A couple of weeks ago Sabotloader sent me a few .504 Bullshop conicals to see if they fit better in my Magbolt than the .503's I have. I went to the range this morning with them and am happy toreport they fit just fine and I could not shake them off the powder like the .503's would.It was windy so I set up at 50 yards.

Hehad sent a total of 6 of the 460's so I shot 3 of them as they were with my usual 90gr of 777, first shot from a clean barrel was about 3" left and 1.5" high of POA, shot 2 was right where it should be at 1.75" high and just right of centered, shot three was about 1.25" left and .5" high. Not as good a group as I would expect at 50 but it was gusting from nothing to 15 mph the whole range session. I next tried 3 more using some .125 cards that he had sent with the bullets. Shot 4 wasjust left ofshot 2 with just a small strip of paper between them. Shot 5 was .375" right of the bullseye and .25" high. Shot 6 enlarged shot 2's hole by 50%. This group was much better than the first at about 1.5".

The other 3 bullets he sent me were some .504 400gr conicals (they look a lot like the 460's with a shorter nose). I stayed with 90gr of powderand the .125" cardsand aimed at the same spot, shot 7took out the small space between shots 2 and 4 (I actually wasn't sure where it hit until I went down and checked the target after I shot the 3 bullets). For shot 8 I adjusted my POA down using the next aim point on my ballistic reticle (about 2.25") and hit the X ring just low and centered (it would have been a half inch 2 shot group if I hadn't adjusted my POA). Shot 9 I pulled about 2.5" to the right and slightly lower, my bad. I really like the way the 400's shot despite the wind.

I also shot a few Barnes 285gr Expander MZ's that I bought the other day on sale. I bumped the powder up to 100gr and adjusted my POA to the second aiming point (about 4.5")above the crosshairs. Shot 10 hit about 2.25" left and 2" down. Shots 11-14 formed a diamondshaped group of just over an inch centered about 1.25" left and 1.25" down. I was happy with that group considering the conditions.

Due to the winds I did not setup the chrony to check the velocities but last time I shot the 460 load they wereaveraging around 1400 to 1425. I would expect the 400's to be about 50 to 75fps faster. The 285's I would expect to be similar to the Buffalo 285 SSB's that average about 1750. I hope to posta picture once I get to a place to upload it.

So a big thanks to Sabotloader for helping me out with the bullet size and supply.

dmurphy317

Glad to be of some help...

I second a big "thank you" to Sabotloader. He sent me some grenades as well in .503 even though I'm not sure why a sabotloader would have grenades in his arsenal, but I digress. ;-)

Anyway, Sabotloader is a great guy and helps make this board one of the best black-powder boards on the net.

Steve

Thanks guys, but really no thanks are necessary - it is all in the brotherhood - sort like paying it forward... I was looking for a really danged embarassed smiley face but could not find one...

mike

Here is a picture of the target, Sorry it's not very good but the camera I had available is not very high quality.


The left most hole is shot 1, The 5 smaller holes are the Barnes. The target diameter is about 7".

Sabotloader is really an ornery old coot, but he tries!!!

Cdad

You are right on with that statement... and don't you forget it...

I just hired a defensive line coach and I used about those same words, when I told him it is not varsity football and there is not a lot pressure, other than me - I want it done my way or the highway... dats beein onerry - right?

Yea, but if you get sideways with me, I'll just sick Terry on you and then we'll see who's boss!

Kind of reminds me of my 7th and 8th grade football coach. He yelled a lot, but when someone would mess up he would get right in their face and yell, "BUDDY, YOUR ASS IS GRASS AND I'M THE LAWNMOWER!!!!!!!!"

Might keep that one in your back pocket for the right moment.