Kibler SMR sight in and load development

[Fly103]

I made my 2nd range trip with the .40 SMR yesterday with my sole objective being zeroing the sights load development off the bench. I set my target at 35yds and had at it with a .395" ball, .010" patch and Mr. Flintlock lube, swabbing after every 5 shot group. My observations were as follows:

30gr Goex 3F: 3.5" group, mostly centered about 4" below the bull

40gr Goex 3F: 1.75" group, centered about 3" below the bull

50gr Goex 3F: looked like 2 separate groups, 3 shots landed 1" left and 3" below bull, stacked vertically with a 1.5" spread. 2 shots landed 1.5" right and 3" below bull, stacked vertically with an 1.2" spread. So basically 2 distinct groups with a 3" horizontal and 1.5" vertical spread.

55gr Goex 3F: 2" group centered about 2" below the bull

60gr Goex 3F: 4" group with a random pattern centered mostly 1" below the bull

After shooting the above loads I went back to 40gr Goex 3F and began filing down the front sight to raise the POI. I filed approximately .09" off the front blade to bring the POI up then moved up to 25yds for a few off the bench shots yielding a pretty much ragged hole group about .8" wide and about .25" above point of aim, looks good to me!

Observations:
The SMR is a lousy bench rifle, the barrel is too light making me have to put the bags clear at the muzzle to get any kind of stability, and the crescent butt is really annoying to get a good hold with without contorting yourself into some really awkward positions in the chair.

After shooting a few groups and with the bright sun shining down, heat waves distorting the sight picture was also becoming an annoyance with that long barrel and small front blade.

She shoots offhand like a dream, after getting her dialed in I had little trouble shooting empty 12ga shells off a saw horse at 25yds, also Tee'd up a few golf balls and sent them flying since that always makes me chuckle. I cant wait to try her out on a woods walk course or take her out looking for bushytails.

Chris

 

[Flintandsteel]

You’ve just got to use a thicker patch.
one of the best ways to check for proper patch thickness, is to pick up your spent patches, They should be totally intact, and almost reusable.
You just can’t properly SEAL the bore with .010” patches with an undersized ball, and rifling that’s .015” deep.

 

[Fly103]

You’ve just got to use a thicker patch.
one of the best ways to check for proper patch thickness, is to pick up your spent patches, They should be totally intact, and almost reusable.
You just can’t properly SEAL the bore with .010” patches with an undersized ball, and rifling that’s .015” deep.View attachment 196125

I get that I may get better results with a thicker patch, the patches I picked up didnt look "blown out" until I got up to 60gr 3F. My 25yd group with 40gr 3F was equal to yours pictured and that is good enough for me. I sight in the way I shoot and 90% of my shooting is from the pouch, standing in a field with no range rod or short starter so looser fitting loads are king.

Chris

 

[Flintandsteel]

I understand, but hear this. I shoot out of the pouch as well.
A .40 cal should shoot well with up to 70g. That’s the beauty of. .40.
If loading is the issue, try a .390 ball, and a thicker patch. With a thicker patch, and liquid lube, you should be able to load just as easy, and have enough lube to shoot all day without running a cleaning patch.
Hope this helps.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I use the same 40 grains of 3F in my 40 cal. SMR. 390 ball and a .022 patch gets good results. I didn't like the shiny brass front sight so I filed out an iron one that works much better in the Arizona sunshine.

 

[BradCayton]

I shoot a .440 ball, a .018 patch and 40 grains of 3F for squirrels in my Kibler SMR and 65 grains with the same ball and patch for deer. 30 grains was as accurate as 40 but 40 puts the ball closer to the sights as the 65 grain load. My barrel is a 1 in 48 twist. The SMR is as accurate as any muzzle loader I've ever owed

 

[dave951]

At least you noticed about bench positions. A modern type of bench position is horrible for these guns. The long barrel has a different harmonic in the recoil cycle than a modern gun and the stock design is centered around offhand shooting. Here's a 50yd group I shot using a modified bench technique with a Kibler Colonial in 54cal. Ball size is incorrect.

 

[Togo]

Here is my 5 shot bench with my 40 SMR first range day. .395 ball, .016 patch lubed with 50/50 simple green. 35 grains of goex. Since then I made the site adjustment and filed the front site. It's an absolute tack driver.

 

[TDM]

My Kibler SMR with .440 rb & .015 p. With 45 gr 3F.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

At least you noticed about bench positions. A modern type of bench position is horrible for these guns. The long barrel has a different harmonic in the recoil cycle than a modern gun and the stock design is centered around offhand shooting. Here's a 50yd group I shot using a modified bench technique with a Kibler Colonial in 54cal. Ball size is incorrect.

View attachment 196302

Can you describe your bench technique? I use a front rest holding the fore end in my hand where it's located shooting offhand. No rear bag, just my elbows on the bench.

 

[TDM]

Can you describe your bench technique? I use a front rest holding the fore end in my hand where it's located shooting offhand. No rear bag, just my elbows on the bench.

That's how I do it.

 

[dave951]

Can you describe your bench technique? I use a front rest holding the fore end in my hand where it's located shooting offhand. No rear bag, just my elbows on the bench.

Very similar. Because we're shooting black powder through a gun with a long barrel, any movement during recoil will affect the group.

My technique, grip the front of the rifle with your hand like in offhand and in the same place. Rest the back of that hand on the bag. Bag needs to be high enough so that you're sitting up almost erect. You want your upper body in almost the same position as in offhand. Sometimes a higher bench or higher bags or lower seat helps. Look at my avatar. I shoot with my arm and elbow in line with the stock. On a bench, it's in the same position and not on the bench. When I do rest an elbow, it's the front one.

 

[Fly103]

Can you describe your bench technique? I use a front rest holding the fore end in my hand where it's located shooting offhand. No rear bag, just my elbows on the bench.

I used a stack of shot bags underneath the first ramrod pipe back from the muzzle and turned my chair perpendicular to the bench, this allowed me to get a somewhat proper southern style hold on the gun and put everything aft of the trigger guard off the back of the bench, I was resting my left elbow on the bench with the forearm resting on my open palm just like offhand shooting. basicly it was shooting from a somewhat conventional position for a southern style gun with support from my elbow on the bench and bags at the muzzle. Clear as mud? Ill snap a pic next time i shoot off the bench.

Chris