KDElite in the Rock Pit
 

It started out to be a great day here, so the go shooting bug was really biting... I finished my home duties about noon and the weather looked fine. I decided to go shoot.... Chose not to go to the farm as the fields would have been a muddy quag-meyer... Headed to the Rock Pit.

GM54-120 and I had completed a trade that garnered me a big bunch of Nosler Sporting Handgun 40-200 grain HP's and some TAC-XT 40-185 grain Modified bullets. When I first looked at the Nosler's i was really impressed by the looks, feel, and finish of the bullet. My first thought was wow! these look way better than the Hornady 40-200 XTP. I really wanted to see how well they shot.

Grabbed my gear and the Knight DISC Elite and headed to the rock pit... Like I said it was beautiful here in Moscow and as I went east past Troy - it started to look a little more gloomy. But, I was in motion so I kept going.

Got to the rock pit and got things set up... the weather was holding but... and that is one thing about northern Idaho, if you wait a minute here - the weather will change!

So anyway... got all the gear out and set up a target shooting range....



I did set a target out along with the clay pigeons and I had planned on shooting the target first... but those bird were really calling loudly. So I decided they had to go first so I could concentrate on the target... Good decision on my part....
After the setup of the range... I got the gear out of the truck and got my work bench set up. An old wool Army blanket laid out on the tailgate makes a great working surface.... Got everything out and loaded up the first Nosler....



Picked out the first of a group of 3 birds and decided the higher one had to go first as was up the rock wall higher and might get away. Set the Knight in the front rest and the rear bag and took aim on the higher bird. Since this gun is sighted in with a 6" Point Blank Range... everything @ 100 yard has to sit on top of the crosshair... the infamous 6 o'clock hold. Here is a couple of pictures that try to show what the bird looked like...



Finished working the birds over and by that time... the weather was getting more overcast and the wind was coming up... but not to worry the birds or the hearts on 9 big game animals were blown up and the wall was clear on any other big game animals....



Time was running out though - I was sure the rain was coming so I got right to shooting the target.... Decided again to go with the Noslers first. I loaded up the first of what planned to be a 3 shot group... held the orange ball on top of the crosshair and touched it off.... I like that shot! Loaded the second and began feeling light rain drops. So quickly got that shot off and decided to go right to the modified TAC-XT's.

I am still not sure what this bullet is or was... Scott had sent a small sample of them in the trade stock... We will have to get him to explain what they are and what modification to the nose (hollow point) that he made....

But by dang! those bullets shot very well; both the Nosler's and the TAC's. After the second shot with the TAC - it really was time to get packed up - I was going get wet shortly.

Scott... the MMP's worked perfectly with both bullets.... The sharp edges on the heel of the Noslers did not present a problem in the MMP.

Here is the target....



This target shooting will be continued at a later date... I really like both bullets.

One more thing.... indexing; someone?? a long time ago mentioned indexing when loading the sabot. Since that time I have followed that advice and index every sabot I load... with a petal placed in the bore directly above the ram rod. The the sabot and projectile are pushed down the bore with a thumb.

One last thing - I did shoot T7 and I wanted to show the patches that I used for all the shots I took today in the rock pit. There really is no need for a new windex patch for each and every shot....



Also look at the spent primers.... the Lehigh BP Conversion is awesome and not only are the primers clean but so is the breech... Wish the conversion would leave the bore that clean...
A shooting day is always a great day - even if it rains a bit...

Sabotloader,

That looks like a good day to me. I too love shooting clay birds. Much more fun to shoot than just paper. Those .45s sure are intriguing...

I too index my sabots. I don't know if it actually makes a difference but it at least makes me feel like I'm doing something productive. I've tried indexing them two different ways but ended up settling on the right hand method.

Very informative post. I know how the Barnes 155gr TAC's are modified but I will let GM54-120 explain his method.

Darn good shooting there. now i really want a .45 lol ..Ray

That is some great shooting, and it looks like a lot of fun. Glad you got to get out and shoot.

Very nice sabot.

Really enjoyed that report Sabotloader. I wonder how those Noslers would do in a hunting situation. Torture test anyone?

I am thinking about heading the the Strychnine Gravel pile where my favorite 'clay' water bare is - just to do that very thing.....

Hope I can get there early next week....

+ I want to find out or as in the game Horse I need to prove my target to myself or did I just get lucky???? maybe I was 'feeling lucky' today...

