Target shooting.....

.....I hate target shooting.
After rabbit hunting I happened on an old rusting milk churn. I thought to myself that it has been a long time since I tested this .45. Besides I was not to happy with how it was shooting so I did some experimenting!
The picture.

Ok here goes.....the two top shots are on my old charge of 55 GRN of.....it's ok, I won't mention the powder size.
Aiming for inside the handle at 45 paces
I upped the charge to 70grn.
The next three are very close together and the last shot after drifting the front sight right slightly responded perfectly.
I am pleased with this and will make a special measure.

Before I left for home I loaded some 7&1/2 shot and shot an old drum at 25 paces.

I simply threw the gun up, no aiming as such, to kind of check gun fit in shotgun mode. I think it came out ok.

B.

I do more target shooting than hunting, and now with the band on lead for hunting it will really be limited. We call those varmint's milk cans over here. Where is Jess, miss seeing him?? Also is hunting season over, have not seen any game pictures from you lately?

Looks pretty good to me Mr B, I certianly would not like to bat against her.

Looks like a fruitful experiment Nathan.

Um, what was the powder granulation?

Keep posting, Skychief.

Is that .45 smooth or rifled.????? Didn't you see the warning label on that can of powder I have?? Sheeeesh.

Most of my target practice is geared towards hunting, and usually just before hunting season, making sure she's "on", sometimes experimenting with different loads, ball and patch combos, lubes, etc., to see if we can't tighten up the group a bit. Otherwise, yeah, I carry my rifles and muskets around the woods much more than shoot them. Pistols I might shoot more often.

Juice Jaws said:

I do more target shooting than hunting, and now with the band on lead for hunting it will really be limited. We call those varmint's milk cans over here. Where is Jess, miss seeing him?? Also is hunting season over, have not seen any game pictures from you lately?

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Jess was out with me earlier and after a short car journey opted for her to stay in the car.
She will be out with me tomorrow.

Skychief said:

Looks like a fruitful experiment Nathan.

Um, what was the powder granulation?

Keep posting, Skychief.

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You know really don't you.....it's the one everyone wants to use but is to sissy

Rat said:

Is that .45 smooth or rifled.????? Didn't you see the warning label on that can of powder I have?? Sheeeesh.

Most of my target practice is geared towards hunting, and usually just before hunting season, making sure she's "on", sometimes experimenting with different loads, ball and patch combos, lubes, etc., to see if we can't tighten up the group a bit. Otherwise, yeah, I carry my rifles and muskets around the woods much more than shoot them. Pistols I might shoot more often.

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Smoothrifle buddy. More useful

Hello Nathan! Hope you are well. I'm resurrecting this older thread to ask what weights of shotloads your 45 prefers, if you've done much experimenting.

Thanks very much.

You may see that I've started a thread asking about the use of smoothbores this size. After posting it, I've been searching your older posts about your 45. I may dub you an "enabler" if I read much more!

I came across the thread where you featured a picture of the great roundball group shot offhand at 50 paces. Looked like bad medicine for our whitetails here!

I can see how this size of smoothbore may be just the ticket for a fellow with retina problems versus a bigger boomer.

Feel free, even encouraged, to add any thoughts to my mentioned thread.

All the best, Skychief.

You made that milk can look like a cockeyed pig.

Hi skychief.

This old thread will have some of my British members running to their local chief constable! Apparently they don't like single ball coming out of a muzzleloader held via a shotgun licence.
That's despite the fact that any wording of the law that restricts the use of slug or ball is relating to loaded modern cartridges but hey ho, I had to stop doing it!
Shot wise it seems best with 5/8-3/4oz loads, English #7&#6. #7narfs too.
It gets the job done easy and does not recoil much.
How is your eye healing friend?

Some of those bullet holes look as if they were put there a long time ago.

Thank you my friend. Leave it to a government to spoil a good thing!! Thanks for the shot charge information.

Thanks for asking about the eye. It could be much worse and I'm happy with what I have for vision. That said, the dreaded, aggressive cataract which the doc all but promised is making its unwelcomed appearance! They claim, to have it, and the other eye's cataract remedied, is a walk in the park compared to what I've been through this year. So, not to worry.

All the best, Skychief.

Skychief said:

Thank you my friend. Leave it to a government to spoil a good thing!! Thanks for the shot charge information.

Thanks for asking about the eye. It could be much worse and I'm happy with what I have for vision. That said, the dreaded, aggressive cataract which the doc all but promised is making its unwelcomed appearance! They claim, to have it, and the other eye's cataract remedied, is a walk in the park compared to what I've been through this year. So, not to worry.

All the best, Skychief.

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All the best to you buddy.

