Finally got to shoot the Mongrel .36

[hotfxr]

I finally got the time to shoot my Mongrel .36. I headed up to the distant gun club to meet with the frontloader group at their monthly shoot. All told, in the rain, the number of shooters that showed up, including me, was 1. These shots are at 50 yards from a rest.



.350 lead balls with .010 patch, 30 grains powder. The first shot was the one to the left. The bottom right is 5 shots after changing my point of aim a bit. (The one above and to the right is from my .45 cal half stock that I will address later) The group is 1 1/4" between the 4 and the one. Kudos for Mongrel Mojo!



These were with .350 machined brass balls patched with the same patches and the same powder load. They did not fit nearly as tight as the lead balls, plus they are a bit lighter than the lead ones. They were a bit wild. The distance between the top and bottom is 3 1/2". This will take a touch more tweaking to get the right combo to bring them together.

I also fired my .45 half stock for the first time. I obviously need to adjust the sights. With 45 grains of powder, a .440 ball and a .015 patch, my first shot was 12" down and 7" to the left. I was going to do some filing and tapping, but they brought the Hunters Safety Class out to the range and my shooting was done for the day. 

All and all a good day shooting in the middle of a rain storm. 

[graybear]

I figure that any time you can go shooting is a good day. Pretty good shooting for the first time out w/the firesticks. It will get better the more you shoot & find the magic combination for each gun.

[Hanshi]

How about some more info on that .36, maybe more pics.

[hotfxr]

How about some more info on that .36, maybe more pics.

Ah Sensei, I am glad you asked. Before yesterday I had about 20 shots through it. Mostly showing it off to friends and letting them do the shooting. But that was with 20 grains or less in my front yard, at a friends ranch and always at some large inanimate target. You know, stumps, fence posts, one of my brothers in law, things that don't move and don't let you know how accurate it really is.
Yesterday, taking time out from practicing gun takeaways and edged weapon fighting, I took 6 shots at the first target, 3 at the second one (with the brass balls, now when someone says I have a set of brass ones, they will be stating a fact.    ) and hit the 100 yard gongs 5 out of 5. In the spirit of full disclosure, they were all from a bench.    Anyway, here are some pics for you to peruse;










It is stamped with the name "Lange".

As proclaimed by the mixed heritage canine purveyor of fine firearms, it is in the spirit of an 1830's Lancaster and I do love it so. 36" X 3/4" barrel, maple stock with a walnut nose cap, 13" LOP (Which actually is a bit small for me but it still feels fine), and this incredible finish on the barrel. Mike said it was actually a mistake due to the humidity in IA when he browned the barrel, but I along with everyone who has seen it absolutely love it. This was one of the rifles he made for sale at Friendship last summer and I was able to snag it before he made the long, arduous, cross country journey over there. Probably saved him from being scalped by Indians by reducing the weight of his load. But hey, that's just the kind of guy I am.

And since I was a bit camera happy today, if anyone has ever wondered how I came up with the name "HOTFXR", here is the inspiration;



1990 HD FXRS Lowrider with the only things left stock are the frame, lower end, brakes & transmission.
Now, unfortunately, back to work.

Side note: Hawken50 & Red Badger, et al, Sorry about the last picture of the definitely "not period correct" scooter, but I just could not help myself. 

[Watauga]

 hotfxr that new Rifle of yours gets better looking every time I see another picture if it!

"Mike said it was actually a mistake due to the humidity in IA when he browned the barrel, but I along with everyone who has seen it absolutely love it."
hotfxr, He told me the same thing but like you I think it looks like an "Antique" with the advantage of being a NEW barrel!
Plus the not worrying about fingerprints etc.. is an advantage.

[Baldy]

Iowa??  Mike is in Indiana
It is even worse there.

[hotfxr]

Iowa??  Mike is in Indiana
It is even worse there.

Sorry  And I should know better, my son lives in Iowa. I meant to type IN. Doesn't really matter, I didn't even realize there were a whole bunch of states in the middle anyway.      

[Dogshirt]

Wait. You mean there are states on the OTHER side of the Rockies?

[hotfxr]

Wait. You mean there are states on the OTHER side of the Rockies?

Apparently so.     People living out there and everything. And though it is news to me, I have been told that it is true.         

[Hawken50]

    Hotfxr no need to worry about the hcpc fxr. I'm pretty sure Jim Bridger rode one......

[Hanshi]

Now that is what I call a fine trade rifle of the Pa style.  The only complaint I have with it is that it is not mine.  My .36 is a SMR.  Twenty grains 3F gives squirrel accuracy out way beyond 75 yards.

[William]

That is just one gorgeous rifle!  A picture like that deserves to be on the cover of a magazine or at least a catalog, at least that's the way I see it.

[DandJofAZ]

Bike is OK, it's a V not the other not mentioned configuration!!

Doug

Like Mike's rifles..
Grandson and I both have one, Thanks Mike.

[hotfxr]

That is just one gorgeous rifle!  A picture like that deserves to be on the cover of a magazine or at least a catalog, at least that's the way I see it.

He does do some fine, fine work. Of course he'll say that they're just OK. I think you could say he is truly proficient at his job. And we are a happier crew because of it.

[Mongo40]

I love the color of the wood. is it stained or just oiled???