Designing the 2-diameter paper patch bullet.

[Kurt]

Hey Jim I play golf. I hang the balls on strings and shoot them. they get more than smileys when they get hit

I been throwing powder in cases since I got back from Alma. Just haven't had time this winter getting ready for matches so the rush is on for the weekend and the Montana shoots coming up in June.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

The other thing I wanted to say about the CUP match is that it is my understanding that you can shoot as many shots as you need to hit paper, but that first shot to cut paper is your first sighter and you have only two more whether or not you hit paper with those shots before you must go for record. There is a lot of real estate down range that is not paper. The very last thing I want is for my first shot in 8 months and from a cold, clean barrel to cut paper at 1000 yards. I think I can find a way to make sure that doesn't happen! You may be able to do the same. And you can do that at each distance. You do only have 20 minutes for all your shots however many that may be.

[Don McDowell]

I hope to have a bit more time to do the practice thing. It is nice being able to shoot to 1000 + here at the house, but seems taking the time away from something else has been the big problem the last few years. That ol desert rat spends an awful lot of time on the range in Tucson, and you couple that with his natural ability and he's a force to be reckoned with for sure.. But try as I might I can't get him to see the light and give up that grease groove bullet..
I've found so many times that a bullet might shoot lights out out to 300 and maybe 600 won't do well at all at 800 and even worse beyond that on calm conditions. Sometimes a bullet/load combo that shoots decent to 1000 in calm conditions goes bazookie in a cross wind.
We were thinking there's a match in Sept? at Lodi, and maybe try for it, but that may or may not work well depending on how the drawing gods treat me next week on moose license, and if we have an early fall and the elk start bugling it's hard to keep Eddie from wandering away from target rifle and into the deep timber with his bow..and he has a grand daughter that is a hunting/shooting fool and loves nothing better than spending time with Grandad on the range or in the field, and Grandad spends a lot of time bragging on her...
I am thinking maybe if I do draw the moose license I may see how this dd 40 of mine works in the 40-90 bn, but dang it's going to have to be something special for me to leave my 44-77 and it's beloved dd bullet at home.

[Distant Thunder]

Don,

There is a match at Lodi in September, the 21st and 22nd. All shooting will be at 1000 yards in that match. It makes a good practice match. It will be unlimited sighters and 35 minutes to bang away. Under those rules I have actually gone to the line with one load, shot several sighters and didn't like what I saw on target. Then got a different load, shot some more sighters and then gone for record with good results.

That's how I practice, at matches like this. That is how I developed my paper patch loads. I tested them at 200 yards first and that tells you something, but not the whole story. Then I just went to matches, often with more than one load to test. There is nothing like load testing at a match to tell how your load will work at a match! It took about two years before I won my first match with paper patch bullets, but it was worth every shot.

[Don McDowell]

Jim, I think you're spot on, finding a load at home and then taking them to a match is the real test. Match conditions are always different than shooting in a more relaxed atmosphere at a local range with none of the distractions that a match has.

[Distant Thunder]

Yes and things can go to hell fast at a match! Especially if you don't have it all worked out ahead. Mistakes come very easy at a match and on the clock. That all part of the fun.

I'm pretty well packed and most of it is in the car. I should be on my way shortly after noon Wednesday. My rifle seems ready, but it really doesn't make too many mistakes, it's that guy on the trigger that I really have to watch!

[Don McDowell]

Hold center and don't yank the trigger, and most of all have fun. Like I told Carol when she asked how did I shoot at Alliance, I said I shot well, it's just the hitting the target that seemed to be the biggest problem.. LOL
Hopefully you can get us a copy of the scores to post.

[Kurt]

Jim,
how many rounds are needed for Lodi?
I'm having a problem getting time to load.

[Don McDowell]

120 rounds for score, plus sighters and practice day.
250 ought to cover it.

[Distant Thunder]

Kurt,

I believe I have 245 or so loaded and that should be more than enough. For the cup if you figure 13 shots per relay, 3 sighters plus 10 for record, that's 78 rounds. For the Championship I figure 17 per relay which is 102 total. The total then would only be 180. This early in the season I don't have a problem loading extra, I can always save them for the next match. Later in the season I load only what I need, I don't like to carry too many thru the winter and into the next season. I have, but I don't like it.

I've already traveled a long distance shot a two-day match and returned home with only one cartridge left! That's cutting a little too close to the line!

Then too, I am used to loading for two shooters using one rifle. It can be hard to cut back. My advise would be to bring enough.