More Fun with the 38-55

[Whit Spurzon]

Since everyone knows that shooting a cast bullet over 50 yards at a mere 1300 fps with iron sights is impossible you might not believe what I'm about to tell you.

Just over the hill from me is a friend's place and he's got a few dingers at various ranges out beyond 50 yards. I have a few loads worked up that shoot well in my 336 Cowboy in 38-55 and he's got a few that work well in his 336 Cowboy now equipped with a Montana Vintage Arms tang sight.

Earlier this week I stopped by and we took on the 18" x 32" dinger 400 yards away. :shock:

Here is some video of my efforts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBE0fvhFsbk&feature=channel

I'm testing both the Ranch Dog TLC 379-235 RF and the Lee 379-250 RF with IMR 4198 (BD's load) and Unique (Drew's load). Both seem to work once I figured out the wind.

Later that day my friend had to deal with the setting sun but still managed to put the hurt on the dinger with his 38-55 336 CB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHAlGk0lOpE&feature=channel

A few days later we decided to take on the same dinger from 600 yards.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/ind600ydssticks.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/ind600ydsoffhand.jpg
No one will believe this but he did in fact hit it with a big fat slow bullet, iron sights OFFHAND! I'm still amazed by the shot.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/oonthesticks.jpg
Off the sticks even I could hit it.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/336marlincowboy3855at600yards.jpg
Time to repaint and do it again.

The downside of shooting dingers is that you burn through ammo very fast!
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/3855cowboywithtallsightssm.jpg

[Buckshot]

..............Neat post! Thanks for the photo's and the videos too. Wish I could have been there as I sure like shooting stuff like that :-) Looked like your friend had calmer conditions, but he did have to contend with the sun.

.................Buckshot

[No_1]

That sure looks like fun. Nice looking piece of land too!

[BobinIL]

I am curious about your target. Do the pipes make more noise when hit? Are they just welded together on the ends? I may make one like it and was just curious because most targets are flat steel.

[KCSO]

My 38-55 Cowboy was sighted at 200 dead on with the tang sight for deer hunitng and has killed deer at that range. I have not gotten to shoot it over 300 so far but I am now encouraged to try, after all it was a 40 rod rifle in the old days.

[JJC]

Whit I was at a public range and my friend could not shoot a 45 colt rifle at more than 25 yards "it was only a pistol cal" said the range officer. One nearly had a fit when he found out I was shooting a 44 mag lever at 100 yards. He liked my group and let me stay. Needles to say we belong to a gun club now. Fire a spotter or two and have at it. Good times

[9.3X62AL]

[QUOTE=Whit Spurzon;961040] Since everyone knows that shooting a cast bullet over 50 yards at a mere 1300 fps with iron sights is impossible you might not believe what I'm about to tell you. [QUOTE]

Legions of BPCR shooters believe you, I'm sure. I do, too. There are few things more fun than shooting at reaction targets, whether they produce a hearty CLANG like steel or a puff of black dust like charcoal briquets.

You aren't a-kidding when you say such targets cause an ammo drain. HIJO LA, do they EVER. My local gunfun site has steel targets at all ranges, from 25 to 600 yards. 200 rounds of 40 S&W has about a 15 minute life expectancy there, start to finish--and a lot of that is mag refills.

[Old Goat Keeper]

Hey WetDog glad to see you and Wind's exploits posted here! Folks these 2 boys can shoot long range stuff! Makes me envious.

Tom