A Good Day For Some Shooting The Browning 188545-70, And Pictures!

[Dthunter]

Hope you like some pictures I took today! I was just in the mood for taking some pictures today while out shooting.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beautys%20Colors_zpsx54jreay.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beautys%20Colors_zpsx54jreay.jpg.html)


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/BrowningMiruko%201885%20In%2045-70%20Government_zpszjkvkfhy.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/BrowningMiruko%201885%20In%2045-70%20Government_zpszjkvkfhy.jpg.html)


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty%202_zpsxhm7piwt.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty%202_zpsxhm7piwt.jpg.html)


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty%20In%20All%20Her%20Splendor_zpswjfn gdlf.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty%20In%20All%20Her%20Splendor_zpswjfn gdlf.jpg.html)


Here are some Black and Whites

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty%20Side%20Profile_zpsq9cigep9.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty%20Side%20Profile_zpsq9cigep9.jpg.ht ml)


http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty%20In%20Her%20Element_zps5tkpwoja.jp g (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty%20In%20Her%20Element_zps5tkpwoja.jp g.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty%20And%20Her%20Action_zpsb7ivyvsp.jp g (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty%20And%20Her%20Action_zpsb7ivyvsp.jp g.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Beautiful%20Workmanship_zpsmksf144d.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Beautiful%20Workmanship_zpsmksf144d.jpg.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Powder%20Meets%20Modern%20tactical_zpsqtf6 hoob.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Powder%20Meets%20Modern%20tactical_zpsqtf6 hoob.jpg.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Black%20Beauty_zpsoyhgogdy.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Black%20Beauty_zpsoyhgogdy.jpg.html)

Hope you enjoyed them!

[Tatume]

Very nice. Nice wood too. Tell us more about the gun.

[Dthunter]

The rifle is a 45-70 government, and was used in competition by the former owner. He shot it in Africa at a BPCR event in 1999.

i had a 35MOA picatinney rail machined to match the bolt pattern on the action and barrel. This way I did not have to change anything from the original configuration.

I mounted a modern scope on it because my eyes wont allow me to shoot as consistently with peeps.

I am planning to cast a few different bullet profiles to see what it likes best. I wont be shooting competition, but I will be hunting with it in Northern Alberta for various big game like mule deer, whitetails,elk,moose, and Black bear.

[MT Chambers]

Dt.....As A fellow Canadian I hope I can give you my take without you getting upset.......that beautiful rifle looks hideous with that scope on it, it screams out for a period correct scope or a tang sight, even a copy of the Win. A-5.........There I've said what others want to say but are afraid to!!

[Hiwall55]

My momma always told me if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything. That's why I didn't .

[Dthunter]

MT Chambers:

Am I offended? No, not at all! I understand and respect that most people want to keep rifles like this period accurate. But thats not the real world I live in at this time.

Why this scope? When I got the rifle, I shot it a fair bit with the original vernier rear sight, but found that my eyes are simply not up to the task of shooting the rifle to its potential. If I cannot shoot this rifle to its potential, I would lose interest in it. It is too nice of a rifle to not shoot it for fashions sake. That would just seem silly.

With our economy in the condition it is in, I am not comfortable to part with $1500.00+ For the quality, period accurate, optics and hardware this rifle was designed for. So, I use what I have available to me at this time, like anyone who loves shooting.

The day that gun fashion becomes more important than my enjoyment of casting and shooting, it will be a day to sell all my guns.

At some point I will get a period accurate scope, but the job market needs to be allot better than it is now.

This 5.5x15x40mm, 3200 Bushnell has got my 308 winchester tactical rifles out to 1000 yards without any issues. A performance level that is out of proportion to its retail cost for sure! This was an extra scope, and it has a proven record in my collection. That is why I chose to use this scope in particular.

If fellow shooters dont want to comment on it, thats fine. I shared the pictures because I am happy with it at this time, and just wanted to share it with those who are also interested in these rifles. This rifle shoots very well indeed!

[smoked turkey]

Dthunter, I will also comment on what a wonderful rifle. I noticed the much better than average stock and the wonderful color case hardening on the receiver. I am glad you had one of those special days that we all strive for ever now and then. I am sorry that your old eyes won't allow you to use your rear aperture sight. But I am glad you found a way to continue this wonderful hobby. Did I say I really like your rifle. Yes I probably did. I came just that close to breaking one of the commandments when I saw it. (Well maybe just a small amount of coveting). Thanks for sharing.

[gewehrfreund]

That's quite the stark contrast in old and new ;-)

But scopes/mounts come off easily . . .

Very nice; thanks for sharing. I sure wouldn't mind owning it.

[EDG]

If you use a 6" to 8" round black bull with the largest front aperture from a Lyman 17 A front sight in the original Browning front sight and use the rear aperture I think you will find that you can shoot 1" groups if your ammo and rifle are up to it. Because scopes became popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s many people have never really tried to ring out metallic aperture sights and do not know what they are capable of.

