What Did You Shoot Today?

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Handguns today.

First was the Ruger New Vaquero, Lee's 358-158 RF, and its accuracy load of 13.5-grains of 2400. Then, I foolishly and needlessly tried to re-invent the wheel with 6.3-grains of Herco. Some things are better left as they are.

Next was the .45 ACP Randall 1911, Lyman's 452374 and 452460, and 5.0-grains of Unique. There was no attempt at wheel re-invention, this time. As always, the 452374 fed flawlessly, but the 452460 had one round that failed to fully chamber, but a smack on the back of the slide and all was well. That bullet has such occasional hiccups, even with the shoulder seated even with or slightly below the case mouth. I need to follow Bill's (Pistolero) excellent advise and order a Lee .45 ACP taper crimp die. Neither the Hornady nor the Redding (thank you Ian) crimp any further than .468", and I recall Bill advising .466".

Among the scrounged brass takings were 11 pieces of .50 Action Express. Man, that stuff has to be awfully expensive to be left behind.
 
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L Ross

Well-Known Member
Changed out a weak original hammer spring in an older Gen 1 Contender with a new Bellm spring. Then fired 10 consecutive .357 mag rounds. Pretty happy about that.
 

Rushcreek

Well-Known Member
I tried some Shooters World Match powder and Wolf primers( first time for either for me) with some discontinued Sierra 50gr SMP bullets. Nice sub MOA groups from my 22" Remington. 223 AR.
My 6.8x43mm AR shot the Lee 277135 cast bullet well also.
I installed the Troy fixed rear sight on the utility room rifle and confirmed it's zero.
Windy and warm, not too bad.
 

Foo

Active Member
Didn't shoot anything but I did go pick up my new Swedish M38 mauser at the LGS and they talked me into buying two spanish mauser m43's. Look like Tiger Direct junk but clean em up a little and have nice wall hangers if they don't shoot. By the way they were only $50 bucks each.
 
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Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Did not shoot myself, but a buddy at the club tried out his new to him Remington RB in .32-20. It had been a rimfire in .32RF but the chamber was dismal. So, he ran a chamber reamer into it and made it into a .32-20. Someone before him had already converted it to centerfire.

He fired his first loads at 200 yds (it's Wilton, where nobody thinks under 100 yds) and it was like throwing rocks. He also only had the stock rear sight on the barrel with the stepped ramp. So, he moved back to 50 yds and it was still all over the place. We also noticed that it sounded more like an air rifle than a firearm. He had other ammo that belonged to a deceased member. That did not sound much better, but it shot better and at least at 50 yds he could hit the top of a bowling pin repeatedly. Although there was the occasional flyer. But he's all giddy about the rifle and I suspect we'll see more of it as he finds a load that it likes. I fired couple rounds thru it and it is like shooting a .22. You need hand strength like Arnold to cock the hammer, but the trigger is excellent.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Did not shoot myself

Well, safety first....

I got to play with one of those #4s that had been converted to center fire and reamed to .32-20, great fun. The owner and I were both firmly of the opinion that it is an accident waiting to happen to a future inheritor of the little rifle who might fire full-power loads through it, but for now it will be enjoyed with powder-coated or liberally-Aloxed 31116 bullets and about three grains of Red Dot. The corroded bore is still good for minute of softball at 40-50 yards so it is at least somewhat useful.

I drilled out my Dad's wallhanger #4 and lined/chambered to .22 LR, setting back the barrel the length of the tenon and making it eccentric to the receiver ring just enough to align the firing pin in the correct place for the smaller case rim. That project turned out very well and it is a tack driver with standard-velocity ammunition.
 

Michael

Active Member. Uh/What
Went out with a new friend from Germany that is over here working on his Doctoral thesis- Conservatism in Rural American, to the range shooting 22's. In addition to everyday 22LR fodder, I tossed in a few CCI stingers, empty soda and soup cans, and a gallon of water to put in the cans. He thought all 22LR ammo was the same, after watching me and himself demolishing several empty Mt Dew cans, he was like a 5 year old with a new puppy. Fill some soup cans with water, even though the top was open, a good center hit would send a stream of water at good 10-15 feet straight up, don't believe me, try it, plus it tore the cans up pretty good. Shooting at 20-ish yards, amazing how much fun open sighted bolt action 22s can be, trying to hit the cans low to get them to dance or on an edge to spin 'em if they are laying down.
 
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RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Well, safety first....

I got to play with one of those #4s that had been converted to center fire and reamed to .32-20, great fun. The owner and I were both firmly of the opinion that it is an accident waiting to happen to a future inheritor of the little rifle who might fire full-power loads through it, but for now it will be enjoyed with powder-coated or liberally-Aloxed 31116 bullets and about three grains of Red Dot. The corroded bore is still good for minute of softball at 40-50 yards so it is at least somewhat useful.

