groundhog wrote:Yeah! Single figure scores even zeros are not uncommon in service rifle, it got dropped in favour of the far more enjoyable Black powder match - still with open sights but shot prone from cross sticks.
groundhog wrote:Fair enough, Where do you shoot?
Gamerancher wrote:We are now way, way off topic.
Back to the original thread, there are a few blokes/blokettes that shoot the .44mag for both pistol caliber and rifle. They usually load up fairly hot loads to get the 200m rams. 240 grainers with 23.5 grains of 2205 tends to knock 'em over.
Gamerancher wrote:Back to the original thread, there are a few blokes/blokettes that shoot the .44mag for both pistol caliber and rifle. They usually load up fairly hot loads to get the 200m rams. 240 grainers with 23.5 grains of 2205 tends to knock 'em over.
The pistol caliber targets are 1/2 size and 1/2 distance, reduced loads, i.e. something like 7gr of trailboss or 6.5gr of AS-30 are more than adequate.
Gamerancher wrote:The full size rams @ 200m are "soft-set". The correct setting is just forward of topple point.
In the 500m competitions they are "hard-set" and require at least 1000ft/lb of energy to knock down reliably. To put that into context, a .243win cannot be relied upon to knock them down. As you can imagine, when set just forward of topple point they require a lot less.
Your current load would be more than adequate for the pistol caliber class and providing you have the elevation adjustment would more than likely be okay for the chickens, pigs and turkeys in the rifle class. You may just have to load 'em up for rams.
The contact details for the bloke running the CLAS Nationals at Little River next year are in the ad which can be found in the competitions section of the SSAA journal. Get in touch with Mark and see if there are any shoots coming up so that you may "try before you buy" so to speak.
If you think "plinking" is fun with lever-guns, have a crack at silhouette. The visual spectacle of falling / flying targets and the resounding clang in your ears can be very addictive.
We have been known to enjoy ourselves once the guns are put away also.
Gamerancher wrote:You don't need 1000ft/lb @ 200m. I was referring to what is needed @ 500m. The targets are set differently, please re-read my post.
200m is the distance for lever guns, 500m is for scoped high power, BPCR and service rifle.
"Soft-setting" makes them a lot easier to knock over, that is why even reduced loads in .30-30's will knock them over. I've knocked them down @ 200m with reduced .44mag loads. If you can get 240gr of lead to hit , it will work. The trick with the .44 is to get a load that gets out there with the elevation available with your sights.
I have been using .38-55's for a while now shooting reduced loads behind a 250gr cast bullet that is 100% effective on rams @ 200m.
If you have the means to make a full size ram target, including the correct size feet, it can be very useful for working out loads that work.