More shooting on my part

[cayugad]

Today I wanted to see how the Scorpion Funnel Nose 260 grain bullets shot out of my stainless steel, 1-28 twist, .50 caliber GMB. The rifle is percussion. I used Winchester Magnum #11 caps. And Goex 2f black powder. The rifle has a Simmons Pro Sport ($19.95 I believe it was) 4x32mm scope on it.

Since the target could be seen at 100 yards, I decided that was good. To save some walking I even got out my spotting scope today.

I wanted to test the bullet with different powder charge. My shooting card said the rifle likes between 85-110 grains. So I started at 100 grains.



Believe this or not.. that cross hairs on this cheap scope almost cover that 2" circle. Just a small amount of red could be seen around the hairs. And I noticed it shot to the right a little bit. But for that scope and that distance, I was not all that unhappy. I just can't shoot these 1 and 1-1/2 in groups like some of you. But I do my best.

I then knocked the charge down to 90 grains of powder. It should be noted I was swabbing between shots with MAP.




I was now down to a one inch dot. When you set the cross hair on it.. you can not see it. You know your on it I guess because you can no longer see it. 90 grains did pretty good.

So I kicked the charge up to 110 grains of powder.




If that one had not been a flier, that was doing well. I could tell that wearing only a T shirt, sleeveless at that, and shooting, even with the heavy barrel I could feel that recoil, but it was not too bad. And the accuracy was pretty good too.

So I kicked it up to 120 grains of Goex 2f.



While I could have shot more with this powder charge.. there was no need. I did not need that much of a charge to hunt deer. I think the 100 grains will do just fine.

I then set up two old grapefruits from the back refrigerator and smoked them at 100 yards with 100 grains. I aimed 8 o'clock on them and that little funnel nose just made them explode. Pretty cool.

For a deer bullet I suspect this will do me just fine. As for the scope on this rifle, that too will work, but I might just put a real expensive scope on this stainless steel barrel to see what the rifle can really do.

[freebirdfb]

Shot groups that can "KILL" a grapefruit should do fine fore deer, especially with the group around that 1" dot.

[Semisane]

After that nice 90 grain group Cayugad, I think I would have backed off to 80 or 85 to see what it would do. You would still have all the power needed for 150 yards or less, easily. But good shooting at any rate and any one of those loads would do for hunting.

Put a more expensive scope on it and you will likely have the same groups at a higher cost.

[pluckit]

In my opinion those 1-1.5" groups at 100 yards are nice but a little over rated, unless you are sighting in at 100 yards for 200 yard shots. I didn't notice a single shot on those targets that wouldn't have harvested a deer at 100 yards, or maybe even a little more. Good shooting.

[Josmund]

With 90 Grains you have a 2 & 1/2 " group at 100 yards.

I'm impressed and think this combo should be considered for deer season. If the deer is standing still, you can decide which part of the heart to hit.

Nice Shooting!

[Palehorse]

Great shooting. I am impressed at how many guns and loads and bullets and . . . you guys keep running in top form. I have 2 muzzleloaders, and half the time get to the range without something.