Kibler SMR range report

[mike54]

These are all at 50yds. 45cal. it likes .451 balls and .018 ticking and 60 gr., 65 is good for a hunting load and the others were 55, 70, 75gr and it doesn't like them at all. 445 balls were ok but the 451 balls brought it to life. The rifles are shooters as long as you take the time to work with it. Thank YouMr. Kibler

 

[BillyC]

How hard is that .451 ball to load? Seems like it would be awfully tight with an 0.018 patch, that’s a total diameter of .487

 

[64Springer]

How hard is that .451 ball to load? Seems like it would be awfully tight with an 0.018 patch, that’s a total diameter of .487

That's why God made rebar starters and five pound mauls.

 

[mike54]

i use a small brass short starter with a mallet shape on one end and tap my starter to get it started then its just like any other. my bore mics at .470 which is what made me try the 451. I shot a 40 cal green mtn yrs ago that liked a 403 ball with .018 ticking. I have had 3 grn mtn barrels and they all liked a tight ball patch combo. I have no problem tapping it with a mallet to start it if thats what it needs.

 

[mike54]

There is 5 shots in that 60gr load group.

These are all at 50yds. 45cal. it likes .451 balls and .018 ticking and 60 gr., 65 is good for a hunting load and the others were 55, 70, 75gr and it doesn't like them at all. 445 balls were ok but the 451 balls brought it to life. The rifles are shooters as long as you take the time to work with it. Thank YouMr. Kibler

 

[64Springer]

i use a small brass short starter with a mallet shape on one end and tap my starter to get it started then its just like any other. my bore mics at .470 which is what made me try the 451. I shot a 40 cal green mtn yrs ago that liked a 403 ball with .018 ticking. I have had 3 grn mtn barrels and they all liked a tight ball patch combo. I have no problem tapping it with a mallet to start it if thats what it needs.

Your bore is .020 over the .45 caliber or your grove diameter measures .470 giving you .010 deep rifling?

 

[mike54]

Your bore is .020 over the .45 caliber or your grove diameter measures .470 giving you .010 deep rifling?

groove diameter

 

[Jason holgate]

You cone that barrell

 

[TDM]

Good shooting, very nice.

 

[BillyC]

Never occurred to me to measure the bore diameter, I just assumed .45 caliber meant .45 barrel.

 

[mike54]

You cone that barrell

No. it doesn't need it.

 

[mike54]

Good shooting, very nice.

Thank You

 

[BoomStick]

Never occurred to me to measure the bore diameter, I just assumed .45 caliber meant .45 barrel.

Caliber is measured across the lands, not grooves or groove to land. So a 45 cal should mic at .450 between lands - it's inner dimension.

I generally don't like to pound on a ball to get it to start, but I've seen many that do get good results from using a mallet. I'm probably not steady enough, especially off-hand to see the benefits of doing that. Good shooting for the OP.

 

[BillyC]

I’m going to hunt with mine so not going to be beating a ball down the barrel. If I can get load shooting 3 inch groups at 75 yards I’ll be satisfied. Right now shooting two inch three shot groups at 50 but 4 inches high, have to get that worked out then will shoot at 75

 

[mike54]

I’m going to hunt with mine so not going to be beating a ball down the barrel. If I can get load shooting 3 inch groups at 75 yards I’ll be satisfied. Right now shooting two inch three shot groups at 50 but 4 inches high, have to get that worked out then will shoot at 75

i'm hunting with mine as well and i don't beat the ball down the barrel.

 

[Panama Red]

Man, it REALLY liked that 60 grain load, didn’t it?
Nice!

 

[Siringo]

Mine did not like 445 balls. But really shoots well with 440 and a 20 thou patch. 55 grains of 3f old ensyford. my barrel is coned. 1800 fps.

 

[Eras Gone]

I just finished mine 45 SMR and haven’t shot it yet. I have 445 balls, and was afraid those will be tight! I never thought of using a 451 revolver ball. I might try that too.

 

[Flintandsteel]

Eras,
if you think the .445 will be too tight, why would you try a .451?

 

[springfield art]

That's why God made rebar starters and five pound mauls.

Nah, you gotta not force things!