Nice shooting Sabot. I really like that thole stock, looks good!

TNHagies

Is there a reason you decided to index as the picture on the right? What did you find to make you feel it might be better?

2 reasons:
1- I went to the range one day just for the sole purpose of determining if 'indexing' made a difference. I didn't see the BIG improvement in consistency I was hoping for but I did see a little better results from that method on the right.

2- I line up the gap in between the petals with the blade of the front sight. It's easier to keep it consistent that way than the other method. Really, between the two methods I didn't see much change but there was a small, albeit noticeable improvement from not indexing at all.

I've just come to the conclusion that in Muzzleloading, (as with many other areas of life) consistency is key. The more things I can keep constant the better off I am.

Scott

sabotloader: Nice informative report ! :happy0001: Recently purchased a thumb hole from Knight for my .45 Elite, but haven't tried it yet. Really don't want to change a thing since it's shooting the Lehigh 185/200 and Barnes 195's so good with the regular stock.

Are you happy with the thumb hole.. and does it help your aiming /shooting ?

The 200gr Noslers look interesting... they certainly shot well for you. How do you think they compare with the 200 Lehighs ? They look to be shorter and maybe easier to stabilize in the 1:30 twist Knight. Can you post a pic that have the two side by side ?

Thanks... Rob

Nice shooting and i really like the looks fo the new Nosler 40-200s. They are getting some really good accuracy reviews at SML speeds too including a 300yard impact recovery. It held together better than i expected.

The modded bullet is a Barnes 40-155gr TAC-XP. I added a pure lead 22cal North American Arms BP ML bullet to the hollow point. It left enough room for a shallow hollow point. I actually got the idea from another bullet Lehigh offers. I wanted a heavier bullet without the added length. Im still perfecting the method to add the extra weight for use in the Lehigh 185gr DOA.

I shot many of them at paper but i didnt test them on media. Last year i let my buddy use one in my old Accura 45 but told him to make sure he hit bone to insure expansion.

This is the carnage of the exit wound at just over 150yards with around 105-110gr of BH209.


I wasn't sure it would expand but this pic sure looks like it expanded this time. ;)

I know exactly what you mean... this particular rifle has been mounted in a regular Knight camo pistol grip stock. It was dead accurate in that stock. Actually this was the first trip to the woods with the thumb hole stock. It is really a Extreme thumb hole that I had altered to fit the forked recoil lug of the Elite. When this barreled action was in the pistol grip stock... the barrel floated as Elites do. Installed in the TH the barrel sits flat in the barrel channel the whole distance no floating at all. The barrel is supported equally and helps dampen vibrations + absorbs some of the barrel heat with moving the stock. Really do like it.... And I now know it is pretty accurate.

It was not to far back there that I firmly would have said that I am not intersted in a thumbhole, ESPECIALLY for hunting... but I started shooting a TH on the bench and i really feel that it gives you much more control over the gun, reduces some of the felt recoil and really helps in the alignment of the rifle (really reduces any canting left or right). I started hunting with a TH Omega a couple of years ago and then last year with a Knight - I am now good and comfortable with the TH.

I really like the design of the hollow point... the shape of the lead in the hollow point. It is sort of stepped... a wider opening sloped and closed down a bit to a more narrow HP. I think the design would insure very good and controlled expansion in an animal. The thing I do not know yet is how well will it stay together at ML velocities??? I am hoping to find that out next week... maybe. I know the 40/200 XTP stayed together better n than any other XTP that I have shot and consider it a 'tough' bullet, but I am thinking this one might be better. IF the appearance that the bullet presents is any indication. It just appears to be a well built, precise bullet.

Not sure there is a good way to compare the Lehigh to the Nosler. I still consider the Lehigh the superior bullet in contruction and terminal performance. In fact even now I would still think the 40/180 Speer Gold Dot/Deep Curl might be the better terminal performance bullet only because it is bonded, but that can easily change if the Nosler stays together in the torture test.

I think you are absolutely correct, the Nosler will stabilize from the Knight 1-30 very easily, with a wider range of velocities than would the Lehigh. The 1-30 twist was designed to handle this length of bullet in the first place.

And even though you might shoot the Nosler at less velocity - that could be good for it and it still could be a very effective bullet on deer class animals...

TNHagies

Thank you for getting back and thanks for the information... have to give the center set next time out....