Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Today according to the weather man might be the only half way warm day to shoot as they are calling for an arctic freeze to hit the area with temperatures of possible -30º below. But I will have to see it to believe it.

Today was 12 above and overcast. In fact it was snowing pretty good out there. And a little wind, but nothing a person could not stand. So I loaded up a bunch of "Lane tubes" with 100 grains of Triple Seven 2f and 100 grains of Pyrodex RS and grabbed some 300 grain Hornady XTPs in .452 with some black Harvester crushed rib sabots.

I decided to shoot the traditional mode today. So I grabbed a Thompson Center Black Mountain Magnum off the shelf (it was that or a New Englander), and headed out to the range.

The target was set at 50 yards, and with the over cast sky the fiber optic sights showed up pretty good actually.






I fowled the barrel to be fair and then did a swab with alcohol. I also ran a couple of dry patches and then for safety, popped a musket cap through it, as this has a musket cap ignition.

I started with the Triple Seven 2f powder and was holding 6 o'clock on that back square. The Triple Seven is marked with the blue felt pen. I shot 1&2 and was happy with the group. So I swabbed the barrel with alcohol again, but forgot the dry patches. I also never popped another cap through it. Well #3 was a real old fashion hang fire.

I then shot 4&5 with out swabbing and again it grouped real good. So I swabbed, dry patched, and popped a cap and shot 6&7. I want to admit, I adjusted my POA for 6&7 and that is why they are not in the group. But again, I was only swabbing every second or third sometimes shot. But there was a hard crud ring building in the rifle.

I then switched over to Pyrodex RS 100 grain. I swabbed the barrel clean with alcohol, I dry patched, and popped a cap. #1 hit high and right in the corner of the black square. I was not really shocked by that as I had no idea where they would hit. I was holding a true 6 on the black square.

I then swabbed and shot 2-4 without swabbing. (my fingers get cold when I have to take my gloves off). And the group was very good. But I did notice even with the pyrodex I was getting a good build up. BUT I decided to shoot two more without swabbing. 5&6 starter to move away from the group, and I am almost 100% sure it was because of the fowling.

At least I got a little shooting in before the cold weather hits.. if it is going to.. This Black Mountain Magnum is sure a nice shooting rifle. Looking at the barrel, I would almost swear it is nothing more then a traditional model Black Diamond. It has a 1-28 twist and even the funny breech on the end like the Black Diamond. Also they claim it will shoot pellets. But it does so well with the pre measured "Lanes tubes" that I see no reason to waste my pellet supply. I have other plans for them. :D

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

That makes 2 of us. Im headed out in about 15-20 minutes:D Beautiful 48* day.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

48º WOW!! your summer is long...

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Sounds like a fun day! I know what you are saying about the cold, they are sayiing that on Tuesday, and Wednesdsay of this week, we are suppose to have a high of -4. I dont know what the low is suppose to be.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

god u guy's are lucky ,we are up to our armpits with snow and it's only january ..the snow wont melt before the end of april ..

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

heinz.. you're supposed to be up to your arm pits in snow. That's why you live where you do. Actually the snow accumulation is not all that bad this year in the north where I am. If you want, you can keep all that bitter cold up there in Canada and I will not complain at all.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

The wind is the problem in AR this time of year, its supposed to be 54 to 56 with only a 12 mile an hour wind monday here so I will go then. Lee

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

We have an indoor range at the gun shop here in town. $10/hr is a small price to payto keep you fingers from freezing.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

dang! $28.50usd/hr for an indoor 100yd range for bp shooting.

there is a 50yd outdoor state park that is $8/hr for residents, $10/hr for non-residents (that's me since i live over the river).

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Nice shooting Dave. You eliminate that hang fire shot and you have all the bullets in a 3x3" square - and that's with 2 different powders. I'd say that rifle will shoot.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

12 degrees and you call that warm. Brrrrrr I think my butt would have been staying in the house. Im hearing were supposed to have a cold snap hit here next week, suppose to get down into the teens. I wish we would get some snow, but I doubt that will happen.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

I have a friend that lives in Ont. I keep saying to keep that cold Canadian air there in the winter as we will do fine with out it. You could send some in the summer when it is 94 in the shade and the humidity is about 90%. Never listens to me though.

