Newbie - shooting conicals......
Not that I want to but the State of Idaho has declared we will shoot conicals from a pivoting hammer only. The rest of the rules almost confines you solely to flint locks or percussion guns.
I recieved an order of 460NE last week from Dave Stevens last week and I have been really wanting to get out and shoot these heavy weights. We have had lousy weather since I got them and have not been able to get out. Well taday enough was enough - I went to Strychinine and decided to shoot no mater what... This was my first experiance shooting conicals by myself on my own - I had shot a few years and years ago but nothing you can call experiance. But listening to Cayugad, UC, and shooting with Casecadedad - I felt I could handle it alright.
My mission today was to shoot through the chrono and find out what velocity I moght be shooting... I am a velocity person - I want velocity, but I knew I was not going to get anything like I get with sabots and copper clad bullets. For my own piece of mind I need to know. Another thing that worried me was loading them.... I don't think I have ever used a short starter - in fact it took me awhile to even find one.
Anyway arrived at the gravel pile set up the table and bags, the chrono, and the target - in the snow and while it was snowing. Next project load the Hawken, I decided to start @ 80 grains first (T7-3f) - dropped the charge, then inserted a .125 shot card, thought that might be a little difficult to keep it flat, piece of cake, pushed it down on the powder, then picked up a goowy 460 placed it in the barrel, used the short starter to start it, the the short ram rod in the starter. Heck it was easy - it went down easier than a lot of sabots... never used the short starter after that, placed the shot card - thumbed it down flush - insterted the 460 thumbed it down about halfway - set the range rod on, (by the way the spin jag fit the bullet perfectly) pushed it and the card down together - piece of cake....
First shot (labeled #1 - dang set trigger) was not good and had nothing to do with the bullet or charge. 2-3 and four followed. I actually was not to disappointed in the final three - I am not the best open sight shooter in the world, and I was more concerned with getting the bullet through the chrono than anything else. 80 grains and the 460 - did provide a decent recoil - not as bad as it could have been but I was shooting with just 2 "T" shirts on for padding and the Hawken does not have the best recoil pad in the world. I was surprised with the velocity - I should say I was really happy and surprisedwith the 1500 fps second range.
Then of the heck of it, I thought I would try 70 grains just to check the velocity difference. A lot of things went into those last three shots.... I was much more comfortable shooting, I was figuring out the open sights again, and I was a whole lot more confident in the bullets. Anyway the last three were really great.
I have not given up on 80 grains yet - but the 70 grain thing looks awful good. I know I do want to change the rear Williams sight from from a bump and guess sight to a TC adjustable sight. I that will help my comfort level also. And right now, because of the weight of the bullet I think I am going to do the Cayugad thing and sight in @ 75 yards and try to use the placement of the front sight blade in the rear sight for longer shots whenthey are necessary.
I have not ran a ballistic chart on the bullet yet that will be my next project. But I think if I can learn how to shoot it to 100+ yards it should have the energy to stop an elk or awhitetail.
Shooting Artillery bullets....
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