Randy, I did use diamond targets this time. I aimed for for middle so the crosshairs would line up with the four points. I liked it! printed some up from uspalma.com. I agree most shooters cant shoot MOA or less. I have nine different rifles I can shoot clover leaves at a 100 yards. I even have a savage 220 20 guage slugger and Thompson center omega 50 cal muzzel loader that will both make one large hole with 3 shots at a 100 yards. My avatar is a 100 yard group from my 14.5" barrel P415 POF. I can shoot dime size groups at 200 yards with it. I realize every dog has his day but I'm capable of if my rifle is on most days. This rifle has just got me stumped. Its the second rifle/firearm I have tried with cast. The first being my Ruger american 450 Bushmaster. It was a brand new rifle shooting 1.25" groups with a lee 300fn pc and gc the first time out to the range. The second time out I lengthened the overall cartridge length and shot a 1.1" at a 100 yards with the same load and I ac the boolit instead of wq. I had a couple posts on it. I had seven other powder charges I tried that shot 1.5 to 1.8" groups. BTW that gun will shoot 100 yard cloverleaves with factory hornady Jwords by yours truly.lol
Anyways, I changed over the scope to one of nikon 3.5x14's pro staff 5's. Its the same optic I have on my P415. I also lightened the trigger a little more today I would have to say its at a crisp 2lbs...might be a little under. I dont plan on leaving the optic on it, but if it closes the gap I will get a Nikon 3x9 to replace it. That vx11 3x9 is foggy and blurry compaired to the pro staff 5. Just figured it was worth a try to rule out the optic idea. I dont think it will make much difference as I have the same leupold on my 7600 06' that I can shoot .4" at 100yds. I cleaned my barrel with shooters choice and scrubbed it with a brass brush pretty good. I have only shot cast through this rifle. I wonder if the bore is still a little rough and not broke in yet? Im going to brake down and try some J words I loaded up last fall for my ruger carbine and see if they group better. I have some leverrutions, 265gr hornaday soft points, speer 's, and 240gr and 300gr xtps loaded up. I've been reading that some shooters have gotten some tight groups after lapping the barrel on the 77/44 using j words. I wouldnt expect the gun to go from 2" groups to less than MOA with cast boolits by doing so with this type of rifle. Oh, and I did try the bolt schim thing when I bought it last year. My bolt was tight enough that it didnt need shims. With the thinnest schim installed it took alot of pressure to close the bolt without a round in it. Randy, were the boys shooting J words or cast? Do we have any members here that shoot moa at a 100 yards with a ruger 77/44 with cast boolits? Ive heard a few internet claims with j words. Just courious. well, I loaded up a few more devastators and will be off to the range in the morning to try the same load with a little better optic and a little lighter trigger. Fingers crossed, this the least accurate rifle ive ever owned...but i love it!...its been a fun project.