B.

I had cataract surgery on both eyes about 4 years ago a month apart.
There was no pain, and the only downside was putting drops in my eyes for a month. I was able to see better immediately. Good luck if you have it done, I don't know why I waited so long to have it done.

Thanks, Britsmoothy, for providing MORE evidence to the "antis" that shooters break the law. You might not AGREE with it, but bragging about breaking it does NONE of us any good.
As for your statement "That's despite the fact that any wording of the law that restricts the use of slug or ball is relating to loaded modern cartridges" you are, of course, completely wrong, but that's to be expected when you think that it is o.k. to shoot holes other than in targets or quarry.

As for the statement " I hate target shooting " it beggars belief. You might not take part in (paper?) target shooting but why would you hate it? (My Club started target-shooting in 1874).
Looking at your milk churn TARGET perhaps a little more effort down at the range might mean that you would improve your groups -- - and, if out hunting, be more humane.

jimhallam said:

Thanks, Britsmoothy, for providing MORE evidence to the "antis" that shooters break the law. You might not AGREE with it, but bragging about breaking it does NONE of us any good.
As for your statement "That's despite the fact that any wording of the law that restricts the use of slug or ball is relating to loaded modern cartridges" you are, of course, completely wrong, but that's to be expected when you think that it is o.k. to shoot holes other than in targets or quarry.

As for the statement " I hate target shooting " it beggars belief. You might not take part in (paper?) target shooting but why would you hate it? (My Club started target-shooting in 1874).
Looking at your milk churn TARGET perhaps a little more effort down at the range might mean that you would improve your groups -- - and, if out hunting, be more humane.

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Go and run to the ones you fear and point your finger in my direction.
I don't care diddly about your opinion of me or your interpretation of my words.

If you weren't so interested in finding an escape goat to offer as a sacrifice to the ones you want to kiss butt with you would of noticed that since a conversation with my licence liaison officer I have since stopped the practice.
You will also find an article here where I show the dumb ass law of this land for what it is by loading my 45 smooth rifle with five .36" ball....because that's way better and safer right!
So to coin a common British saying ' sod off'.

I don't "fear" the ones that you refer to .. . I actually have been working for 50+ years to defend our rights and to provide more opportunities for Brits (and others) to shoot more. Without wishing to sound self-aggrandising, just some of the things that I have done for others are....

(1) ran the Pistol Gallery for all of the NPA Open meetings, writing most of the rules for Classic Pistol;
(2) started and ran what is now the NRA "Imperial Historic Arms Meeting",
(3) ditto the South London Open Meeting which is now the "Trafalgar Meeting" and also
(4) the "Historic Arms" part of the NSRA Meeting -- -
again, writing all of the rules for these Meetings, giving people the opportunity to justify possession.s

I was the "Classic" member on NRA Council for years, am Vice-President Emeritus of the HBSA, Assistant Curator of the NRA Museum etc., etc., and I am STILL trying to get the MLAGB and the NRA to widen their pistol rules to allow BP substitutes, Smokeless powder conversions etc...

with the greatest respect .. what have you done for others?

I did read the thread and I did notice that you decided to comply with the law -- - very sensible as you were risking losing your shooting and possibly your liberty.

I can see no sense in continuing this thread if it descends into invective.

I hope that you continue your shooting safely and lawfully for many years to come, without "slagging off" others in our beleaguered community.

best regards

Jim Hallam (no "nom-de-plume")

The problem with many "Rules and regulations " in many places comes from the fact that those writing them are clueless about the subject they are dealing with. We have people writing game laws that do not go out into the woods or fields. They are clueless about the animals and the environment they live in. They are clueless about the sport they write the regulations for. In most states we have the best politicians money can buy. They hire and appoint the best people for the jobs under their control based on ????????

Dear Mr Hallam I don't know you personally but I do know of you and your sterling efforts for shooters in UK . You are entirely correct in your view re Brit Smoothy . .I am not sure as to BP substitutes but I have many times attended shoots with MLAGB at Bisley .I voted with my feet preffering NZ where I can hunt large game with my muzzle loaders or most any bow, cross bow, or nitro breech loader should I choose .If I stay with mostly flintlocks . To be blatently contravening the firearm acts of UK is illegal much as I appose them in many cases .Well most cases come to that and I would sympathise with BS but to flaunt his transgressions can only lead to his bringing unwanted attention and giving fuel to the antis and they ever seem to find any nit pickety reason to support even more repressive anti shooting aims .He seems bound & determined to be a loose cannon . theoldredneck makes valid comments we all suffer ignorant anti gun meddlers but we surely don't want to be condoneing more excuses from our own ranks . Regards Rudyard