Best expected accuracy from a BP rifle?
- Thread starter ELMOUSMC
- Start date
Raider2000
New member
Well my CVA Bobcat with a 1:48 26" barrel shoots .495/.010 PRB with 80gr. 777 FFFG a decent Benched group of 1 inch at 50 yards & opens up to 3.5 inches at 100 yards "as long as I do my part."
Now with your rifle you may get better groups or slightly worse than mine depending on if your rifle likes the charge & how you are holding it but with what you describe it should shoot very well at the ranges that you want.
Now with your rifle you may get better groups or slightly worse than mine depending on if your rifle likes the charge & how you are holding it but with what you describe it should shoot very well at the ranges that you want.
BP accuracy
At the moment, I'm involved in a BP postal match being run at the Traditional ML Forum. It's an odd competition since it requires only one shot a month.
The shooter takes a traditional MLer and a clean - unfouled barrel - simulating the first shot when hunting. The shooter fires a single shot at a clean piece of letter sized paper at 50 yds and then measures the distance from the center of the paper to the center of the hole. All shots are taken standing or sitting unsupported. Some of the fellows are routinely getting in the one inch or less area. Not me, as I stay at two inches plus.
Benching the guns at 50 yds - yep, with the right load, you get fine groups.
Pete
At the moment, I'm involved in a BP postal match being run at the Traditional ML Forum. It's an odd competition since it requires only one shot a month.
The shooter takes a traditional MLer and a clean - unfouled barrel - simulating the first shot when hunting. The shooter fires a single shot at a clean piece of letter sized paper at 50 yds and then measures the distance from the center of the paper to the center of the hole. All shots are taken standing or sitting unsupported. Some of the fellows are routinely getting in the one inch or less area. Not me, as I stay at two inches plus.
Benching the guns at 50 yds - yep, with the right load, you get fine groups.
Pete
Raider 2000: I see that you are shooting a .495 RB and a .010 patch isn"t that a little tough loading? I find the load I am using is a little stiff! I am in the process of playing around with my powder charge to see if I can't close up my groups which are right around 2+ ins at 50 yds this is anticipation of a Wisc. black bear hunt this fall ELMOUSMC
Last edited:
Raider2000
New member
Yeah she is a touch tight but shoots a bit tighter than my .490/.015 PRB at 100 yards.
I see a problem here. You have a load which it appears you are not willing to change. Sure, your load may work in Tom's, Dick's, or Harry's gun but it might not work in yours when it comes to true accuracy. Just because they use that load, they may have different barrels, different type of pillow ticking, different starting technique, different standards or different ???? Consequently, each individual must work up the load they use for the best function intended.
I guess I got off on a tangent here
Go up in your powder charge, go down, change patch materials, change patch lube, load with sprue up or down, ensure your pure lead source. Published and recommended loads from others are only the starting point. Play with it and you will eventually develop the load you are looking for. Good luck in your quest. That's part of the fun.