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)

Well Breechplug, that load combo is the first and only one I tried in the barrel. How lucky is that?

I really wanted to shoot GOEX FFFg in this barrel. But I'm down to my last can and didn't want to burn it up in a range session right before the season. I'll be getting my annual "Christmas Case of GOEX" pretty soon. Then it will be time to make big smoke.

Very good!! Myself, i sure would be proud had i built that rifle!

Very nice semi, very very nice.

When I used to shoot my "Poor Boy" and PRB's all I would use is Goex Triple Fg, I liked it way better the 2F, 90grs of 3F and the PRB would smoke the bull at 75yds and the 100yd groups were'nt bad either.
Your ready and when you get to fine tune that baby Im sure you'll get er done.
Our Rifle season opens on the 17th, I cant wait to get My Accura out for it's Tour of Duty!
Again, Good Luck and Best Wishes!
(BP)

:DOh Semi, I forgot to Mention "You Did'nt Build That":confused0024:
(BP)

Excellent Breechplug.

My daughter has a resturant and puts in 50-60 hour weeks. I can't tell you how pi$$ed she was when that idiot said that.

Awesome BP... :D

Semi,
Thats a great looking rifle as well as a great shooter. Congrats on a great build and shooter. I am impressed.

Semi that range report looks almost as good as the gun!!!

Nice shooting, love that rifle. I agree, if I can shoot 5 shots (not 2 or 3) into less than 2" at 100 yards, then I am very happy with that. Looking good for opening day!

Good shooting. I didn't realize your scope was mounted on the receiver. why didn't you go with a barrel mounted scope?

Awesome Van, Your whole process of the gun build and range report s have been nothing short of spectacular. Now finish this off with a harvest report.


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A barrel mount would work with a long 11 or 12" scope Pluckit. But would position a short scope too far forward for the proper distance between the scope and eye. I wanted to use a 4X ProDiamond. Anyway, it just seemed to me that it ought to be on the receiver. It looks good there.

It does have the disadvantage of requiring re-sighting with each change of barrel. But saves the hassle of acquiring a scope and the proper mount for each barrel shape, and drilling and tapping each barrel.

Maybe some scope ring extensions would help. To be able to change barrels without having to sight it in every time you do would be great.

It's no big deal really. Three or four shots and it's done.

Looks like you got a shooter. I figured the faster twist would be fine. :D