missionary5155
01-01-2013, 06:45 PM
Good afternoon and Happy New Year
Today 1 January was not too bad to go to the range. 26 degrees and 5-8 mph NW wind but sunny. Arrived about 12:30 and stayed 90 minutes. Goal was to fire the near finished 1873 44-40 2nd Model. Did take along the .357 Marlin and the 45 Colt DW just in case.
Fired the Marlin and those are the small holes on the targets. Wanted to verify I had sighted it for the load I had on hand. Then the DW just because I like revolvers that make big holes.
The large holes on the target are the 1873 44-40. Found it will load a .435 sized boolit of 215 grains. I went with the .435 as it is the absolute largest diameter that will chamber without any strain on the lever. Target stand is shown sitting on the 25 yard line. Load was 13 gr 2400 with 215 PB.
573105731157312
The first 3 photos are the range photos. Wind was coming in from the 10 o'clock position but really had no effect at 25 yards. The rifle's special order heavy octagon barrel is easy to hold steady from a sitting position.
57315
The closeup of the target is the rest of the story. Upper orange dot. Hole marked "1" was the first spotter at about 10 yards. That load was 13 gr 2400. Having verified the sights were close I proceeded to fire the other 9 rounds at 25 yards which formed the nice cluster marked 9 rounds. Those rounds ejected easily, showed nor felt excessive pressure nor showed any case evidence of system strain.
Next I fired one round of same boolit with 14 gr 2400. That load extracted differently with some extra lever force so I ruled it out. Next was 17 grains of 5744 same boolit. That load was very mild recoil and no extraction effort. Dumb shooter fired the first three rounds on the upper orange dot "B" before realising he should have been on the bottom dot. There is also the one round of 14 grains 2400 mixed into that first group. Can cold air befuttle the thinking capacities. Finally shooter realised he was making a mess and shifted to lower orange dot. The "B" should read 17 grains 5744 but that is what freezing fingers and lower jaw can attest to.
So my idea at this moment is to return to 13 grains of 2400 with that 215 grainer and refire it on another hopefully warmer afternoon within two weeks. After two weeks all firearms must be wrapped in oil and wax paper and interned in storage. :( That is one moment I never enjoy. But I think this 1873 2nd model 44-40 has all the capabilities of being a fine shooter and maybe work in well to some short walks about the fields of eastern ILLinos.
Mike in ILL
Today 1 January was not too bad to go to the range. 26 degrees and 5-8 mph NW wind but sunny. Arrived about 12:30 and stayed 90 minutes. Goal was to fire the near finished 1873 44-40 2nd Model. Did take along the .357 Marlin and the 45 Colt DW just in case.
Fired the Marlin and those are the small holes on the targets. Wanted to verify I had sighted it for the load I had on hand. Then the DW just because I like revolvers that make big holes.
The large holes on the target are the 1873 44-40. Found it will load a .435 sized boolit of 215 grains. I went with the .435 as it is the absolute largest diameter that will chamber without any strain on the lever. Target stand is shown sitting on the 25 yard line. Load was 13 gr 2400 with 215 PB.
573105731157312
The first 3 photos are the range photos. Wind was coming in from the 10 o'clock position but really had no effect at 25 yards. The rifle's special order heavy octagon barrel is easy to hold steady from a sitting position.
57315
The closeup of the target is the rest of the story. Upper orange dot. Hole marked "1" was the first spotter at about 10 yards. That load was 13 gr 2400. Having verified the sights were close I proceeded to fire the other 9 rounds at 25 yards which formed the nice cluster marked 9 rounds. Those rounds ejected easily, showed nor felt excessive pressure nor showed any case evidence of system strain.
Next I fired one round of same boolit with 14 gr 2400. That load extracted differently with some extra lever force so I ruled it out. Next was 17 grains of 5744 same boolit. That load was very mild recoil and no extraction effort. Dumb shooter fired the first three rounds on the upper orange dot "B" before realising he should have been on the bottom dot. There is also the one round of 14 grains 2400 mixed into that first group. Can cold air befuttle the thinking capacities. Finally shooter realised he was making a mess and shifted to lower orange dot. The "B" should read 17 grains 5744 but that is what freezing fingers and lower jaw can attest to.
So my idea at this moment is to return to 13 grains of 2400 with that 215 grainer and refire it on another hopefully warmer afternoon within two weeks. After two weeks all firearms must be wrapped in oil and wax paper and interned in storage. :( That is one moment I never enjoy. But I think this 1873 2nd model 44-40 has all the capabilities of being a fine shooter and maybe work in well to some short walks about the fields of eastern ILLinos.
Mike in ILL