Sighting in of old guns and loads

[sw]

The past few years have been overly busy. My only smokeless ML shooting is sighting-in day or confirming sighted-in day. This year, different barrels on different guns, changed scopes, etc..
chrono tripod loaned out so didn’t chrono.
living in rural Arkansas, I drove two miles to my daughter’s farm and set up my shooting table, Hart Adj rest/#13. In just 1 1/2 hours, frontal passage and wind went from 5 mph out of the S to 8-10 out of the north. I was shooting directly to the East.

Gun 1. H&R HR (20”), 1.5x4.5 Weaver Classic Extreme. 37g VV110, knurled 200SST, LBHS, wool wad, 2” hi @100,solid 1” 3-shot groups in the wind and 4 1/2 per. 200 yds 4” low, lot of crosswind effect. 2 1/4” 3-shot gp which is fine for the scope and conditions. The 20” barrel gets just about 2330’/sec with this load.

Gun 2. Laminate stocked, bedded, 1.5# SSS comp trigger, tight PN 26” barrel , 2x8 Duralyt, RB BP, ventliner, CCIM, 37g VV110, LBHS, wool wad, 195BARNES knurled, cloverleaf at 100, 1 1/2” @ 200. Wind and low BC but the 195Bs seem to not drop as much as they should with the published BC. Always a pass-thru and normally DRT. Never lost a deer to these. 4” low at 200. Wind was getting strong. I use VV110 instead of 58-62g of H4198 or the 10/50 load of 4759 or VV110/4198 because, I’m within 100-150 ‘/sec with extreme temp insensitivity, lower recoil, and tighter groups. This load produced 2510-2520’/sec with 200SSTs, maybe now with the 195Bs , 2540ish.

Gun 3. RBs OBO stocked, looser 45 cal 26” PacNor. 2x8 Duralyt, 2.5# SSS std trigger. RB BP/Ventliner. 225 40 cal AccuMax sized to 0.4005 , knurled HLBS, wool wad, CCIM. Strange load of 7/54 5744/H4198. EST velocity 2500-2550.
At 100, all 3 bullets barely touching. 2” high. Started misting and I shut down. BC is reported at 0.315. I’m estimating 2 to 2 1/2” low at 200.

These are gentle loads. Low recoil, plenty accurate (sub-MOA), more than enough energy to kill a white tail out past 300 yards.
incidentally, I had to stop typing this post in order to shoot a nice 8-pt. 50 yards, SWAT crossbow, Goldtip Titanium BH. Also with a Duralyt 2x8/HHA Optimizer.

Yes, I’d like a really nice, lightweight 40 cal built by Richard; but these guns work, as primitive as they are.

[ET]

Thanks for providing that detailed and informative post.
It was an educational and enjoyable read.

Ed

[dannoboone]

Please Steve, you're making me feel old! It doesn't seem like it
was THAT long ago when Brother Rick was leading the charge for
converting our 10MLII's and Rem 700ML's to .45's and they were
considered "state of the art". OK, by some standards they may
seem primitive, but still light years ahead of my old side lock.
They will never be in the "one mile shoot" or even the 1000 yard
shoots, but will efficiently take deer at ranges competing with
most center fires.

[Rifleman]

Great post Steve and you know what even an unmodified Savage 10MLII is quite capable of taking deer to 300 yards with no problem. And when you consider the cost of some of these new custom guns, a used Sav 10MLII still makes alot of sense for most hunters.

[Richard]

I talked Steve out of the new gun as what he has now is more than ample for the ranges he shoots!

[sw]

I’m still struggling with the notion of selling 3 ML2 45 conversions and helping fund a lightweight, 40 rifle. After season, I’ll do some serious 200-300 yard shooting with my 40 shooting 225 AccuMaxes out of my 40. Then I’ll decide.

[Rifleman]

If you do decide to sell Steve, I would be interested in purchasing one.

[sw]

Nov 8, 2019 7:35:12 GMT -5 Rifleman said:

If you do decide to sell Steve, I would be interested in purchasing one.

Dwight, I’m pretty sure I will. Will be in touch.
Steve

[billc]

Steve, I might be interested in purchasing one too. Bill

[sw]

I’ll keep both your names and will contact either way.

[sw]

RB’s 45 just keeps doing it. 5 deer >150 “, 2>160, 1>170. All, 200SSTs.
This was Sat morning.

[ET]

Nov 11, 2019 10:12:41 GMT -5 sw said:

RB’s 45 just keeps doing it. 5 deer >150 “, 2>160, 1>170. All, 200SSTs.
This was Sat morning.

Congrats on another successful hunt.

[mrbuck]

Super bucks ! And that rifle is very sharp also !
Chris

[billc]

Very nice! Well done!

[DBinNY]

Congrats Steve. That's a dandy. No doubt RB is smiling from above.

[quillen52]

Everyone bad mouths the sst but sounds like it does well for you. Velocity of your load? Did it exit or fragment? Great deer!

[sw]

Nov 11, 2019 19:11:14 GMT -5 quillen52 said:

Everyone bad mouths the sst but sounds like it does well for you. Velocity of your load? Did it exit or fragment? Great deer!

It works better than I’ll give it credit. I much prefer the terminal performance of the 195B, 240 CEB. I may get to where I give it the credit it deserves.
It went in the neck area just forward of the shoulder and exited just forward of the diaphragm, as I’d planned. Actually, it exited the ribs but was stuck under the skin.
2710’/sec with 10/50 VV110/H4198 but I used 10.2g VV110 so likely 2720-2730.

[jims]

Doing and shooting well.

[quillen52]

Nov 11, 2019 19:25:33 GMT -5 sw said:

Nov 11, 2019 19:11:14 GMT -5 quillen52 said:

Everyone bad mouths the sst but sounds like it does well for you. Velocity of your load? Did it exit or fragment? Great deer!

It works better than I’ll give it credit. I much prefer the terminal performance of the 195B, 240 CEB. I may get to where I give it the credit it deserves.
It went in the neck area just forward of the shoulder and exited just forward of the diaphragm, as I’d planned. Actually, it exited the ribs but was stuck under the skin.
2710’/sec with 10/50 VV110/H4198 but I used 10.2g VV110 so likely 2720-2730.

[/quote

Thanks for the reply. I've never tried the 200 sst on game but think I may go back to some of the lighter saboted bullets. I'm interested in 300 yds or less.

I really enjoy and value your posts.