Interesting anomaly

[captaint]

Saturday I was out shooting a new to me 6" mod 14-3. I had some wadcutters loaded up with the Lyman 35891 and 3 grs of Titegroup. Also had some Lee 158 RF's. The first group with the wadcutters put the first 2 shots near point of aim. The next 3 went about 8" low and 8" left. The last shot was back by point of aim. Curious... So I fired 2 more "groups" and the very same thing happened. Uh oh, maybe why this gun was sold... I decided to try the Lee 158 RF's. I forget what powder I used, but it is on the box. Bingo, they all went right where I wanted them to. Nice group, too.
Now, I don't know if the gun just didn't like wadcutters in general, or just that particular load. Of course, I'll try others. I do have an H&G 50 mold that I'll have to heat up. Just don't think I've ever seen a gun behave quite like that before.
Opinions ?? Mike

[Doc_Stihl]

I've found that's usually a sign on throats being different dimensions.

I have a 41 that shoots jacketed in any flavor really well. But load it up with cast and it would shoot 5 really well and 1 at random. 1 Throat was much tighter than the others. Opened that one throat to match and all is well now.

[captaint]

Well, Doc, that makes sense. I should have mentioned that I was sitting while shooting and had a rock solid rest. It was the 2 group thing that I found unusual. And then, it shot the 158 RF real well. Nice group. ?? I do have pin guages. I'll have to get them out and see how the throats are. I sized all my boolits right at .358. Mike

[44MAG#1]

Simple solution shoot the 158's.

[captaint]

So, after measuring the throats with the pins, they are all .357. The largest won't take the .358 pin...
Wasn't looking for any solution, just found it interesting. Regardless of what the cause is, we do know we have loads that will shoot. Mike

[wv109323]

What distance was you shooting at? If the loads were going sub-sonic accuracy can be affected.

[captaint]

I was at 25 yards. Great rest, rock solid. I was really just testing the new to me gun and ammo.
This is what makes handloading interesting. I'll try the same wadcutter with a different powder and then a different wadcutter with the same powder. You guys know how it works !!!. Never boring. Mike

[44man]

What have I said about a wad cutter or semi wad cutter being able to pull a cylinder into alignment? The shoulder gets wiped and ruined so the boolit is crooked in the bore.

[captaint]

Well, 44man, we may have just proved your theory - again. The Lee 158RF is not a SWC, so...
Thanks for the reply. That does make sense. Mike

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Might be interesting to shoot groups from individual chambers with the wadcutters. Slow, but might be interesting.
CF

[44man]

I did get some to work by making them HARD, 28 to 30 BHN.

[captaint]

Now I'm gonna have to try both Floyd & 44man's ideas. Bound to be interesting outcome. I'll post the results when the weather gets a little friendlier. Mike