Second time out with the Ruger No 1 .45-70 and if anything, the situation is worse than the first time. I mean, it's really bad.
Tonight I stuck with the 325 gr cast bullets because they did the best the first time out--by quite a bit compared to the 410 gr guys. This evening it was 49 gr 4198 for 20 rds, and 51 gr 4198 for the second box. All shooting was from a Caldwell lead sled type of rest, which was not adjustable for length. The gun rested mid-way down the forearm, which was all I could do. The forearm mounting rail thingie I have shimmed between the rail and barrel using two pieces of thick cardstock under moderate tension--enough to keep them from shifting.
How bad? Well, the first target was all over the board and after 10 rds I realized the scope was flopping all around as the screws holding the rings to the rib had backed off. Hopeful at that point, I tightened them down as best I could with the little screwdriver and fired the rest of the box. At best I ended up with a 6" 'group' at 50 yds. This was with the 51 gr loads.
Next, with added resolve, patience and concentration on pressing that trigger, I got 4 shots touching one another, and in fact doing maybe a bit better than just touching--possibly a 1" hole or less. The 5th shot, still a surprise discharge, at least 5" to the right. Now, I ask myself--with the lead sled and the shoulder pad, you're not feeling anything but a wonderful slow push--are you still flinching? Well, honestly, I don't know for sure--I don't think so, but there's never a question with handgun, I know if my eyes were closed or not.
So, I'm basically shooting a 6" wad of garbage at 50 yds from a bench rest. Where should I start to know where the problem is--logic tells me it's the shooter--it always is with handgun. My senses tell me it isn't, but I know that feeling of denial. I could have anticipated many of these shots--I just don't think so.
I was thinking a few things--a different shooter (that's tough), factory ammo (that's expensive), and going to much lighter loads with factory jacketed bullets. Not all at the same time, of course.
I would consider this damn fine shooting for me...if I was shooting offhand with a revolver. I see that bullet hit at 3 o'clock and I'm dumbfounded--the general 'group' of all rounds fired has a centroid at about 3" left of the bull at 9 o'clock.
Methodical, step-by-step troubleshooting recommendations, or should I just 'buy a shotgun' and accept the fact I have no clue how to shoot a rifle? I used to be pretty good at trap, and it's rather binary--you hit it, or you don't. As I remember it, you don't get extra points when you 'smoke em'.
Tonight I stuck with the 325 gr cast bullets because they did the best the first time out--by quite a bit compared to the 410 gr guys. This evening it was 49 gr 4198 for 20 rds, and 51 gr 4198 for the second box. All shooting was from a Caldwell lead sled type of rest, which was not adjustable for length. The gun rested mid-way down the forearm, which was all I could do. The forearm mounting rail thingie I have shimmed between the rail and barrel using two pieces of thick cardstock under moderate tension--enough to keep them from shifting.
How bad? Well, the first target was all over the board and after 10 rds I realized the scope was flopping all around as the screws holding the rings to the rib had backed off. Hopeful at that point, I tightened them down as best I could with the little screwdriver and fired the rest of the box. At best I ended up with a 6" 'group' at 50 yds. This was with the 51 gr loads.
Next, with added resolve, patience and concentration on pressing that trigger, I got 4 shots touching one another, and in fact doing maybe a bit better than just touching--possibly a 1" hole or less. The 5th shot, still a surprise discharge, at least 5" to the right. Now, I ask myself--with the lead sled and the shoulder pad, you're not feeling anything but a wonderful slow push--are you still flinching? Well, honestly, I don't know for sure--I don't think so, but there's never a question with handgun, I know if my eyes were closed or not.
So, I'm basically shooting a 6" wad of garbage at 50 yds from a bench rest. Where should I start to know where the problem is--logic tells me it's the shooter--it always is with handgun. My senses tell me it isn't, but I know that feeling of denial. I could have anticipated many of these shots--I just don't think so.
I was thinking a few things--a different shooter (that's tough), factory ammo (that's expensive), and going to much lighter loads with factory jacketed bullets. Not all at the same time, of course.
I would consider this damn fine shooting for me...if I was shooting offhand with a revolver. I see that bullet hit at 3 o'clock and I'm dumbfounded--the general 'group' of all rounds fired has a centroid at about 3" left of the bull at 9 o'clock.
Methodical, step-by-step troubleshooting recommendations, or should I just 'buy a shotgun' and accept the fact I have no clue how to shoot a rifle? I used to be pretty good at trap, and it's rather binary--you hit it, or you don't. As I remember it, you don't get extra points when you 'smoke em'.
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