Accuracy requirements for a lever gun?

[crabo]

I am trying to figure out what all I should be paying attention to in working up a silhouette load for my 357 lever gun. I am shooting the 100 meter course.

I know the boolit size and weight will be a factor.

I know powder and primer choice will be a factor.

How about brass in a pistol cartridge lever gun? I know we are not talking benchrest platform here. Does it need to be the same brand, same lot, trimmed to length for best results?

What level of accuracy do you try to attain in a lever gun? I would think that a true 2" group would work pretty well. How hard is that to obtain?

Is it unreasonable to expect less than that?

We put a bore scope down my rifle and it looked great. I also have a good trigger and one piece firing pin and the crown is great.

What should a realistic goal be with cast boolits?

Thanks,

Crabo

[Bret4207]

In a 357 with a decent barrel and sights, trigger, etc I would expect 2" or under.

[Jon K]

crabo,

Ditto to what Bret said.
Is it unreasonable to expect less than that? What should a realistic goal be with cast boolits?Whatever you can get, minute of Ram, or smaller is better yet.
I know the boolit size and weight will be a factor.Not really, the smallest you'll probably shoot is around a 125 gr, and that will not have any problem knocking down the Ram. the only issue of size and weight is design for stability & accuracy for your twist.
How about brass in a pistol cartridge lever gun? I know we are not talking benchrest platform here. Does it need to be the same brand, same lot, trimmed to length for best results? Consistancy is always a key factor-pressure, burn rate,etc. Think about it consistancy and accuracy go hand in hand.
What level of accuracy do you try to attain in a lever gun? I would think that a true 2" group would work pretty well. How hard is that to obtain? Each gun is as different as night/day. Some shoot and some won't for whatever reason.

Have Fun Shooting,
Jon

[runfiverun]

playing the silhouette game your sights and their repeatability is of utmost importance.
then just use i brand of brass, you do not need a screaming load, but at least a 158 gr or heavier boolit with flat meplat.
some thing around 1000-1100 fps should work for you. especially on the short range.

i use a 45 colt on the long range, it is the sights that get you by you only have to hit them not shoot a real tight group.
a 2-3" lever gun at 100 is totally adequate.

[Blammer]

Here is what my 357mag lever gun will do, and this is with not much load developement.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/100yd207tycer.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/100yd207tycerA.jpg

[45r]

Size 359,shoot a boolit with 180 to 200 grains that has a lot of lube if PB.I place my thumb and index finger on the endcap instead of the forestock and my forestock is floated.All 3 of my Mtn Mold boolits shoot 3 inch or better groups at 100 yards.I get near perfect boolits with them by placing the sprue right up to the spout on my pro-melter.You get sharp cornered bases and fully filled out boolits that pop out of the mold.I follow the same procedure the Black powder casters use.You have to have perfect boolits to shoot at long range and they use PB boolits with lots of lube.If your boolits aren't coming out the same weight and don't have flat sharp flat bases and completely filled out it's hard to shoot tight groups.I only use Rcbs,saeco or Mtn Molds.Casting is time consuming and I try to get the best molds if possible.The best shooters in the Black powder game are the best casters more than the best shots most of the time from what I've read.If they're boolits vary much in weight at all they don't shoot them in a match.

[KCSO]

When I was young and had good eyes I could hold under 1 1/2" with my 357 Rossi but as the gun got older it's accuracy declined and now 2" is darn good.
A properly tuned lever gun will shooot a LOT better than most folks think. The gun itself should be good for 1 1/2" and the rest will be up to you.

[Junior1942]

A Winchester Model 94 in 357 will chamber a 205 gr bullet? With an COAL of 1.680"?

[Old Ironsights]

50yds offhand. C358180RF over 16gr LilGun.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_0474.jpg
That'll do.

But in practical terms, I really only want/need it/me to be accurate enough to drop deer size or smaller 4 or 2 legged critters at 100yds with the first shot.

My last silhouette load was/is a 358156HP GC (3/1ww) over (IIRC) somthing like 7gr N340. Don't quote me on that though. I'll have to check my notes. However, it knocked the 100yd rams down just fine. It also did unfortunate damage to the 25yd chickens. I believe the velocity was no more than 1400fps.

[KCSO]

It is disgusting to see someone that steady with good eyes to boot. I can remember those days.
That's some good shooting and really shows what lever guns can do.

[Old Ironsights]

Shooting a Flinchlock regularly does wonders for steadying a rifle... ;)

[crabo]

My wife thinks I have totally lost it. I spent from 10:00 to 4:00 at the range today. It was 96 when I got in the truck. The Dallas sun can kick your butt!

I am pretty happy with my 39A. I got groups of 2 in with Aguila target, 2 1/4 with Wolf Target and 2 3/4 with Aguila pistol match. The bulk Federal Auto Match didn't fare well at all.

I will pull the 6.5-20 Luepold off my 10/22 and do some more testing. I am also going to have to break down and buy some good ammo. I hate to start that, but..... if I can get consisitent 2-2 1/4" groups with the cheap stuff ($4 a box) I'll never try the good stuff.

With my 357 CB, I was getting groups of 3-4" with a Lee 158BB Cowboy Boolit. I know it can get a lot better than that. I tried loads of 7 grains UNique, 10 grains of Blue Dot, and 15 grains of 2400. No grain variations, just those loads. I think with a better boolit and some worked up loads, I can get it down there. My bench technique needs some work also. I was using a Bull Bag up front, and I think it is too long, and a bag under the rear, but I didn't have the bags high enough off the bench.

I have a Mountain mold with 180 grn GC coming. I can't wait for that.

Thanks for all the advice. I can use it. I have good bench technique with my bolt guns and 10/22, but these levers are another deal.

Crabo

[rmb721]

For silhouette, in a Marlin 1894 Cowboy, 24 inch barrel, I use a Lee C-358-180RF with 12 grains of IMR-4227 and a CCI-550 primer.

[Blammer]

I did do a bit of specialized filing of certain parts....

It now handles Dan Wesson 360 brass and 200 gr bullets with aplomb.

[crabo]

For silhouette, in a Marlin 1894 Cowboy, 24 inch barrel, I use a Lee C-358-180RF with 12 grains of IMR-4227 and a CCI-550 primer.

rmb, what difference does the 550 primer make compared to a standard primer? I just bought a pound of IMR 4227 yesterday to try out. Does that load hurt the chickens?

Thanks,

Crabo