Hit the range yesterday and unfortunately couldn't start working at 50 yards and had to share the 2 man 100 yard enclosed range so it was slow going and not optimal for testing. I did get some decent work in however.
I started with the 58 cal with 560 gr T/C Hunters and it immediately started showing pressure issues and also discovered that the threads for the nipple were quite worn with gas leakage on the first shot and on a subsequent shot did pop out the nipple. I stopped and set that aside.
I then went to the 54 cal 24" starting at 110 grains of fffg T7 I moved up 115 grains and down to 100 and 90 with no real change in groups, so settled on the 110 grain load. Results below:
I then switched to the 21" 54 cal. I started 100 grs of powder with the 425 CVA Deerslayer HP bullets and after 4 attempts at 3 shot groups sliding up and down the powder charges in 10 gr increments I had not real success. I then switched to a 450gr plains bullet and it immediately grouped with 100 grains of powder. Results below: I did call the high right shot before looking at the target
With the success of the 450 gr, I decided to try it in the 24" barrel gun and it grouped nicely also with 110 gr of powder. Results below
I am changing out the front sights (I need more "down") and heading back out to do some verification and sighting in. I will also chronograph the 450 grain with 100 gr of powder, but I suspect it will be close to 1550 fps mv.
I have a insert coming to replace/repair the worn threads on the 58 cal so after repair I will start again with it and work up, but I suspect it will not meet my 125 yard parameters as I won't be able to push the heavy bullets fast enough. But I will check and develop accuracy and I am confident that I can make it a 100 yard gun.
When looking at these groups do remember that I am using ghost ring sights and a fire sight front bead so a fine sighting for accuracy is difficult and I am quite pleased with the sub 3" results above. Most of the issues are sighting errors, not gun accuracy errors
More to follow!
I started with the 58 cal with 560 gr T/C Hunters and it immediately started showing pressure issues and also discovered that the threads for the nipple were quite worn with gas leakage on the first shot and on a subsequent shot did pop out the nipple. I stopped and set that aside.
I then went to the 54 cal 24" starting at 110 grains of fffg T7 I moved up 115 grains and down to 100 and 90 with no real change in groups, so settled on the 110 grain load. Results below:
I then switched to the 21" 54 cal. I started 100 grs of powder with the 425 CVA Deerslayer HP bullets and after 4 attempts at 3 shot groups sliding up and down the powder charges in 10 gr increments I had not real success. I then switched to a 450gr plains bullet and it immediately grouped with 100 grains of powder. Results below: I did call the high right shot before looking at the target
With the success of the 450 gr, I decided to try it in the 24" barrel gun and it grouped nicely also with 110 gr of powder. Results below
I am changing out the front sights (I need more "down") and heading back out to do some verification and sighting in. I will also chronograph the 450 grain with 100 gr of powder, but I suspect it will be close to 1550 fps mv.
I have a insert coming to replace/repair the worn threads on the 58 cal so after repair I will start again with it and work up, but I suspect it will not meet my 125 yard parameters as I won't be able to push the heavy bullets fast enough. But I will check and develop accuracy and I am confident that I can make it a 100 yard gun.
When looking at these groups do remember that I am using ghost ring sights and a fire sight front bead so a fine sighting for accuracy is difficult and I am quite pleased with the sub 3" results above. Most of the issues are sighting errors, not gun accuracy errors
More to follow!
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