Finally

[Brad]

I finally feel like I have a good load for the 44 mag.
Using the MP 44/444 HP mould and an alloy of 5 pounds monotype to 50 pounds range scrap and heat treating for a full hour at 400 F then quenching. Sized to .4315, loaded in Starline cases with a Fed LP primer and 21.5 gr of H110.

The 8 in the group are just barely over 2 inches measured center to center. The low shot O don't know what exactly happened. The far left shot should have never been taken. The gun was moving and I let it go anyway. At the shot I knew it wasn't good.

Much time was spent focusing on grip. Placement of hands on grip along with where pressure was put with hands. It makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Ben]

Now ......... ! ! !
That's impressive !

Ben

 

[Brad]

That is also what can happen when you follow Rick's directions and spend some effort and time working to an end.
I can assure you that without Rick's encouragement, teaching, and horse whipping that never would have been possible.

Ben, nothing is better than a revolver that can hit a clay pigeon at 100 yards every shot.

 

[Rick]

Dang, he does listen.

The low shot . . . Simple, just a bit too much grip and the muzzle didn't rise quite as much before bullet exit.

The other shot . . . That's usually my last shot of a group. Wish I had a buck for every time I said "Oh why did I touch that off?" Don't even need to look at the target, when your doing it right you know instantly when it ain't right.

 

[Brad]

The wide shot was the second in the second 5 shots. First 5 were all in the group. It was damn hard to convince myself to even shoot the second five on the same target.

 

[Cherokee]

Those outliers can drive you nuts...good shooting, a keeper load.

 

[Ian]

There ya go, those guys weren't fibbing after all, were they? The guns can do it with loads they like, the rest is up to us.

 

[Rick]

Yep, revolvers can be amazing shooters. Most people that think they can't shoot great have never learned to shoot a revolver and just blame the gun for poor groups.

 

[KHornet]

Elmer was right!

 

[Pistolero]

I guess I am going to have to get Rick to 'splain it to me. I'll
see what I can do, but I doubt I can do that well.

After I fail, I will throw my self on the mercy of the board and
get some advanced training. How's that for a positive attitude!?

Bill

 

[Brad]

Rick is gonna tell you that grip, grip, and grip are important. Working up a good load is easy, learning to shoot it isn't so easy.
I'm using a 300 gr hollowpoint over 21.5 gr of H110. I started at 19 gr and I thought it was a good load. Rick said I needed more powder and he was right.

That old man knows a few things about making a revolver shoot. If he mentions something I suggest you listen.

I can't wait to see the targets and progress.

 

[Pistolero]

OK, I am hearing the grip thing, and I never took it as seriously previously
as it seems that I should. I will concentrate on that in the future.

It is very helpful to get pointers from folks that know. While I have been shooting
pistols pretty well since the middle 60s, I do know that there is much that I do
not know, and need to listen to others to learn.

 

[Rick]

OK, I am hearing the grip thing, and I never took it as seriously previously
as it seems that I should. I will concentrate on that in the future.

The thing is "long range revolver". You've done a lot of pistol shooting over the years but at what range was most of it? An incorrect grip from shot to shot will certainly effect groups at 15 or 20 yards but will be much more difficult to see the effect. Stretch the range out to 100 or 200 yards and that same difference in grip that put shots just out of the group at 20 could well be completely off the target at 200.

The revolver is the most difficult action type to shoot accurately/consistently. They have a slow lock time and very slow barrel time compared to other actions especially rifles. ANYTHING you do to change the muzzle rise during recoil before the bullet exits will change where the shot goes. Your grip on the revolver has everything to do with where and how much the muzzle rises during recoil, change where on the grips your hand is, change even slightly how tight or loose your holding it and you have radically changed where the muzzle is at the instant the bullet exits. Now multiply that different muzzle position out to 200 yards and the importance of grip becomes apparent. Now consider that even a 22 rimfire revolver grips will move in your hand during recoil and must be put back in the exact place as the previous shot if you want the next shot to go to the same place.

Proper/accurate/consistent sight alignment is if course important but the correct sight picture at the moment the sears break will only get you started correctly, your not finished yet because even though recoil is in progress the bullet has not yet left the muzzle and your grip has a profound effect on where the muzzle is when it does exit.