Darkhorse
Handloader
- Mar 14, 2014
- 819
- 172
SJB358
Post subject: Re: My Squirrel & Turkey rifle...PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:39 am
Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:20 pm
Posts: 25796
Location: Northern Virginia
Beautiful rifle. How accurate is a rifle like that?
_________________
SEMPER FIDELIS
This is with the .40 cal Turkey and squirrel rifle. I have a nerve problem in my right shoulder, the same shoulder a LH shooter supports the rifle with and one or two good offhand shots are all I can manage. So I'm learning to shoot sitting in a chair with a shooting stick, not a bipod, just a single stick with a yoke.
The .40 is very sensitive to the powder charge. I once had it regulated out to 100 yards just by changing the powder charge. I committed it to memory. Boy was that stupid.
On the bullseye the top 2 shots are with 40 grains of 3F, and the bottom 5 are with 30 grains 3F. All are a little high so I shot the squirrel estimating the elevation. Somehow I managed to get them all in the head.
Later I remembered that 25 grains is the charge for 25 yards. Anyway this is an example of how well these rifles will shoot with the right shooter.
When I completed this rifle I still had good vision. The rifle, off a bench rest, has shot one hole groups out to 50 yards. A better shooter with good eyes could probably extend that distance.
I once shot a lot of blackpowder matches and I intended to start again. Like in centerfire it often depends on the quality of the parts and how they are put together. So this rifle was built to shoot. All parts were top of the line, Rice Barrel, Siler Lock and RE Davis set triggers. After assembly the lock was tuned, then the set triggers were tuned to the lock resulting in a smooth extremely fast mechanism.
The underlugs were slotted lengthwise and oversize. When a barrel gets hot, or in the sunshine, the metal tends to expand. Slotted underlugs prevent binding of the barrel when it moves.
Due to stock warpage the barrel now sits on 2 points, a bedded breech and the last 2 inches of stock is also bedded. Most builders do not even consider glass bedding as it is not authentic. But due to the stock problems it became neccessary.
I haven't shot her much in a few years due to a hip replacement and a knee replacement, but now I intend to make up for lost time.
Post subject: Re: My Squirrel & Turkey rifle...PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:39 am
Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:20 pm
Posts: 25796
Location: Northern Virginia
Beautiful rifle. How accurate is a rifle like that?
_________________
SEMPER FIDELIS
This is with the .40 cal Turkey and squirrel rifle. I have a nerve problem in my right shoulder, the same shoulder a LH shooter supports the rifle with and one or two good offhand shots are all I can manage. So I'm learning to shoot sitting in a chair with a shooting stick, not a bipod, just a single stick with a yoke.
The .40 is very sensitive to the powder charge. I once had it regulated out to 100 yards just by changing the powder charge. I committed it to memory. Boy was that stupid.
On the bullseye the top 2 shots are with 40 grains of 3F, and the bottom 5 are with 30 grains 3F. All are a little high so I shot the squirrel estimating the elevation. Somehow I managed to get them all in the head.
Later I remembered that 25 grains is the charge for 25 yards. Anyway this is an example of how well these rifles will shoot with the right shooter.
When I completed this rifle I still had good vision. The rifle, off a bench rest, has shot one hole groups out to 50 yards. A better shooter with good eyes could probably extend that distance.
I once shot a lot of blackpowder matches and I intended to start again. Like in centerfire it often depends on the quality of the parts and how they are put together. So this rifle was built to shoot. All parts were top of the line, Rice Barrel, Siler Lock and RE Davis set triggers. After assembly the lock was tuned, then the set triggers were tuned to the lock resulting in a smooth extremely fast mechanism.
The underlugs were slotted lengthwise and oversize. When a barrel gets hot, or in the sunshine, the metal tends to expand. Slotted underlugs prevent binding of the barrel when it moves.
Due to stock warpage the barrel now sits on 2 points, a bedded breech and the last 2 inches of stock is also bedded. Most builders do not even consider glass bedding as it is not authentic. But due to the stock problems it became neccessary.
I haven't shot her much in a few years due to a hip replacement and a knee replacement, but now I intend to make up for lost time.
