Fun to use your own boolits, they hit 2" below POI of the original load. By the way, my secondary rifle will be my Cadet in .357Max shooting a RD190 paper patched, another fun gun. We're entitled to take 2 doe and 1 buck, so guess I only need to bring 3 cartridges. Merry Christmas everybody, and wish me luck! This trip is a present from SWMBO, what a woman! GW
