This target is the culmination of a few cylinders fired to obtain zero. The two taped holes are the last sight adjustment shots, the ragged hole to the center are eight consecutive shots from two different cylinders at 25 yards, fired from rest off the vehicle hood. The load was 17 grains of Graf's 3-f BP, Lee DC mould cast .454 RB, one dry thin hard wool felt over powder wad, and two 1/4" softer wool felt wads, well lubed with bees wax/vegetable oil mixture, followed by ball seated with sprue up. I made the punch up to make my own wads.
After researching loads online, I arrived at the 17 grains of 3-f as being the optimum load many shooters seemed to agree upon as being the most accurate. I had bought extra spouts for the flask, thinking I would just cut them down to obtain load. But having some heavy walled brass tubing, I ran a little volume/diameter/length math and then bored it out on the mini lathe, checked the charge throw, and by luck and by gosh, it was dead on. Turned it down for a snug fit, leaving a slight taper on one end to insure a tight fit when fully inserted into one of the spouts.
IMO, the Pietta was one heck of a quality buy, and I thank all the guys who recommended it.
After researching loads online, I arrived at the 17 grains of 3-f as being the optimum load many shooters seemed to agree upon as being the most accurate. I had bought extra spouts for the flask, thinking I would just cut them down to obtain load. But having some heavy walled brass tubing, I ran a little volume/diameter/length math and then bored it out on the mini lathe, checked the charge throw, and by luck and by gosh, it was dead on. Turned it down for a snug fit, leaving a slight taper on one end to insure a tight fit when fully inserted into one of the spouts.
IMO, the Pietta was one heck of a quality buy, and I thank all the guys who recommended it.
:shocked2: 
