MK-85 @ the Rock Pit
 

It really a nice day here in Idaho, so I really needed to go do some shooting. It is theraputic for the soul in these dark days of January.

I really wanted just to go out and have some fun... recreational shooting + I wanted to do some more shooting with the MK. Before the fun shooting I did decide that I wanted to test my theory or thoughts about being able to interchange between the Lehigh 50 cal Sabotless and the Lehigh .458/277 gr. DOA. They are very close to the same weight so I was hoping the POI would be near the same. That way i could use the same rifle with two bullets, depending on what I wanted to shoot.

I removed the 209 setup from the gun and reinstalled the percussion system. This is what I would use during hunting season with this gun and I really do not mind shooting the #11 Mag caps. The gun is going to get dirty in the breech no matter which one that I shoot. For this target shoot I decided to back the powder load back down to 100 grains of T7 also. I have been accused of shooting much powder more than once.

When I got to the rock pit it seems I was not the only person that thought it was a nice day to shoot. It looked like someone had called a meeting in the pit. So I parked along side the barrier and waited a turn to get in. A few minutes later one vehicle of 3 people loaded up and pulled out so I moved mine in asked the kids that were shooting if they minded sharing. They said no problem, which was good because it sounded like there was 2 or 3 groups of people shooting in the upper pit also...

Set up the target @ 50 yards and the Chono at about 10/12 ft. as normal. I did pop three or four #11 caps prior to loading but I did forget to run a dry patch to get out as much X-treme as i could. I think that lead to my problem with shot #1 on the target. I just hate shooting for record or hunting on a clean bore and it looks like I paid for it. After that, the next three shots went real well considering all that was happening around me. Do not think the college kids I was sharing the pit with had ever seen a ML being shot before and they were really interested in the Chronograph and how it worked.

That brings me to shot #5, I have not got a good reason that it jumped so high in velocity above the sabotless. I really did not think I was loosing that much pressure from the sabotless bullets. They loaded very well and felt very strong good going off. Anyway i was dissappointed, but decided to go on with the testing. Glad I did, you can see the next three shots fell in place just fine and the velocities seemed to be what I would expect. But.... I am not sure what happened with #5.

After shooting the target, I took 12 clay pigeons down to the rock wall and placed them in various places and elevations. I started shooting the sabotless first.... and OK I could not handle that slow of a velocity so I did move the volume measure to 110 grains... It made me feel better - so feeling better I knew I would shoot better - right?

Had no problem with the first 5 pigeons with the sabotless bullets, the 6th bullet was shot by one of the college students, he really wanted to shoot an muzzleloader. So I told him to stand the bird on top of the front sight and not to worry about lining the peep and hood up his brain and eyes would do that. The MK shoots the sabotless right at 1 3/4 to 2" high @ 100. I also tried to tell him is was a smooth light (3lbs) trigger pull, but that really didn't mean much to him. Well I be darned if he did not break the bird. He was more excited than I but now the whole group of college kids thinks there is nothing to shooting a ML... oh well!!!

Next I switched to the .458/277 grain Lehigh and a MMP Orange sabot. I missed the first two shots using the same hold as I would with the sabotless. First shot... I thought OK my fault... second shot the Kids said I was just barely over the top of the bird. So then I put and air gap between the front bead and the bird - no sweat from then on.... they all broke just fine.

Here is the information if you want to take the time to sort it all out...

Great shooting as usual Sabotloader. wow#5 really spiked. nice looking rifle also. Ray

Shot #5 is one of two things. A different volume load of powder. Or a different powder all together. Just my opinion

Being open sights.. #5 does not surprise me at all. It could of been something as simple as crowding the peep sight, even canting the rifle, just any little thing. I personally think that is some great shooting. I'd be proud to show that off to people. Also that load you were shooting would stop anything in North America. Those velocities are impressive.

I question for you. I know your big with the bolt guns, and such. But are you not surprised sometimes at how simple and yet effective the old technology open breech rifles are. And really, how much longer did it take to clean that rifle, as say your Triumph or Omega?

Great shooting. You really are a good shot. And I mean that. A lot of people like to shoot. But not everyone can shoot well.

I almost went shooting today. It was 9º F above but there was a hard north wind and it was snowing off Lake Superior something terrible. Plus I would have had to put on snow shoes to stomp a target out there. And I slipped but caught myself on ice today. Tonight the knee is all swollen and is kind of hurting. Good thing I didn't push it too hard today. Although I shoveled snow this morning and we got another four inches this afternoon. Just can't win.

The impact point on the #5 shot wasn't what i was talking about.it was the FPS increase. maybe the chrono had a blip? i don't know, all the other reading were very close. and as usual his shooting skills were excellent,especially with a peep sight and not a scope.. good job Sabotloader! Ray

builder459 / Grouse

I remember when i read the chrono - i was really surprised actually the student behind me was also surprised at the jump in velocity. I had know ideal where the bullet went until I checked with the glasses - it made sense that it would be higher on the target because of the velocity.

Tom and Ray, i know I had not switched powders at that point... so I am sure it still was T7-3f.... But as you know from shooting with me I am a tapper - i am consistent about it - but I am a tapper... problem with those kids standing and watching and all of us talking I am thinking that I must have got more powder down the bore than I normally do, and with 3f being the fine granular powder that it i could have been possible I got an little more than normal in and it is also possible that I acheived a tighter seat than I normally do. Anyway - I need to pay more attention... even when people are talking to me....

mike

Sounds like you had fun even with the students there! think of it this way, you more than likely hooked at least one of those kids on muzzloaders today! and that's a good thing lol! again good shooting!no BH i see today? :confused0024: Ray

cayugad

OK... so you inspired me! I was not going to clean the gun tonight as I am headed back to Kennewick on Sunday to babysit the grand kids on Monday.... it is an early release day for the Kennewick school system. So I was going to wait till I got home on Wednesday. But, I went ahead and cleaned it.

These are the patches from the operation...



The patches from left to right....

Patch 1&2 damp windex patches - ran both sides
Patch 3 dry patch both sides
Patch 4 damp windex patch - ran both sides
Patch 5 damp windex patch - ran both sides
Patch 6 dry patch - both sides

Two large patches - windex patches use to clean the bolt and the breech

Gun cleaned and dryed - 16 minutes but i was watching the new TV show 'Harry's Law' at the same time and I really got into it - it was good so I lost some time watching.

I expect I have another few minutes cleaning the nipple and BP that are soaking in 'Agent Orange' no not really.... they are in Zep Citrus cleaner and degreaser...

It was not hard to clean at all. With a plunger gun the breech is always the most messy.

Those MK-85's sure are nice. And your answers to Cayugad's questions will be interesting to hear.

How is the trigger on your new MK?? And make sure you try some conicals. My MK-85 loves conicals. Tom.

Great shooting, nice rifle too.