I drilled out my Dad's wallhanger #4 and lined/chambered to .22 LR, setting back the barrel the length of the tenon and making it eccentric to the receiver ring just enough to align the firing pin in the correct place for the smaller case rim. That project turned out very well and it is a tack driver with standard-velocity ammunition.
Remington RB # 4's are a bomb waiting to explode. I would never have one in anything but 22 LR, but you folks are on your own. The most powerful and highest pressure cartridge they were designed for was the 32 RF black powder . FWIW
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
The new to me Winchester 1895 (new model) 405 Winchester! What a hoot! Only shot at 25 yds to get a feel for it. Three diff loads behind the 412263 cast. 30 gr/I-4198 had a 3 shot touching cloverleaf, and very mild. Will be my go to for paper and Southern deer and fun. 37 gr RL7 3 were about 1", and much stouter load. Would use that for bigger than deer, and hog. 22gr/2400 didn't do well comparatively. May try 20/2400, and maybe the 16 Unique. But I love the rifle!
 

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"
Going out in about an hour to throw a few rounds through my new purchase.

Just brought home a 1918 SMLE that still has the magazine cutoff!

I have a few Enfields to include a Jungle Carbine but this is the one I have been wanting for some years now.

Mike
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
This afternoon's session was with the .45-70 rolling block and the 03A3.

Shot the Lyman 457193 405-grainer with 20.0-grains of 2400, and the Lee 457-340 and 13.0-grains of Unique. Since the last time I shot it, I put an aperture insert in the Lyman 17A globe sight. Can't remember the size, but it's ever so slightly larger in diameter than a 100-yard 12" bull. My initial impression is that my highly corrupted vision can sight it better than a post-and-ball. If I have an insert with a larger aperture it ought to be just about perfect.

For the 03A3 it was the Lyman 311284 220-grainer and test loads of 12, 13, 14, and 15.0-gains of Unique. Sixteen grains has shot very well, but tried lower doses just because. Fourteen grains out shot the others, so I'll schedule a shoot-out between it and 16-grains. Will have to check the notes/targets to see how 2400 shot.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
While working on a article for HB 38 bullets, I shot the group below standing off hand at 25 yards. Sometimes you get lucky in your old age. Bullet was the MagTec 158 HB RN over 4.6 grains of Bullseye in a 357 WW case (18,000 CUP). Fired from Colt Three Fifty Seven of 1955 vintage, and even though I "heeled" one shot I was happy with the group. The red dot is one inch.

MagTec 38.jpg
 
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Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Today was learn-to-be-humble-day at Wilton. Shot the BPCRA .22 silhouette match. First time shooting this match and followed all the rules. Chickens (about the size of peeps) at 50 yds, pigs at 100, turkey at 150 and rams at 200. Shot my original Low Wall with a Soule long range tang sight. I think I used the first 1/2" of sight adjustment.

Only hit 1 chicken offhand. At least I did not get skunked. There was something going on at 100 and I was pretty sure it was a updraft off the 50 yd berm from a solid headwind. Pushed my shots high. My partner was not reading the wind for me. When I was spotting I read the conditions and gave him corrections did better. But he had a 3 go high as well. So there may have been something going on that we did not see. Turkeys and Rams were so-so. I ended up with a 15/40 to sew up dead last. Top shooter shot a 32. Pretty much everyone uses a scope. Now, I can see why. The targets are so small and if you miss you have to make sure to skip the missed target(s) or your hits will not count. My partner shot a 23. He hit 7 chickens offhand. He should have done better. But the wind got him on the Rams and I suspect he was not holding far enough off for the conditions I was calling. He rarely accounts for wind as his normal partners never read it. It was the first time we shot together.

Prone is not as much fun as it used to be. My elbows were killing me and of course, I'd taken my elbow pads out of my shooting box. I also have a floater in my left eye that is annoying with a scope. But with irons is makes the target disappear. I think I'll be drilling and tapping the Low Wall for the Lyman 438 I picked up for just this match.

Unfortunately, this was the last match for the season, and they will not start up again until April. Just whet my appetite, and now I have to wait 6 months.
 

Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
Only one floater? How lucky.

Only in one eye? How double lucky.
Have one in each eye. Right is still attached to retina. No heavy Recoil.

Redeemed myself today. Shot the std silhouette match with my 03. Wind was brutal today. Many struggled to read it. Pretty sure I won. Shot a 38/40. Worked for every damn one. Lots if fun. Love the days that challenge you.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Have one in each eye. Right is still attached to retina. No heavy Recoil.

Redeemed myself today. Shot the std silhouette match with my 03. Wind was brutal today. Many struggled to read it. Pretty sure I won. Shot a 38/40. Worked for every damn one. Lots if fun. Love the days that challenge you.
Yup, when the wind is playing havoc with your shots he hits are more meaningful..
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I am gonna pull out the ol
LEAD SLED and hit the range later this month!!!

Only gonna shoot light recoilers and just ta prove site in. No rest or proof loads. 300 BO, 25/45 & Grendel. I think the Grendel might be past my safe upper limits.
The 25/45 is AR but 10#. The 300 is aval in Bolt or AR. Same for Grendel and AR Grendel is 9#. So maybe a bit heavy... Both 300's are under 7.5#.

CW