With a round bullseye, a front aperture and a rear aperture you can shoot very well. It may not be as fall down dead easy as a scope but you can shoot well with some concentration.

[gewehrfreund]

If you use a 6" to 8" round black bull with the largest front aperture from a Lyman 17 A front sight in the original Browning front sight and use the rear aperture I think you will find that you can shoot 1" groups if your ammo and rifle are up to it. Because scopes became popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s many people have never really tried to ring out metallic aperture sights and do not know what they are capable of.

With a round bullseye, a front aperture and a rear aperture you can shoot very well. It may not be as fall down dead easy as a scope but you can shoot well with some concentration.
Very true.
On a couple of occasions, I have shot better with aperture sights than with a scope using the same rifle at the same range session.

[rfd]

congrats on such a beautiful and obviously functional rifle!

iron, aperture or scope - the kinda sights used don't much matter unless there are rules involved ... hah!

[Wayne Smith]

If you use a 6" to 8" round black bull with the largest front aperture from a Lyman 17 A front sight in the original Browning front sight and use the rear aperture I think you will find that you can shoot 1" groups if your ammo and rifle are up to it. Because scopes became popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s many people have never really tried to ring out metallic aperture sights and do not know what they are capable of.

With a round bullseye, a front aperture and a rear aperture you can shoot very well. It may not be as fall down dead easy as a scope but you can shoot well with some concentration.

I too concur, but - he said he was going to hunt with it. Seeing game and where to put the boolit isn't quite so easy under those conditions.

Beautiful rifle, Sir. Congratulations on having it and enjoy hunting it.

[NSB]

I've got a scope on mine also...but take that front sight off when the scope is on. It just doesn't look right being there at the same time. I get the eye thing. It's a lot easier with the scope. Like the other guy said though, with the right aperture and front sight you can shoot some amazing groups with open sights. Nice wood on that gun. They are a hoot to shoot.

[EDG]

I take some of this with a 50 lb block of live stock salt. The bare rifle weighs 12 lbs, put 2 more lbs on it for a scope mounts, sling and a few rounds of ammo and you are not going to do much with 15 lbs for very long.

Plus it is easy enough to take and leave a scope off all year long except for hunting season.


I too concur, but - he said he was going to hunt with it. Seeing game and where to put the boolit isn't quite so easy under those conditions.

Beautiful rifle, Sir. Congratulations on having it and enjoy hunting it.

[rr2241tx]

Beautiful rifle. Tell us about your load. I love to shoot black powder in my Miroku Brownings but have to choose between powder volume and bullet weight to stay within OAL with the SAAMI chamber. Remington 405 and Winchester 300 HP factory loads work great but 45-70s should shoot black powder and a 565 Paul Jones Creedmoor seated deep enough to chamber over Swiss 1.5 is so slow you can see it go down range. Photo is obviously before scope blocks were added.

http://i.imgur.com/Gy8sZUD.jpg

[hpbear101]

Very nice rifle, I am a fan of the Highwall. My brother has the same rifle as you, I have two Browning's in .270 and .22-250, and a C. Sharps in 45-90 for BPCRS. Unfortunately my eye's are also getting to the point where even tang sights are getting difficult. Good luck hunting with it! My plan for this season is my dad's old 1886 45-70 that he gave me years ago loaded with black powder. He's 84 and thinks this will be his last hunting season so I need get off my duff and shoot something with the 1886 while he's still around to enjoy it with me.

[Dthunter]

I am presently experimenting with "Unique" and a 420 grain cast flat point. It shoots around 1-1/4" or better at 100. If my memory serves me well, it is around 14.0 grains.

The 525 grain Postells were being shot with 45 & 46.0 grains of Varget. I was getting 1475 fos average.

i presently need to take a few more camber casts to access my throat and chamber dimensions. This way I can get a few custom molds made up for this rifle. Proper fit is king as they say.

it all takes time and money to do, and I need to be smart with both!

[Texas by God]

Clash of the centuries! Love the gun. Love the scope. Just not together. But I bet that combo shoots! Enjoy my friend. Best, Thomas.

[Dthunter]

Thank you Thomas

[WILCO]

Loved the pictures. Was a bit of a clash, but you do what's needed to connect. Keep up the good work.

[Texas by God]

If you time traveled back to 1870 with that setup you would be legendary and men would trade you a ranch for it i bet...Best, Thomas.

[bigted]

My miroku also is that exact model with the Badger barrel. Mine shoots very well as does yours with the correct loads. Mine also wears a modern Leopold scope and for the same reasons you list. However when I flush out some dollarz I will for sure put period correct style scope on it.

