An interesting discussion topic, Mark. I'm interested to hear what others think about powder charge, velocity, wind effect, especially at the short range of table shooting. The light little ball of a .40 figures in too, so caliber choice is part of the chat as well.

Ok, here is where I'm setting with a load worked up to 65 grains of 2fg Goex, .395 ball, .018 pillow ticking patch lubed with bore butter.  The target shown is covering three other potential spotter targets, but I settled on the one shown above as my spotter target to do some serious practice on my next outing.  I was just letting the sight picture absorb into the center 10X from 50 yards.  Also, I was fighting a 20 to 25 mph head wind, but when I put shots number 5 & 6 at 11:00 o'clock using a 60 and 65 grain load,,, I finished out todays session with shots number 7 & 8 with a 65 grain load - both of which are one hole at 6:00 o'clock.  So it appears the 65 grain load is my new starting point.

Obviously I didn't spend a lot of time with shots 1 through 4 using (45, & 55 grains - just 2 shots each and didn't care for the results in the their spread), but the three 65 grain and one 60 grain shot have shown potential.

Snuffer,
I don't think you have reached your rifles potential yet.First I would move to FFFg powder and I would also move up into the 70-75 grain area. Keep expermimenting, up and down. I, and others, do not regulate our sights to point of aim. If you shoot into your spotter your sight picture will change as the spotter is shot away. I personally shoot to a 12 o'clock point about 1-1.5" above my spotter. At the matches you will see groups located all over the backer, not inside the spotter. Just like any sighting excercise, get your rifle to group and then move it to where you want it. If it is out of the spotter but close, you may want to leave it alone.
Mark
 

Thanks Mark, I will take your advice and run with it.

I'm also thinking I will need to move up to a .400 ball and/or at least a .020 patch.  While I'm at it I'll switch my lube to the Mink Oil from TOW.  I like that stuff better then the Bore Butter.

As a side note;  Is getting to a muzzle velocity of 2000 fps perferable as a minimum muzzle velocity in this game?

Snuffer,
.400-.402 ball with a .018-.020 patch will make a very tight load. You will probably need a loading mallet. I am using a .395 ball with .015 pre lubed Ox Yoke patches and 70 grs FFFg and not blowing patches. I can't speak to actual velocities but I think that will work itself out.
Mark

Mark, I also have a .40 cal Ed Rayl barrel and it seems to me his bore tolorance is a bit tighter then the Green Mountain Barrels.  I get good results with his barrel with a .395 & .018 patch.

My Rayl barrel does differ in that it has round bottom grooves .010 deep, and a 1 in 72 twist.  I use this as an offhand rifle and it'll accept any charge I throw down it from 40 to 70 grains, 2f and 3f.

I do see what you're say though.  I've got a friend who shoots a .40 and I know he uses .400 balls, so I will borrow some from him to test with.

Thakns again.

 

Snuffer I am shooting a 38 cal. 40 grains goex 3f. 375 ball .021 patch. Getting good results at 30 and 50.  Not blowing patches.

I measured from center to center the distance between each "2 hole shot group" and it's 2-3/8 inches.  The center "10X" is 1-3/16 inches (this is where I let my sight picture absorb into before pulling the trigger).  That's an awful lot of room inside that "10X" for drift (up / down, side to side).

I think my 65 grain load is solid.  It's at / or darn close to 2000 fps from what I gather from the Lyman Black Powder Handbook.

What I will change is my "spotter" target.  I will try an upside/down "V" with the black at the top. This should eliminate a lot of drift which I believe the current "spotter" target is subject to.

I will not change any sight settings other then drift [if needed].  I won't mess with elevation at all.

This is my plan for my next outing, which probably won't happen until June 25th (next Wednesday).




 

smokinbuck wrote:

Snuffer,
I haven't asked, and you haven't said, what type of front sight are you using? If you are using a blade with a large sighter, even though it looks like you are holding a consistant sight picture there is room for a lot of movement. You might think about a post and bead front with a round spotter. With the right size spotter it takes a lot of guess work out of the equation.
Mark
 

Mark, it is a brass blade.  The Post/w Bead would be better, I agree.  I will set to work on that tonight after I get home from work.  Thanks! 

was reading  questions and answers on ball size and patch ..all 40 cal or any other barrels depends on the drill bit size. our old buddy paul griffith showed me barrels by 3 differnt makers all drilled with the same size bit. they could differ by .005 or more just because of the differnce in diameter of the bits.next is the width  of the lands and groves.next  is the debth of the grove.last is was it lapped and how much..what i have found out is you got a getz -griffith rayle etc barrel ask maker  you will find out that all the barrel calibers   have a sweet ball /patch and powder charge that everyone has shot for quite a years.