Dave use those pre pack wipes so you don't have to take your gloves off. They fit right on the bore nice and are just damp so the gloves don't get damp.

We finally once again have enough snow so you can use the x country skis. The lazy youtes love to use those tracks and brings them right where you want them.

:) Al

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Wow...its 48 degrees here in Phoenix and I am freezing my butt off! Can't wait until the temps get back in to the 100s:)

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

48 degrees? That's T shirt weather.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Here in Central Wisconsin we have over 50" of snow thats a new record for Dec.
Cold 2
Redclub

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

If I had the kind of weather some of you guys have I'd never be shooting on the range. Might net even hunt (naw - that would never happen). Had a short sleeve shirt on for my Friday range session, but had to put a light jacket on for the Saturday session because it was down in the mid-50's.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

They are talking a windchill of -40º below for tomorrow with a day time high (no wind chill) of -4º and with a stout wind. Its going to be a little brisk tomorrow.


JEFF FOXWORTHY’S - HOW YOU KNOW YOUR FROM WISCONSIN


If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 38 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Park Falls is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it's 'too pricey,' you might live in Wisconsin.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Wisconsin...

If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there, you might live in Wisconsin.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you may not have actually eaten it, but you have heard of Head Cheese, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you might live in Wisconsin .

If you have either a pet or a child named 'Brett,' you might live in Wisconsin .

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Wisconsin .

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Wisconsin.

If you know how to say Oconomowoc, Waukesha , Menomonie & Manitowoc, you might live in Wisconsin .

If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, you might live in Wisconsin.

If every time you see moonlight on a lake, you think of a dancing bear, and you sing gently, 'From the land of sky-blue waters,'....you might live in Wisconsin.


YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE WISCONSINITE WHEN:

1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.

2. 'Vacation' means going up north past Hwy 8 for the weekend.

3. You measure distance in hours.

4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

5. You often switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again.

6. Your whole family wears Packer Green to church on Sunday.

7. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

8. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings and funerals

9. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

10. You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison.

11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife or girlfriend knows how to use them.

12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm at any given time.

13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

15. You refer to the Packers as 'we.'

16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.

17. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.

18. You have no problem pronouncing Lac Du Flambeau.

19. You consider Minneapolis exotic.

20. You know how to polka.

21. Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.

22. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.

23. Down South to you means Illinois.

24. A brat is something you eat.

25. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

26. You go out to fish fry every Friday.

27. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.

28. You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.

29. You find minus twenty degrees 'a little chilly.'

30. You actually understand these jokes.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Those are great Cayugad. I especially like the ketchup one. If that's true, you could never eat one of my grilled venison roasts.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Sounds just like here in Ontario. Except for the stuff about the Packers.

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Good stuff! Funny. :D

Bernard Madoff is being grilled under the hot lights by invetigators...
He sits there sweating...
"Mr Madoff, where did you get the idea of paying early investors with money from new investors?
Mr Madoff replies, "Social Security"!

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

The yoopers are smarter than the trolls here in Michigan. Not onlyare they fans of the packers they look at the lions as less than a high school JV team.

They also relate to all the foxworthy you might be from stuff.

If they see some one walking down the road with a dog, shot gun and pistol they always stop and ask ifn ya want a ride. Even if they don't know you. Usally results in at least a half hour conversation about the hunting luck and killing youtes when you see them.

They wave even if they don't know ya because that is the right and neighbourly thingto do.

50F is still T shirt weather too.

:) Al

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

Well our cold snap finally hit. This morning was -19º below, but it warmed up pretty fast to -10º once the sun came up. Right now, I only have -17º below without the windchill, but the neighbor along the river (I just talked to) is already at -22º below. The weatherman did say there would be dangerous windchills tonight. They were talking -50º windchills tonight. So now its just a matter of staying warm. Good thing I got all my outside chores done today when it was only -4º below. :D

RE: Shooting before the cold snap hits.
 

other than COLD WEATHER you have, reminds me of our state here in pa