Hints for exploring the loads YOUR rifle will shoot the best;

Measure the slightly flavored fired case mouth before sizing. This is a poor man's throat measurements. This is the best size of moderately soft bookings.

Take this book it and seat it so that the action completes the seating and engraves the book it at the same time. Now just barely have the boolits engrave the rifling and only need just the smallest amount of camping action to seat in the chamber as the block closes.

Powder wise ... Just play with it and try different stuff and junk. Primers , powder , boolit alloy and brass type.

Continue having a great time with your rifle.

Another thing I would suggest ... Keep with your current scope till you develop a perfect load before playing with the appeture sights to ensure that it is you/eyes or the rifle/sights.

[bigted]

This freakin phone and the auto correct drives me flippin crazy!!! Sorry for the weird words in the above post.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Very nice rifle and certainly the modern scope is not out of place!

It is a real problem "gettin old". I'm retired but have a problem seeing double images, not all the time, but often enough.

This is my 'project' a Martini 40/65 with Badger barrel and I'm mounting a Lyman "All American" 20X

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg.html)

[Dthunter]

Very nice rifle and certainly the modern scope is not out of place!

It is a real problem "gettin old". I'm retired but have a problem seeing double images, not all the time, but often enough.

This is my 'project' a Martini 40/65 with Badger barrel and I'm mounting a Lyman "All American" 20X

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg.html)

Very interesting project!

[50target]

DT, it's your chicken. Cook it any way you want. It' better served enjoyed the way it is than in the safe because it frustrates with the irons. Nice nice gun. I do have to confess my first reaction was " where did he find a Hubble for sale". You enjoy it. Your mind set is X ring right.
Bob

[bigted]

im gonna make some brotherly comments here that mean nothing towards anyone that has already posted above ...

get a kick outta some when they comment on lollypops and front apertures ... being so very accurate WITH SOME CONCENTRATION.

i too have eye trouble that gets worse with age. all i can shoot now is glassed rifles as i can not CONCENTRATE on all three points even taking an inordinate amount of time to do so ... i find with more concentration my seeing goes out the window worse then ever. i know about the front sight and all ... just can not make it happen anymore. i am disgusted with this turn of events as i was {when younger then my 60 years currently} a dead shot with my open sighted lever action Winchester 94-22. i would practice at 25 and 30 yards shooting empty 22 cases off a rail setup ... and this off hand to boot.

no conflict what so ever with those that can see well enough to shoot the irons that both work so well and look so right. however i can not enjoy myself with mediocre shooting with the sights that look so cool and right when i can actually hit where i desire with a glass scope on top.

only reason i write this is to lend some comradery with the OP on using such a sexy rifle and a scope to see with to really enjoy that dandy rifle.

no offense meant and hopefully none taken by anyone whom posted above ...

[taco650]

Beautiful wood on your rifle! Good luck with hunting-hope you can fill all your tags with it. :-)

[Dthunter]

thank you for the words of encouragement Bigted & taco650!

I am really enjoying this rifle now that I can see my aiming point exactly! Opening day of rifle season opens tomorrow!

[TCLouis]

I always figure it is someone elses gun and so they may set it up like I would . . . or not,
but it is their gun to do as they please and I will do the same.

Not good and bad, right or wrong, maybe just different.

Besides a pretty gun, I want to see loads and resultz (targets with holes)

[Dthunter]

TCLouis:

This is the only target photo I presently have. There is two .311 holes from a 303 british flanking the center group of 4, 525 grain Postell bullets. 1485fps.
varget powder.
seated firmly into the lands.

Target was shot at 100 yards. (Thanks for the heads up about the range this target was shot at Bigted).

Will have more photos in the future.

Its an encouraging start for sure. Velocity is nearly ideal for hunting with this heavy boolet.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsduz3ljt6.jpeg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsduz3ljt6.jpeg.html)

[bigted]

thats good shooting bubba. what is the yardage with those 4? keep up the good werk friend

[bigted]

Very nice rifle and certainly the modern scope is not out of place!

It is a real problem "gettin old". I'm retired but have a problem seeing double images, not all the time, but often enough.

This is my 'project' a Martini 40/65 with Badger barrel and I'm mounting a Lyman "All American" 20X

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/IMG_0042_zpse8a12e1e.jpg.html)


cant wait to see n hear bout yer 40 in action BAW. i like my original roller sporting in the 40-65 chamber and im bettin you will enjoy yours as well. MO PIC's and targets my man!

[Dthunter]

Well guys, I made it out shooting today! Wohoo!
The following pictures represent my day out shooting. When I arrived at the shooting spot, I found a few targets that were still usable, so I shot some groups on them as well. It saved me some time setting up targets, and allowed me to get hunting faster.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image3_zpssv80yzjv.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image3_zpssv80yzjv.jpg.html)

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image4_zpsn0yulame.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image4_zpsn0yulame.jpg.html)


These are more like what I am after! This load likes this seating depth!

