Getting to know that old friend...

[AeroncaTAL]

I went up to my second shoot with the Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade. This was the second time I've shot the GPR, and the first since it was completely finished. We were shooting 35 yards and the first competition event was to shoot 5 rounds at a target with 5 smaller targets, putting 1 ball in each of the smaller targets. I managed to hit the black with my first shot, but the other 4 were all over the paper. The second competition event was a poker shoot, We shot at a paper target that had playing cards lined up in columns. We were to shoot 5 balls into the paper, best hand wins. Oh, the paper was stapled to the target backing backwards so we couldn't see the hands. This time my grouping was better, about 4-5 inches and a couple inches low. Interesting the difference between the two shoots. I figured that the first 5 rounds gave allowed the GPR to settle in and myself to settle in. I really need to shoot it from a good rest to see where it's really placing the balls. Then I can decide what needs to be done to correct up the pattern. All in all, I'm having the time of my life with this rifle. I still get this "Whoa..." feeling at times when I realize that this is something I put together myself.
Oh, after the rifle events we went to pistol. Brett Hoffman was kind enough to lend me one of his Trappers. What a blast! I can hardly wait to finish my Kentucky. Hopefully, I'll have it finished for next months shoot.
Scott
In case you were wondering, I didn't win anything...

 

[Blizzard of '93]

You didn't win a prize, just a good feeling of participating in the first place :applause:
And congrats on the rifle kit succes. :hatsoff:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

The Forest Hills bunch is a good group to get together with. Friendly, family oriented and welcoming to strangers.

 

[bwhoffman]

Scott,
my thoughts on your grouping...
Shoot "Ol Friend" for a while on get the barrel "broke" in, might take a good 100 rounds to smooth out the rifling and such.
Then develop a load for it, finding out which ball diameter, which patch thickness, how many grains of powder, 2F or 3F ect. Thats the fun part.

Right after you left we did the trail walk. It went well for me and you gotta do one! its adictive!

by the way, get/seeany elk?

Brett

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Good advise Brett. I shouldn't try to get too impatient with this, after all one of the high points of BP is to take it slow and not hurry. I kind of figured that it might take a few rounds for the barrel to settle in. It'll take a bit for me and 'Old Friend' to get to know each other.
Next time I'll have a bag with me to carry the necessary items, so I'll be able to do a trail walk. Sounds like a lot of fun! It probably will not be the possibles bag I eventually will have. I have an old military canvas bag just the right size, not PC, but who cares?
The only thing Sarah and I saw, were a doe, bald eagle and ruffed grouse. No elk. The eagle was pretty cool. It was sitting on top of a dead snag in the Nestucca river. It kept giving us this "wadda ya want?" look. The grouse was on the edge of the road along Elk Creek. I pulled up next to it and it just sat there, convinced that I could not see it. Could of rolled my window down and rung its neck. :rotf:
We'll go again Wednesday and Friday. Not sure if we'll go up the Trask or head into Alsea.

 

[Shooey]

I agree, the GPRs like a "break-in" period. You wear down the sharp edges of the rifling and smooth out the small machining marks. Keep shooting, and I find it helpful to write down the loads/lubes used and group sizes. It's very helpful to review.

By the way, the hunting load I use in "Jacob" (.50 GPR kit) is 75 gr of 2F Goex, blue striped pillow ticking, a .490 ball and Crisco for lube.

-SHOOEY!