shot the .45 caliber today

[pilgrim]

      Today for the first time in a couple of years,  I went to the range to shoot.  I took the new to me 45 caliber, named  Misfit.    There was still snow on the ground and it was 35 degrees.  Normally  I get cold hands in such weather,  but today I was anything but cold.  The  range only has 50 yard and 100 yard  backstops.  Sort of wish I had not left my membership in another club lapse. 
 
      I put up two targets on the 50 yard range.    I shot a clearing shot to be sure the rifle would not blow up in my face.  Then I started to shoot.  With the .440 round ball,  I needed to clean the barrel after every shot.  So I shot a total of  2 shots with the .440 rb.  They shot three  inches  to the right of  center in a 1 1/4" group.    No big deal with this,  just a minor adjustment ,  to be done later after finding the preferred load combo.  I was  using 40 gr 3F.  Next time I will try using 45 gr 3F and so on  until I can get a group closer than the 1 1/4"  2 shot group it shot today.    Then I switched to the .443 round ball.  Same patch and powder charge.  These shot were  1 1/2"  from the right of center and 2 1/2"  low from center.  Had the same 1 1/4"  grouping.    I did have two  fliers that were my fault and not the rifle or load combo. 

     The only real problem I had was with the percussion caps.  The #11 Remington's were to small for the nipple.  So  I tried the Remington  #11  (F.C.)  UMC  percussion caps and they fit  perfectly.   I did not try any  CCI  caps.   So all in all I had a good day,  until I got home and scanned to targets and my computer gave grief about saving the scanned targets.  That's is why they are not posted here.

[Watauga]

pilgrim, Sounds like a productive day! And good grouping  To start with

[Patocazador]

Glad you shot it and enjoyed it.
I have three .45s and have to swab after each shot for them all. The smaller the diameter, the more the fouling affects them.

1 1/4" groups don't sound that bad to me. If they were offhand, then that was fantastic.

[flintboomer]

That sounds like a really good start and a good day.

When I took my new to me Zouave musket to the range I was getting groups of about 10 inches at 50 yards, so 1 1/4 sounds pretty good in comparison.

[pilgrim]

    I shoot mostly from some sort of a rest.  I am so shaky, if I stood inside a barn I would miss the walls and roof  but probably shoot myself in the foot.   Only on rare occasions an I get enough composure and self control to shoot offhand and hit a 10" target, somewhere.

[pilgrim]

   Next time at the range,  I will be prepared,  just got back from Dixons with .015 patches.   Will be trying different patches to see which the rifle likes better.  So  between  .010,  .015  and .020 something should  work.  And maybe even lube some  .025 pillow ticking so I can cover all the bases.  Just do not want so tight a load that I need get out the wooden mallet.   Also got more .440  rb.  They had .445 rb but see no reason to get that involved since I have a good selection of patch sizes.

[Hanshi]

Pilgrim, you are well on the road to super success.  A 1.25" to 1.50" at 50 yards is excellent.  You have to remember that those primitive iron sights are not really conducive to precision shooting.

I never have, don't and probably never will take a hunting shot from an unsupported, standing, offhand position.  If I'm standing I'll use a tree for support, or like I have done in the deer woods, drop to a kneeling position.  I have eye problems due to floaters and, what the doctors told me was, "essential tremors".  The term just really means that they don't know what caused them.  I have an idea and it involves possibly three different things, my severe ra, severe degenerative spinal disease and (maybe) a pain med I was on years ago.  But I can still shoot.  I have a target posted on my shop wall of a 50-60 yard target I fired with a Virginia, .50 flintlock.  The 5 shot group is 1.25".  So be proud of the accuracy you're creating. 

[pilgrim]

  I am satisfied with the rifles accuracy,  it is ME  that is the problem,  the NUT  pulling the trigger.  I need to relax,  aim, squeeze and follow thru,  then I will be  ecstatically satisfied.