The New Huntmastersbbs!: Good news, bad news

This is topic Good news, bad news in forum Firearms forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.

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Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on November 13, 2005, 02:33 PM:

I have been working pretty hard, to get my old mil-surp shooting well enough to take hunting.

I think I've got it pretty well worked out, despite having found a huge problem.
I'll get to the problem later.

The 125 gr SP's were shooting pretty good, being pushed by 48 gr of 4895 (3" dot, 50yds prone, zero @ 500 arshins-410 yds).

I shot that group a couple days BEFORE the someone mentioned the problems with shooting prone in the desert... [Eek!]

but I had the wind at my back, so it was only really dusty for the first few shots (and after the first shot, I went and washed my mouth out, and got a tarp).
The M44s are known for their spectacular muzzle flashes, but it was like a bomb went off, and my muzzle was the center of it's 15 foot ring of concusion.

A switch was made, from .308 cal bullets to .310s, after reading an article in Reloader magazine, and slugging the barrel again and measuring the slug properly (this time).
I guess even .32 cal pistol, and 32/20 rifle bullets (.311-.312") have shown good results (on paper), dunno about varmints but most of my bullets end up shot at paper, rocks, or diggers, anyways. [Razz]

The next trip to the range was a bit frustrating, my grouping still seems somewhat eratic (a poor target choice didn't help), with 5 and 10 shot groups always seeming to be way wider than they are tall, (and because my 2 pound fixed bayonet has been removed) off to the right a bit.

This group was with the 123 gr Hornady SPs, backed by 47 gr 4895 (1" dot (I was aiming at the bottom left dot), 50 yds off the bench/bags, zero @ 300 arshins-246 yds).

The change from .308s to .310s alone brought the groups up, even starting with 45 gr of powder. Each grain increase seemed to bring it up about an inch with 47 gr not only grouping the tightest (2.47"), but bringing me right back up to the zero at 50 arshins (41yds) my gun was factory sighted for.

So it looks as if I had a load I could settle with, shooting as well as I could see a chipmunk at 50 yds, and more than "middle of animal" for deer and coyote sized targets.

Now all I needed to do it drift the front sight over, to compensate for the lack of bayonet, and go back to the range and make sure my windage is acceptable...

I take my rifle out to the shop, set it up on some blocks and bags, get out a nice drift and mallet, set the drift on the side of the sight and apply some pressure so it won't slip when I hit it, and SHWOOP I push the loose front sight right off my f*#~ing rifle! [Eek!]

That's bad news.

Good news is, I may have found out why my groups are a little rough. [Wink]

I looked around and found a few different "fixes" for the looseness. The first being, turning the sight around 180° and slipping it back into it's dovetail, and on up to staking the dovetail with a punch to tighten it, and/or J-B Weld in the dovetail.

I got lucky, and when I turned it around it was very tight, and drifted nicely all the way to the center (which should be just right enough of it's original position, to put me dead on).

One day at the range/pit, and I should be able to verify that "I am there"! [Big Grin]

Krusty

Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on November 28, 2005, 06:05 PM:

Well, I am there! [Big Grin]

3 shot group, 3" dot, 50yds - shootin' sticks and camp chair, 0 @ 100 arshins (72 yds).
Red says it measures .122".

To say that I am stoked, would be a huuuge understatement.

Krusty

[ November 28, 2005, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Krustyklimber ]

Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on November 28, 2005, 07:03 PM:

Congratulations, K. But, be careful. You are running out of excuses. LB

Posted by Cal Taylor (Member # 199) on November 28, 2005, 07:27 PM:

Good grief Krusty, I'd hate to see what you could do with a custom rifle and a scope.

Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on November 28, 2005, 09:12 PM:

"You are running out of excuses."

GOOD! [Big Grin]

Actually, real soon here, I am going to do away with my biggest excuse of all.
I'm goin' on a road trip, someplace with lots of coyotes. [Wink]

Wanna go?

Cal,

I am going to drop-off the bolt for the 722, to get the Sako extractor fix done (spending "more money than the last guy" denotes ownership in our family), and I'm asking for a decent scope for X-mas.
It's no custom, but it's always been a good shooter. [Wink]

When in Jan. do you want to get together, so you can see what I can do? [Smile]

Krusty

Posted by Doggitter (Member # 489) on November 29, 2005, 06:09 PM:

So where at's you headed K man? Inquiring minds want to know.

Posted by Krustyklimber (Member # 72) on November 29, 2005, 07:51 PM:

Doggitter,

You know, I haven't got a clue.

Krusty

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