Thank you.

I built this about 10 - 12 years ago and haven't shot it much over this time.  With the price of powder these days, it may just start seeing a lot of use.  It might just make a good Table Rifle as well? 

Seems like the older I get the more of them "somewhat fliers" show up?


RB

RB, as long as we can keep those fliers in the black a bit longer.


Thanks Ken. I've always been a fan of just a basic rifle that will hopefully perform well when I'm done with it.  This particular rifle started out as an idea of how a small bore (.40 cal) with 1 in 72 twist, 0.10 depth round bottom rifling would perform as a 25 yard offhand. Everything I thow down it (powder wise) seems to give good results. It doesn't do to bad at 50 yards either provided the wind isn't to bad.  I'm having fun with it.

Kermit wrote:

Joe, was that slow-twist .40 a special order? Most of the .40's I've run across are considerably faster, like 1:48.

Yes, it was.  Ed Rayl did it for me.  He also did one in a .45 that I built for a fellow muzzle loader shooter that was .45 x 7/8" x 38" long, with .010 depth round bottom rifling.  After the build we took it to the range and Stan (the guy I made the rifle for) stacked 5 shots almost in the same hole from 25 yards off the bench using (if I recall) just 45 grains 3f Goex, and a .440 patched ball.  He then had me build him a plains rifle in .54 caliber for deer hunting season (though a Green Mnt Brl was used in that build), and he still uses it to this day for the muzzle loading deer season.

I've always been impressed with what I read of Ed Rayl's barrels, and after experiencing two of them, the reputation is well earned IMHO.

 

Shot this target last night (25 yards offhand) after work with my .40 Cal Ed Rayl barreled rifle (40 grains 2f Goex, .395 Ball, .017 spit patch)...  I'm happy with this load!

I don't expect this kind of shooting offhand every time out, but I know what this rifle is capable of, and what I'm capable of every once in a'while when wind and light conditions are right.




 

Good target! I don't mind those "somewhat fliers" when they are in the nine ring as long as there isn't too many of them.

RB

Gotta Love the 40's. i have one in the making. sold mine years ago and regretted it since then.

Virginiarifleman wrote:

Candle Snuffer, i know Ed Personally. great guy and barrel maker.

I sure like his work.

I prefer to keep my offhand close to the trigger guard having the weight of the barrel hang seems most steady for me. You have to keep the rifle in the plam of your hand if shooting NMLRA matches I also like to get my elbow directly under my offhand you really don't want the elbow off to the side pushing at an angle. This may seems a little awkward at first but with practice it becomes very steady. You may need to re-positon your feet to find your natural target alignment, relax almost sag into positon rest on bones not muscles. A good offhand shooter looks almost sloppy while shooting but who cares as long as you punch out the center of the target. Works for me anyway your milage may vary!

Richard

Of course in my profile photo I'm holding in tight, wouldn't that figure?   

flinch - verb  1.  make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise, fear or pain.  (this happens to us mere mortals) ;-)  I'm sure if you watch this weekend I'll flinch at least once or twice in the 14 Aggs, 43 Matches & 290 Shots.