longbow
01-29-2013, 01:00 AM
After a long time of not loading and shooting slugs, I finally made time to get the the range with a variety of slug and round ball loads as follows:
0.662" RB's in shotcups
0.678" RB's in shotcups
0.678" RB's with add on "tails" in shotcups
TC slug from home made mould internally ribbed like Lee but with 6 ribs
Lee Drive Key slugs
Lee Drive Key slugs modified with attached wad Brenneke style (cast on)
0.735" RB's over hard card wad column
All slugs were loaded over nitro card wads and the round balls also had a scoop of COW under them. The TC slugs were bore size.
0.662" RB's shot into a vertical string of 2" wide x 5 1/4" high (5 shots)
0.678" RB's shot into a horizontal group of 4" wide x 2" high (5 shots)
0.678" RB's with add on "tail" shot into 4" wide x 3" high (5 shots)
TC slugs shot very poorly (5 shots)
Lee Drive Key Slugs shot into 10" wide x 6" high (10 shots)
Brenneke'ized Lees shot into 8" wide x 6" high (10 shots)
All shots were at 50 yards.
I also shot:
one group of 0.678" RB's at 100 yards and 4 out of 5 were in a group 7" wide x 5" high. One shot missed the paper
one group of eight 0.735" RB's at 100 yards. These were left overs from previous testing and were hefty loads. 5 of 8 hit the paper
but were spread out over about 12" wide x 24" high. This same load had given me consistent 3" to 4" groups at 50 yards before so did something change or do they simply pick up a spin and veer off course at longer range? Odd since the 0.678" RB's in shotcups did quite well. Obviously more shooting is required to sort this out.
one group of five 0.678" RB's with "tails" at 100 yards ~ group would be measured in feet!
All shooting was done with my smoothbore single shot, cylinder bore, with open rifle sights off a bench.
So, once again the round balls win. So far, I can generally count on about 4" or under at 50 yards with good round ball loads.
I found the Lee slugs a little snug in the wads I had but not real tight. I used Win AA white as they were the only wads I had that gave reasonable fit. Recovered wads show some uneven petal damage so a different wad may improve groups some. Also, the Lees with attached basewad could be improved a bit with a better jig so both Lee slugs will get re-tested and have another chance against round balls.
I was hoping for some better results from the Lee slugs but was pretty much expecting the round ball groups. I find round balls easy to cast, easy to load and they give me quite decent dependable groups to at least 50 yards.
It was good to get out and do some shooting though. Loads were moderate so didn't beat me senseless this time. All in all a good day at the range.
Next time out I will shoot more groups at both 50 and 100 yards but may limit the shooting to 0.678" RB's and Lee slugs in both styles. Even with moderate loads shooting about 50 rounds from the bench in one sitting takes its toll.
So, nothing too exciting and no stellar targets to display. Maybe next time!
Longbow
0.662" RB's in shotcups
0.678" RB's in shotcups
0.678" RB's with add on "tails" in shotcups
TC slug from home made mould internally ribbed like Lee but with 6 ribs
Lee Drive Key slugs
Lee Drive Key slugs modified with attached wad Brenneke style (cast on)
0.735" RB's over hard card wad column
All slugs were loaded over nitro card wads and the round balls also had a scoop of COW under them. The TC slugs were bore size.
0.662" RB's shot into a vertical string of 2" wide x 5 1/4" high (5 shots)
0.678" RB's shot into a horizontal group of 4" wide x 2" high (5 shots)
0.678" RB's with add on "tail" shot into 4" wide x 3" high (5 shots)
TC slugs shot very poorly (5 shots)
Lee Drive Key Slugs shot into 10" wide x 6" high (10 shots)
Brenneke'ized Lees shot into 8" wide x 6" high (10 shots)
All shots were at 50 yards.
I also shot:
one group of 0.678" RB's at 100 yards and 4 out of 5 were in a group 7" wide x 5" high. One shot missed the paper
one group of eight 0.735" RB's at 100 yards. These were left overs from previous testing and were hefty loads. 5 of 8 hit the paper
but were spread out over about 12" wide x 24" high. This same load had given me consistent 3" to 4" groups at 50 yards before so did something change or do they simply pick up a spin and veer off course at longer range? Odd since the 0.678" RB's in shotcups did quite well. Obviously more shooting is required to sort this out.
one group of five 0.678" RB's with "tails" at 100 yards ~ group would be measured in feet!
All shooting was done with my smoothbore single shot, cylinder bore, with open rifle sights off a bench.
So, once again the round balls win. So far, I can generally count on about 4" or under at 50 yards with good round ball loads.
I found the Lee slugs a little snug in the wads I had but not real tight. I used Win AA white as they were the only wads I had that gave reasonable fit. Recovered wads show some uneven petal damage so a different wad may improve groups some. Also, the Lees with attached basewad could be improved a bit with a better jig so both Lee slugs will get re-tested and have another chance against round balls.
I was hoping for some better results from the Lee slugs but was pretty much expecting the round ball groups. I find round balls easy to cast, easy to load and they give me quite decent dependable groups to at least 50 yards.
It was good to get out and do some shooting though. Loads were moderate so didn't beat me senseless this time. All in all a good day at the range.
Next time out I will shoot more groups at both 50 and 100 yards but may limit the shooting to 0.678" RB's and Lee slugs in both styles. Even with moderate loads shooting about 50 rounds from the bench in one sitting takes its toll.
So, nothing too exciting and no stellar targets to display. Maybe next time!
Longbow