Finally had Time - Shooting @ Strychnine
 

Well i finally set every thing aside and decided I really need to go shoot some PRB's. So I gathered up the the old Renegade 50 cal and the shooting boxes and headed north. My first stop was at the Palouse Ranger District - see if I could get logged onto the government computer system... It took awhile and a few phone calls but got it done. From there head east to Strychnine Creek and one of my favorite shooting spots - Strychnine Gravel Pile.

The shooting day started out terrible... the gun has not ben shot since last July and my ability to use an open sight even though it were a peep sight really raises some questions.

What I was really trying to is to do was learn where I need to set the elevation of the peep sight for the different ranges. If you have a Lyman you know you can push a button and move the elevation up and down at will. I set the target up at 75 yards and moved the peep from zero elevation to line one on the elevation scale. Held a 6:00 hold on the orange target dot, I fired the first 3 shots...All three were low under the target dot.

I then moved the peep to the second elevation line and shot another 3 shots. They were clipping the bottom of the target dot.

Moved one more elevation line and repeated the test. These were high over the target dot and one, that I pulled a bit hit the bull. Got to get used to the set trigger all over again... Not a good idea to have your finger on the front trigger when you try to move to a better sight picture.....

All in all the target sucks - but it was a beginning.



Frustrated with myself and the target I decided to change the targets. I grabbed a hand full of clay pigeons and set them out on the pile and a couple of stumps.... I placed 8 birds from 75 yards to 90 yards, then loaded up and started trying pick them off. I placed the peep on the second elevation mark at the bench and place the first bird right on top of the front sight. Gotta tell you after shooting the paper I had zero confidence - that I might break this first bird at 75 yards. But, I did! it broke great - I really did not see it break but I heard it - I heard the ball contact the bird - when the smoke cleared it was gone. Now that really help the confidence. From there and taking my time I went on to get each one of the birds. Now at this moment I am feeling great about PRB shooting.

The gun is standing here in the back room with me and I am really questioning whether I really want to take it apart and clean it.... What if it doesn't go back in the right place or when I clean it how long will it take me to get it to shoot that well again.

I keep thinking what did I do wrong on paper and so right on the birds? By the way at 75-90 yards the birds are really small. Makes you really want to do the Semi thing - but I do not think they would let me shoot Rondy shoots with a scope...

Anyway it was a great day.... of course any day you get to shoot is a great day....

Nice report Mike! By the looks of the target most of the shots are with in about 3inches, so when you hit them birds you had a little leeway on them, more room for error, and them few inches either way hit there mark, so Im sure you were still shooting the same, but it does boost your confidence when you hit what your aiming for! Them darn spots on the Target can drive a man crazy sometimes!
Done take it out on your MLer, give her a good bath, she still loves ya! LOL
(BP)

it looks like you had a lot of fun. Is there a reason why you use so little powder?

cayugad

Since I am loading T7-3f I am really trying not to burn up the cotton patches - that is why I have to put the wonder wad in.

When I tried Pillow Ticking - I melted it...

60 grains is giving me on average 1750 fps

When I load GOEX 3f - I have to put in about 80 grains to get the same velocity. Does that sound about right?

Breechplug

OK BP - I cleaned it but I was still having second thoughts..... but I am going to run out to the Rock Pit on Saturday and shoot it some more - you want to go?

That does sound about right. If you have some wads, stick them between the Triple Seven and the patch. When I shoot Triple Seven in my CVA Mountain Stalker I had the same problem with blown patches. That solved that problem. Have fun shooting again..

cayugad

Dave that is what i am doing... I place the was on top of the powder then the patch... correct?

Yes that is correct. And it is still burning up the patch? WOW!! Are these store bought prelubed patches?

cayugad

Yes they are - Ox Yoke prelubed patches. And then I add a patch solution to them to moisten them even more. The wad is also lubed with wonder lube.

This pretty typical....



This is what they can look like when I get them to hot...