Fire forming load?

[Eric Johanen]

Out on the 200 yard range shooting the 300 yard reduced off the bench with bench cross sticks the other day. My steal of a C. Sharps 74 with the 34 inch standard octagon barrel. MVA #108 Mid-range rear and Dt Mid-range front. Mission: to fire form new Winchester brass. 2.100 length brass, match prepped brass, 68.0 grains of Goex 2 fg, CCI BR 2 primer, .060 poly wad compressed to seat a Lyman Postell to all lube grooves inside the case. Filled out the 20 rounds with some culled bullets, 6 of which fell outside the weight parameters Bullets run through a Lee push thru size die at .459. Fouling is heavier that Swiss, KIK or OE from visual patch results. Wiped with 1 wet and 1 dry patch and dry swabbed the chamber. !'st shot a inside 10 at 9 O'clock. 2'nd a 10 on the line at 3 O"clock. 6 O'clock 7 and 12 O'clock 10 due to poor sight alignment. Outside 6 and middle 5, good calls but probably less that perfect bullets. Load shot pretty well all thing's considered. Have 80 more cases to fire from for the new season. I believe this rifle will shoot!!    

[Don McDowell]

Not to shaby

[Eric Johanen]

Shot #19 was the 10 just off the X ring and the last one was the X at 1 O'clock. Not a bad finish!

[Eric Johanen]

Out with the C. Sharps again and fire form loads were the same with bullets sorted by weight held to +or- 1 grain. Used 68 grains of OE 1.5. Shot flatter than the GOEX 2 fg. 1'st shot clipped the black at 6:30. Adjusted up and the 2'nd into the 9 ring at 6. Up a bit more and shot the remaining 18 rounds. 13 mph wind from the NW down the slot between the 100 and 200 yard frames. Mirage running from left to right and then a quick switch to right to left. Could push the impact on target about 1.5 minutes. Lost it on shots number 19 and 20 and popped them into the 8 ring, inside 8 @ 12 and middle 8 at 12:30. Not a bad target really. Fire formed brass is just about perfect. A run through the Lyman neck size die and it holds a .444 BACO slick patched with 2 thousands 100% rag bond paper beautifully. Snug enough to fit well and allow handling without the bullet separating.    

[Don McDowell]

You and that rifle are coming to a real understanding.

[Eric Johanen]

Don, I just wish I still had 20 year old eye's!! All of my rifles will outshoot me. Some days when the light is just right I can still turn a good score. It just does not happen as frequently as it used to. Next time out it will be with paper patch rounds and 80 grains of Swiss 1.5 fg. I do need to run some over the chronograph.

[Lumpy Grits]

You did good Eric.
I agree about want'n my 20 year old eyes back.
I have a non-operable, astigmatism in my right eye(I'm right handed)and it really is frustrating to say the least.
Gary

[Don McDowell]

10-4 on the eye thing.