.38-50 Hepburn

[ian45662]

First day of the Desert International at Ben Avery is today!
22LR target today. Then then two days of midrange target rifle, followed by five days of long-range target rifle.
Let the fun begin!

Good luck Steve!! We missed you at Friendship.

[Distant Thunder]

Steve,

You guys supposedly already did the silhouette match the past two days, right? It would be nice to see some results, soon I hope.

[Kurt]

Hold tight Steve.

[Kurt]

Today I pulled out the chronograph to see what this .38-50 pushes these 357 gr bullets. I just shot here on my 100 yard range that has been shooting the best on the 200 yard range with a couple different types of powder and loads.
All the bullets were case with my alloy I use that is a 1# roll of 95/5 no lead solder 18# lead except for the 5 rounds using Arnies WW/Linotype alloy. For some reason I got one round loaded in a 303 British case that got mixed in with the .30-40m Krag cases. The .303 Brit cases are .039" shorter. I would not have thought that they would slow the bullet down about 20 fps, but it did.
Those 5 shots using Arnies alloy measures .721" outside to outside spread. I could not get a good center/center measurement.
That WW/Lino alloy drops a lighter and very hard bullet compared to what I use. I think I will cast a bunch more using that stuff.
I have several loads of 1.5 Swiss and 2F OE I did not shoot today because my fingers got so cold. It was 35º this morning and now it's 45º. Should have waited till it warmed up.
The 64 gr load of 1.5 Swiss and 65 gr of 2F OE and Swiss has shot the best at 200 ladder loads.

I'm very happy sofar how this .38-50 Hepburn is shooting.

[beltfed]

Kurt,
That rifle, bullet and loads are really smoking. AND very good hard holding, especially in this cold.
If you want, I can supply more of my 9+1 COWW/Lino alloy for you to continue to play
Arnie

[ian45662]

That’s awesome! I have some loads to play with on Friday. Hopefully they will look as good as yours.

[Kurt]

TNX. Guys,

The rifle has showed promise since I got the new mould that fits the freebore chamber it has but the final say will be the first match I will use the rifle in.
It has been riding at or very close to a MOA at 200 yards but the eye problem I developed last June gives me fits even looking through a scope when the center vision starts to fuzz up the cross hairs on the center and looking for a spot not looking directly on the target center I can start clearing it up but it jumps around fuzz to good enough to break the shot. Might have to learn shooting left handed......

Arnie I have a ingot that is Lino or Mono type enough to mix up plenty of alloy. This mix I have in the spare Lee pot I mixed up using the Lino you gave me.

Today was the first time I used the WW/Lino alloy but I will cast some more and use it at 200. That alloy casts a lot lighter than my 1/18 so it needs a little more wind then I had today with a no wind to see it it holds up.
I will say that this light load of 64 grains sure pushes that bullet fast.

[ian45662]

Kurt will you be coming to friendship in April?

[Kurt]

When is the April shoot at Friendship? I have a Family get to gather in Indiana on the 28th

[ian45662]

It is the weekend before that