A-shooting we will go......(with pics)

[k8bor]

I got to it this weekend, like I promised myself. Had to shoot on Saturday because the weather reports said Sunday was going to be horrible with rain, ice, etc. It's a good thing I paid attention, because no body was going outside for anything in Michigan yesterday. Just like they said, rain, ice, etc. So Sunday I cast boolits and spent time in the reloading room, and watched TV with my bride. I have to admit, even with the bad weather, it was a good weekend.

Last week I published some loads I planned on shooting some BPCR out of my 1895CB. I didn't get real fancy because of the snow, etc. but the first order of the day was to set up my "technically correct" shooting stand. Not fancy, but it works for me.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010077.jpg

Next, it was time to put some targets up on the 50 yard line.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010076.jpg

Now shoot the first round of 5...........
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010078.jpg

Stroke the bore with a couple wet, and a couple dry patches, and out again, round #2:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010079.jpg

Repeat the cleaning and then round #3:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010083.jpg

Finally, the 4th load:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z41/k8bor/P1010082.jpg

1st conclusion:
Man, that was fun!!!!!

2nd conclusion:
Load #1 configuration holds the most promise so far. As soon as I'm able to mount the Marbles tang sights on the rifle I will shoot more of these playing with powder loads.

3rd conclusion:
BP with 405gr. bullets isn't half bad to shoot. More of a push than a sharp blow, not unpleasant. Billowing smoke also very satisfying.

4th conclusion:
Another benefit to BP is the neighbors (which are all a minimum of a 1/4 mile away) notice you were shooting something that makes a big "boom". (cool factor)

5th conclusion:
Re-iterate conclusion #1

No leading of the bore occured that I can tell and the rifle cleaned up real easy with a mixture of a little dab of Dawn dishwashing liquid, some hydrogen peroxide, and water. I don't know which one it was, but the mix even kept the sulfur smell way down.

[exblaster]

If you check with Peabody Rifle company you can get a copy of a Lyman mod. 21 sight for your mod 95. This would be the proper side mounted aperture sight .


Exblaster

http://www.peabodyrifles.com/

[sundog]

6th conclusion: You are either nuts or you wanted to shoot AWFULLY bad.

7th conclusion: both (see #6)

Fun, eh?

[montana_charlie]

Speaking generally, your groups got gradually bigger as you fired more shots.

Makes me wonder if the differences were caused by the 'loads', or changing barrel condition (including barrel temperature, etc.).

If you shoot your poorest performer first out of a fresh barrel, it might go into less than three inches...much like the first group you fired.

But, considering your best group is still over 4 MOA, you certainly don't seem to have found the magic, yet...unless better sights will hold better groups.
CM

[k8bor]

Actually Charlie, that's the plan. I think I'm going to 1) mount the new sights and 2) shoot groups about a 1/2 hour apart cleaning in between each group. I did notice that after they got a certain size, they didn't change much, and I could see hear rising a little from the barrel after the first group, so you're spot on in your thinking.

I actually only shot half of what I loaded. I loaded (10) of each configuration and only shot (5) so far. I am going to stick with that lee bullet I think, for awhile anyways.

[k8bor]

Exblaster, those sights are really interesting. What's the background on those??

[montana_charlie]

Dave, I was looking at your rest, and it looks kinda tall.

When you lean into your rifle, are you able to brace your elbows on the tabletop?
A cinder block (or something) between you and the milk crate would give you that additional anchor point...and might take a lot of 'flexibility' out of your hold.
CM

[k8bor]

Charlie, you are correct, it is pretty tall. What it does accomplish, is to let me sit straight up and shoot some fairly hard hitting loads without getting beat up. You are right though. I should use a rear rest, but with that same setup and smokeless loads in that same rifle, I've been shooting touching to 1" groups at that distance, so as an accuracy tester I didn't think it was too bad. I should really use two points though as you suggested.

I've got a regular 100 yard bench shooting table in back of the position I was using in the photos, but just didn't feel like trucking back and forth 100 yards through all that snow. 50 was long enough, and I think I did what I wanted. Got a lot of other things to try too, like it might have been you that suggested how hard starling brass was, so I'm going to anneal some cases for the next time around, etc.

[WBH]

2 Questions ??????????

1) What is that red "house" downrange from where your rifle is pointed?

2) What is the drill pointed at? and what kind of groups does the drill get ?????????? :???:

[scrapcan]

K8bor

The lyman 21 and 38 sights are aperature sights similar to the other aperature sights commonly seen today. The only thing is they are period correct and did not require drilling/tapping of holes on actions they were meant to fit.

The biggest reason for the remake by various companies is the scarcity and cost of finding an original. The last original I saw was sold for more than the asking price just to make sure the buyer got it. the asking price was $350, it sold for right at $400. That sight went on a 2nd gen win 95. I would have liked to have the sight, but not for more than we payed for the rifle it will go on.

The price on the above website is very good compared to other repros.

Here is a link to another reproduction lyman 38 form buffalo arms

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3184.htm

[exblaster]

Sorry to not have responded sooner on the sight but Manleyjt has provided about all the information I am aware of.


Steve aka Exblaster

[k8bor]

WBH,

Hee-hee that is not a house. It's the shape of the cardboard the targets are stapled to. I'm lucky that at work we get parts shipped on that stuff every week and so I'm privy to a huge supply of 4'x4' flat cardboard pieces to take home whenever I want.

The screwdriver is to fasten the cardboard. :-D

Guys, I noticed that the buffalo arms sights are over $200.00, so right now out of my range, I haven't checked the Peabody prices yet, but I will. I really do like the looks of them though.

I'm supposed to pick up my Marbles tang sight this weekend, so I ought to be doing another shoot with this stuff in a couple weeks.

[Wayne Smith]

Some folks have had a problem getting those Lee boolits to shoot. Before you quit be willing to try another.