Range Report

[Razorx]

Hey Everyone,

I just got back from the range. I took my Davide Pedersoli 12ga out and had a ball. :thumbsup: I was using 1 1/8oz of #6 zinc plated steel shot and 80gr of triple seven FFG. I triied some shots with a shot cup and some without. I found that without the shot cup that it seem to get a tighter seal. I forgot to get some paper to pattern it out so I had to use the side of a beer box. The target was really to small it was 10in x 15in with a 9" center. At 25yrds I was able to get only 50 pellets on the target and about 26 in the center. I did notice that the shot stayed in an area about 3ft X 3ft. Hopefully I will be able to get out this weekend and have real target to pattern the gun. Just wanted to share how things went. After shoting today I am hooked. Merry Christmas

Nolan

 

[paulvallandigham]

Take some newspaper with you. You can use it as a backer to any other paper you use, or just use the newsprint to record your patterns.

Use a magic marker to dot each hole for your counts and use a string and pencil to make your circles to determine pattern density. Some guys like to just put a dot on each hole in the paper, and others prefer to make a circle around each hole. Knock yourself out.

PS. I think your load is too hot for a good pattern unless that gun has chokes in the barrels. Back it down to 75 or even 70 grains to see if you don't get better patterns with that amount of shot from an cylinder bore shotgun barrel. Remember that 777 is a much hotter burning powder than Black Powder. I worked with black powder for my 12 ga. and found shooting lighter powder charges gave me much better patterns. In fact, I have been using FFg powder to reduce the velocity even more. Now that I have a better supply of FFFg, I am going to work up loads with FFFg powder. I suspect I will be down in the 2 1/2 to 2 1/4 dram range to get the same kind of patterns I now get with my FFg loads.

Newspaper is cheap, and very available .Just hold the paper up to the light to see and find all the holes to mark.

If you need an aiming point, buy a small can of spray black paint, preferably the quick dry stuff, and spray an aiming dot as large as you need.

You can mark up several full pages of the paper all at the same time, and then put them one after another as you test fire your loads.

 

[Dave K]

I find what works real slick for me, is the white paper that they use for cover tables at reunions, etc. I have made two cardboard circles, one is 30" and the other is 15". Use what Paul said about a shot of black paint for an aiming point. I tried newspaper and it works, but my eyes were forced to hold the paper up to the light to see the holes. It works just fine though, unless you are going to get real serious and spend the day testing loads and patterns. Be sure to test both barrels. They always seem to pattern different, even though they are choked the same (or lack of any choke). Using the barrel that patterns the worst,as your "control" barrel, get that one to pattern the way you like and the other barrel will be happy too.

 

[torn moc]

Sounding fairly good so far! I believe also that it will get better if ya back down to 70 grains.. :hatsoff:

 

[Razorx]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the advice. I did shot a few shot at 75gr but with no real way to pattern it was kind of a mute point. Didn't really matter wanted to get out a have some fun. I know that I got some strange looks at the range when I stated shoting it. I wil take all of your advice and try it this weekend.

Nolan

 

[Many Klatch]

Razorx, if you go to a good Lumber yard, you can pick up a roll of Builders Paper or Red Rosin Paper. I'm not sure what your area calls it. It is a roll of paper that is 3 feet wide and covers about 500 square feet so it should be about 160 feet long. This will give you a life time supply of paper to print shotgun on and backers for targets. The roll of paper should cost around $20.

Many Klatch

 

[roundball]

Thats a good tip...never even heard of something called 'builder's paper'...thanks.

I lucked out a few years ago at the place I work where a year long communication campaign was wrapping up and they were discarding about 100 leftover 2' x 3' posters, plain white on the backside...took them all home...down to my last few right now so your tip is very timely!
:thumbsup:

 

[FPDoc]

Builder's paper comes in a couple of weights and the red/brown versions. In the BigBox places you can often get it for about $10 bucks a 36" x 150'+/- roll. Similar stuff for masking comes 6" to 2' or so wide. Works well for clothing/moccasin/sheath patterns etc. as well as targets/patterning/underlayment for finishing. Good general purpose product.