Can You Say "Happy Camper"?
 

Because that's what I am.

Yesterday I took the Swamp Dragon with the .50 caliber barrel to its first range session.



The scope was set for the 33" .54 caliber slow twist barrel. So I knew it would have to be adjusted for the new barrel.

I was pleased to see someone had left a large cardboard box on our rifle range. I put the box about twenty feet from the bench, loaded the Dragon with 85 grains of Pyrodex RS under a 300 grain XTP in a Harvester long black sabot and took a shot at the center of the two-foot high box.

Wow, a BIG adjustment was needed. The bullet just barely clipped the top of the box. So I made gross adjustments to the little Simmons 4X ProDiamond scope. Then I put a target on the 50 yard frame and took another shot with the same load.

It was on paper. After another scope adjustment I took five more shots. This is where the "happy camper" part comes in. Here's the 50 yard target.



Shall we try 75 yards?



How about 100 yards?



OH YEAH!

Now I know some of you guys have been posting those CVA/Blackhorn targets with two or three shots touching at 100 yards. But anytime I can consistently get five shots into less than two inches at 100 yards I'm happy.

Well, right then and there I decided to leave the .50 caliber barrel on the Dragon for opening day next Saturday.

So I tweaked the scope again - took five more shots at 100 yards - smiled - and cleaned the gun.

Semi

Awesome!!! Are you going to build more?

Well, I'm toying with the idea of building a handgun with the same type of action Sabotloader. If so, I will likely try an aluminum frame. I'll be adding different caliber barrels to the original Dragon, but have no need for another rifle.

Not bad for a coal burner.

Very impressive Semi. You did get my order right? :s2:

That is some very impressive shooting... and that load you have is a real deer taker. That will put a White tail in trouble. Congratulations on a fine build and a great rifle. Seeing a target like that must really give you a sense of accomplishment.

I'm ready to place an order! :D So sweet....

holy crap......thats great lol

Sometimes we don't like what targets tell us.

Take a look at target #2 - a vertical string less than 1/2" wide center to center.

Now look a #3 - a horizontal string about 3/4" tall center to center.

So, why won't this barrel shoot a five shot group that's 1/2" wide and 3/4" tall??
And how can a gun shoot a vertical string one time, then a horizontal string the next???

The answer is so obvious. It's the shooter, not the gun. :s2:

To paraphrase Shakespeare, "The fault, dear Semisane, is not in our barrel,
But in ourselves, that we shoot large groups."

Im glad you mentioned that and not me Semi:) Nice shooting and it looks like your ready for opening day.
Im a pyro rs shooter also, I had times where I had groups like this and upped the pyro to 90grs and the groups tightened, added a tooch more and they got a little tighter. Sometimes I refuse to blame the shooting on me untill I try all options.
I know you have way more experience than I do with that type of MLer, just thought I'd add my 2 cents.
Good Luck and Tag a Big One.
(BP)