100 Yard Shoot possible ?

[The Hermit]

Any suggestions on making a 100 yard shot on a deer silhouette using a 50 cal traditions kentucky pistol?
Every year a group of friends sight in deer rifles before the season and I always bring something different to use. I appreciate all help in pulling this off. Guy closest to the target then has to shoot a water filled 1 gal plastic bottle to get free lunch. Or am I in too deep?
Thanks.

The Hermit

 

[oletymepreacher]

I do this routinely on a steel gong. the whole problem can be solved with a lot of practice. The pistol I use is lyman in .54, loaded with 40 grs of GOEX 3F, .530 patched round ball. The gong is a round piece of steel 24 inches in diameter. Sights are held on top of gong.

Whatever is your accurate load now, use it. Begin practice shooting two handed, sitting on the ground with the elbows supported by the knees. When hitting the target consistently, stand up and shoot two handed. When this works, go to one handed standing up. If your contest allows Creedmore position lying on the ground, practice that, but be careful of muzzle blast catching your socks on fire. This is how I progressed. Seemed to work for me.

 

[rafterob]

I have the same pistol and my normal load at 25 and 50 yards is 30 grains using a 6:00 hold I can occaisionally hit the bull. I discovered 40 grains and full elevation of the front sight above the rear sight plane will hit the target at 100 yards. The base of the blade should be in the notch of the v and the full blade should be in the body of the target.

 

[The Hermit]

Oletymepreacher and Gettogun, thanks for the replies. I'm heading out to practice soon and this will help me shorten my learning curve.
Thanks again,

The Hermit

 

[Mike Brooks]

Last weekend at a SASS shoot I hit a 3' gong one handed at 75 yards with my '61 navy. Hit it 3 out of 4 times with very little effort, that's a big gong. the one miss was my fault for holding too low. 22gr 3fff and a half of a lubed circle fly wad. That little .375 doesn't make much of a clang at that distance, but I suspect it is still lethal at that distance.

 

[The Hermit]

I bet it is lethal at that distance. I wouldn't want to stand there and find out.
Thanks for your reply.

The Hermit

 

[Robert an saa fan]

Last weekend at a SASS shoot I hit a 3' gong one handed at 75 yards with my '61 navy. Hit it 3 out of 4 times with very little effort, that's a big gong. the one miss was my fault for holding too low. 22gr 3fff and a half of a lubed circle fly wad. That little .375 doesn't make much of a clang at that distance, but I suspect it is still lethal at that distance.

Mike is right about his shot possibly being lethal.

A .36 caliber Colt 1851 Navy was lethal at 75 yards in the Wild Bill Hickok vs. Davis Tutt shootout:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Bill_Hickok-Davis_Tutt_shootout

It may not be known how many grains of powder were in the chamber of Hickok's 1851; but it killed a man in this case.

 

[Mike Brooks]

It may not be known how many grains of powder were in the chamber of Hickok's 1851; but it killed a man in this case.

I would suspect full cylinders. My navies are full at 26gr plus the ball and alot of compression.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

That's a full load in my Navys too, Mike. I can't imagine going into a gunfight with light loads.

 

[Homesteader]

I've often read the reason a Colt hits so high at close ranges is that they wanted an officer to hit a man by aiming at his belt buckle at 75 yards during the War Between the States. Think there's much truth to this?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

It's rumored to be true. My own experience with both original and second generation Colts bear it out. Once you learn where the revolver shoots, you'd be surprised how far away you can hit at. We used to shoot old bowling pins on a 100 yard range with '60 Armies, and once you get on target it isn't hard to hit them. I've never doubted Bill Hickok's 75 yard hit on Dave Tutt for a minute.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Hey Hermit!

That shot is actually easy, once you practice it a few times! A friend of mine and I went to one of our regular monthly shoots where they have a gong made-up of what looks like two Scott air tanks welded together. I clanged it duelist-style 3 out of 5 tries with my Walker revolver and a 50 grain loading, and he used the same pistol you have with a 40 grain charge and hit it twice that day :shocked2: :haha:

The trick is not to move the gun during the ignition sequence--maintain a rock-steady hold and just let it "happen" :wink:

Have fun and by the way, what's for lunch??

Dave

 

[The Hermit]

I hit the target at my home range, but the wind put the shot not in the vitals. I'm still gonna go for it. The lunch is a BBQ steak.
4o grains of 3F gets it there. I'm really impressed.
Thanks to all who helped.

The Hermit