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image1_zpseikpf1fn.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image1_zpseikpf1fn.jpg.html)


the target below only had three shots fired into the group, and I shot 2 bullets into a log below the target, hoping to recover the bullet afterwards. No such luck! The bullets penetrated about 28" of wood and still went through the target back board! Yikes! Thats penetration!
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a629/darcytyndall1/image2_zpszisdgdni.jpg (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/darcytyndall1/media/image2_zpszisdgdni.jpg.html)

Average group size for the day was around 0.8". I am stoked! Mule deer and Elk, here I come! Woohoo!

[bigted]

Very nice glad to see you n that rifle gettin along

[EDG]

bigted
I sort of backed off of shooting scoped rifles some about 20 years ago. I had bought some nice original rifles that were old enough they were not drilled and tapped so I had to use metallic sights or alter some original rifles. I also greatly enjoyed carry the old rifles without the extra bulk of scope. I learned then my eyes were fading and my iron sight days were already way over the hill. I decided that I would try to shoot metallic sights a lot more as long as I could until forced to used nothing but scopes.

I had used an old M44 Mossberg .22 with a reciever sight when I was a kid and I found I could still shoot with a aperture sight pretty well. An open sight on the barrel is pretty fuzzy. How ever a 29" long Mauser barrel allows me to see a front sight well even though the rear sight is fuzzy.
Some cheating also helps. You can put a white notch in your target that matches you front sight. You can put a quick and dirty hood over both sights using masking tape.
If you have an aperture sight you can change aperture diameters until you get a clear sight picture. I have done all of these things and they take little effort to enable you to shoot iron sights at the range. They may not help you when hunting in poor light but most of my shooting is at the range now.

I had to play around with front lollipops to find something that worked. I use the Lyman inserts in my 1885 BPCR.
I have a Pedersoli that had a tiny rear aperture and it was both fuzzy and football shaped at a slant. I was able to avoid the fuzz and the football shaped view in the Browning by using a larger aperture. So I swapped some parts from another Pedersoli sight that I had bought from a guy on this site. The larger aperture made the Pedersoli work just as well as the Browning. I suspect the football shaped view was a spherical defect in my right eye. I am about 7 or 8 years older than you and with some tinkering I have been able to keep shooting aperture sights pretty well. Mauser open sights are not so easy but with a long barrel they still work ok. A .35 Rem carbine though has to have a receiver sight.


im gonna make some brotherly comments here that mean nothing towards anyone that has already posted above ...

get a kick outta some when they comment on lollypops and front apertures ... being so very accurate WITH SOME CONCENTRATION.

i too have eye trouble that gets worse with age. all i can shoot now is glassed rifles as i can not CONCENTRATE on all three points even taking an inordinate amount of time to do so ... i find with more concentration my seeing goes out the window worse then ever. i know about the front sight and all ... just can not make it happen anymore. i am disgusted with this turn of events as i was {when younger then my 60 years currently} a dead shot with my open sighted lever action Winchester 94-22. i would practice at 25 and 30 yards shooting empty 22 cases off a rail setup ... and this off hand to boot.

no conflict what so ever with those that can see well enough to shoot the irons that both work so well and look so right. however i can not enjoy myself with mediocre shooting with the sights that look so cool and right when i can actually hit where i desire with a glass scope on top.

only reason i write this is to lend some comradery with the OP on using such a sexy rifle and a scope to see with to really enjoy that dandy rifle.

no offense meant and hopefully none taken by anyone whom posted above ...

[Texas by God]

Excellent,excellent shooting. A big bore prairie dog rifle! Best,Thomas.

[bigted]

i am thankful that you can still get it all to work out. my detached retina gives me fits as well as just plain goin blind {seems i heard one time what causes that}. i can get maybe three good shots thru the aperture rear ... then i gotta stop as my {what i call a floaty} comes rite into the way for continued shooting. im done for the day without glass on the rifle. some days i do fair with pistols at 10 or 15 yds but then that gets fuzzy too pretty fast.

really tugs at my heart too as when i had good vision i were a fair good shot with all types sights. keep waiting for the "GOLDEN YEARS" to unfold ... ho hum i do have a ball shooting and tinkering tho and i love loading and casting as well as experimenting so i am still having a blast with all this. guess i will never be shooting at 1.5 miles tho ... :violin::roll: :drinks:

[bigted]

DHunter ... super shooting friend. glad you are getting to know her up close n personal. i also agree ... prairie dogs are in trouble.

[Dthunter]

Thank you for the encouragement gentelman!

I have been casting some flat nosed 550 grain Postells from nearly pure lead lately. Boy do they expand! The last one I revovered was just over an inch in Diameter! I am looking forward to casting some 485 grain flat points from near pure lead. They should turn into a silver dollar when they hit!