It's been a long dry spell

[Kurt]

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