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It's been a long dry spell - Kurt - 03-29-2024
Since I shot.
It's been quiet here so I thought I would make some noise
The good eye Doc. got me through the first stage fixing the Cataracts and the healing time is over for this and he gave me the go ahead to get me back to doing what I want.
He did a good job but I have another part coming up in August fixing the retina but I can see pretty good now again.Lodi is coming up in a short month so I figured I better find a load for the .38-50 I will use for the long range match for the new I case of 2F Swiss from BA and got it the other day so I loaded some 3 round ladder loads from zero compression to a full case.
I use 15 Winchester cases and 15 converted .30-40. The Winchester cases hold 5 grains more than the Converted .30-40 Jamison cases. The Win cases went from 65 gr max compression down to 61 no compression and the Jamison went from 60 gr max to 56 gr. no compression
I havent worked much with 2F Swiss for the Hepburn and on the first three shots starting this test after shooting 6 foulers warming the barrel up and when I looked through the scope I about slid off the bench when I saw the 3 shot 3/8" cloverleaf. I never shot one this tight that I remember at 200, well 185 yards the pit was closed down for spring repair. I think it had me worked up that the second group I blew one way out fat fingering the rifle before I had the buttplate in the shoulder pocket LOL.
But all in all I must say that this Hepburn no matter what the load using the 359 gr DD PP bullet it pretty much shoots all without a complaint.
I loaded another 50 rounds using the tightest groups I shot today.
Today I had 15 +- mph 12 o-clock head winds that may have some effects but I think this lot of powder will work just fine. But the real test will be at Lodi at 800 to the 1000. But I want to see if this little .38-50 will hold its own good or bad.
The Bullet alloy I used was 18 lbs lead one roll of 95/5 no lead/tin/antimony patched with 100% cotton Southworth cockle finish paper .0018" thick and a Fed 210 GM primer.
I used a single .06" Napa fiber wad.
Kurt
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Don McDowell - 03-30-2024
Hopefully the wind stays down and treats those little 38 bullets kindly.
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Kurt - 03-30-2024
Yes Don I hope so too.
Nothing lost except a match
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Don McDowell - 03-30-2024
Well they won't drag you out and shoot you in the middle of the street for that.
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Kurt - 03-30-2024
LOL, there are some crazy's out there now days...
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Kurt - 03-30-2024
Just sitting here thinking.
If I had any sense I would stick with the .44's. I have several in different chambers and barrel twists. One chamber I managed to get a chamber cast from an original .44 Reming straight chambered in a Hepburn that was used during the Creedmoor matches and I chambered a Shiloh using a Krieger 16 twist HVY barrel and Kirk used that barrel for it. It's a super shooter.
Back around 2011 I exchanged several conversations with Kelley O.Roos on the .44 subjects because I knew that he favored this caliber.
I wonder what ever happen to Kelley.....
He favored the .44-75 so I had a reamer made for this caliber and had CPA build a rifle using it but the chamber got cut bad and I had them recharger it for a .44-2.6 to clean it up and this was a good move because it shoots just as good as the heavy Shiloh. Even with the pout of round neck the .44-75 had I should have left it because it shot very good but it just was not right.
This last CPA I had build is a .38-50 but it has been a problem child since day one so I will get it rebored for a 16 twist .44 and I will recharger it with the .44-75 reamer if I can find a smith that will rebore the barrel.
The .44-2.6 is really too much horse power for me anymore. I was warned twice with bad eye damage shooting the heavy recoiling rifles now and I think I will listen and down size the calibers. The .38-50 might not cut the mustard at long ranges but it sure has shown to do well at midranges.
The .44-75 has a mild recoil so it just might be my answer for long range and it's already fitted for an action. I just have to find a place to send it for rebooking.
Kurt
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Steveu - 03-30-2024
Good shooting!
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Kurt - 03-30-2024
TNX. Steve.
It's a good rifle. I hope I can do it justice
RE: It's been a long dry spell - Don McDowell - 03-30-2024
I think the 44-70 would be a fine cartridge to do it all
I have considered building one but I don’t shoot that much anymore and have way more rifles than I need or use
Kelly went thru a pretty rough time and last I knew had quit shooting altogether
RE: It's been a long dry spell - beltfed - 03-31-2024
Good shooting, Kurt,
I will be great to have you at Lodi, in a couple weeks.
Are you going to shoot the .22-200?
BTW, Us old farts can now use a portable shooting bench