Light loads

[1BadDart]

After reading here about some folks shooting light loads, I decided to try some in my .40. It was a beautiful day here today, so I got everything out and set up the shooting bench. The rifle I built earlier this year, .40 caliber, 42" straight 7/8" Rice barrel, large Siler percussion with a Davis double set trigger, it was built for 25 yard off hand matches. When doing the initial load testing, I started at 40 grains and worked up to 65 grains, 55 grains shot the best.

Today I shot 25, 30, 35 and 55 grains, should've shot 55 again but ran out of time. I was pleasantly surprised how well it shot with light loads. The targets are repurposed .22 rimfire targets.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Thats very good! It will also save you some $$ on your black powder budget as well

 

[nchawkeye]

My squirrel load for my .40 is 30grs FFF Goex...

 

[Flintlock]

Small calibers especially for small game hunting should use light charges. Saves money on powder, less noise. I often use 30grs. of FFG in my .45 longrifle for birds and squirrels.

 

[1BadDart]

I'm going to shoot 25 grains for a bit when practicing offhand, for punching paper it should be fine.

 

[TDM]

That is impressive results.

 

[Trapper Scott]

That's pretty impressive shooting! I shot my 40 cal today for the first time and used 35 grains at about 28 yards and it shot great. I will try 25 grains tomorrow, then 30.

 

[jackpine54]

Nice shooting! I shoot 25gr FFFg in my .36. it makes for cheap practice and deadly on squirrels and rabbits.

 

[hanshi]

Since I do not hunt I shoot small loads in my rifles at least 75% - 80% of the time. They're easy on powder, noise and are very accurate. And the smaller calibers get fired the most.

 

[Trapper Scott]

That's pretty impressive shooting! I shot my 40 cal today for the first time and used 35 grains at about 28 yards and it shot great. I will try 25 grains tomorrow, then 30.

I tried 20 grains but the groups were a little too wide for my taste, so I went to 25 grains and played around with ball size and patch thickness, and settled on 25 grains of 3F using a .395 RB with a 0.015 pillow ticking wonder lube patch. All shot at 25 yards from a rest. I'm sure someone with better eyes and a non-shaking upper body would do much better but I'm pretty happy with how the Kibler SMR 40 caliber did today. I put a small square of painters tape on the bulls eye because I couldn't see it 25 yards away.

 

[dave951]

After reading here about some folks shooting light loads, I decided to try some in my .40. It was a beautiful day here today, so I got everything out and set up the shooting bench. The rifle I built earlier this year, .40 caliber, 42" straight 7/8" Rice barrel, large Siler percussion with a Davis double set trigger, it was built for 25 yard off hand matches. When doing the initial load testing, I started at 40 grains and worked up to 65 grains, 55 grains shot the best.

Today I shot 25, 30, 35 and 55 grains, should've shot 55 again but ran out of time. I was pleasantly surprised how well it shot with light loads. The targets are repurposed .22 rimfire targets.

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That's good shooting and good load development technique.

It's also a perfect illustration of "accuracy nodes". Long barrel arms are particularly susceptible to the effect. What happens is ALL gun barrels vibrate on ignition. Recoil coupled with the frequency of that vibration are big factors in determining accuracy. Think of it as a motion in the Y axis (up and down) with the optimum point of impact being Y=0 (point of aim is adjustable, point of impact is VITAL). What you're seeing is 25g 3f (with the other factors) yielding the barrel being at the null part (Y=0) of the vibration frequency as the ball is exiting the barrel meaning a great group and excellent accuracy when the point of aim is taken into account.

 

[smoothshooter]

After reading here about some folks shooting light loads, I decided to try some in my .40. It was a beautiful day here today, so I got everything out and set up the shooting bench. The rifle I built earlier this year, .40 caliber, 42" straight 7/8" Rice barrel, large Siler percussion with a Davis double set trigger, it was built for 25 yard off hand matches. When doing the initial load testing, I started at 40 grains and worked up to 65 grains, 55 grains shot the best.

Today I shot 25, 30, 35 and 55 grains, should've shot 55 again but ran out of time. I was pleasantly surprised how well it shot with light loads. The targets are repurposed .22 rimfire targets.

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30 to 35 grains of 3f gives great groups in my .45.

 

[MSmith]

I run 40 gr in my .50 at target shoots. I discovered a few years ago that less is more when shooting round ball.

 

[leadhoarder]

The only downsides to using a light load are the reduced amounts of smoke and aroma.

 

[ohio ramrod]

For paper at twenty five yards I use 25 grain in a 45 caliber and it shoots quite well.