A Day At The Range

[xring2245]

I had a chance to get to the range today and spend some time with my .40 cal. Dale Atkinson flinter.  One good thing about being temporarily unemployed is that I have time to do this.

Well, anyway, I decided to try Swiss powder in the 40 as it seems to do very well in my smaller calibers.  Fouling is reduced to a minimum and the need to wipe between shots or between five-shot strings is almost nonexistent.  MY load had been 50 gr. of GOEX 3F with a .400PRB (target) or .389PRB (woodswalk) and it had shot well.  I reduced the SWISS Load to 40 gtr. and the grouping was still good at 25 yards, but four inches low.  This really isn't a problem as all I have to do is take a file to the front sight and make the adjustment.  Before I do that, though, I want to go to the bench as shoot the same load and then try 45 grains and compare.

My questions are:  1) does 40 gr. of SWISS basically equal the performance of 50 gr. GOEX or do I need to boost it to 45 grains or so?; and 2) is a lower group to be expected?  If you know for sure, and your experience is based on shooting a .40 cal. with a 42 inch barrel, please share.  Not looking for theory here, but experienced results.

Thanks,
James

[smylee grouch]

I have several 40 cal rifles and shoot between  55 and 60 gr. of swiss 3f. When I swiched to swiss from Goex, I think it was about 15% less swiss to equal the Goex loads that I had used before.

[David G]

Experience says that only YOUR rifle will tell the tale, too many other varibles. I would definately up the charge before filing the sights. Once you equal the pressure inside the bore with Swiss that your were getting with Goex will get the poi close between the two. Uping the charge should get you there...David G

[Roger Fisher]

So, she shot that low at 25 yds.... You did this offhand right? Hmmm maybe you were looking b/4 you were done shootin??? Of course maybe also you had some sun shining on that frt blade as they say lights up sights up!.... 

[Daryl]

I agree with David as far as the rifle will tell you what it needs.

My own, .40 - the loads and ballistics being quite boring to the older guys here due to repetition, show that with a water based lube, will shoot 3F GOEX or 2F GOEX wiht from 55gr. to 65gr. quite well - ie: sub 1" - off a single bag at 50 yards with all of those loads.

If I use a slippery lube, like Hoppe's 9 Pluss or LeHighValley  and Shenendoah lube, I have to use 65gr. 3f GOES or 75gr. 2F GOEX to duplicate the other loads data.

The good aspect of the slippery lubes is that if used for hunting (day use hunting only, I'd suggest) that both the 3f and 2F GOEX chronographed over 2,250fps in my rifle.  the also wanted to hold around the 1/2" mark at 50 yards, using a .398" X .397" ball and a .0215" to .0225"" patch. (Goodioen lapped match barrel) My .45 GM shoots literally identically with 75gr. 3f and 85gr. 2f - both GOEX- .445 ball and .0225" patch.

No wiping while shooting - ever.

[heinz]

I thought, here comes another 30 grains of powder in a 40 cal. . . .  I should have looked at the author first :-)  I always shoot 60 grains in my 40s.  I never used those soupy lubes that Daryl likes though and always wipe between shots.  However I did try Hoppes number 9 recently and did do about 40 shots with no fouling build up.  I still wipe between shots.  This old dog can learn but only one trick at a time.

[Daryl]

Heinz- guess I've never learned to wipe?   

[xring2245]

Sharing some good experience, guys.  Thanks much.  Keep it comin'.

James

[jamesthomas]

 It's reading posts like this that make me wish I had my forty built already, Where's that Micheal J. Fox Time Machine and can it go forward into the future?.

[Candle Snuffer]

I shoot 60 & 70 grain loads (3fg Goex, .395 ball with an .0018 patch) from my 1 in 72" twist Ed Rayl barrel.  It also handles 2fg Goex (60 grain loads) pretty darn good, and I've even tested some old Metor 1fg 50 grain black powder loads in it and it does pretty darn good.  I kind of think the combination of the round bottom rifling with that slow twist has a lot to do with it.  I like the .40...

[alyce-james]

Candle Snuffer; Sir, I started shooting a .40 cal. one twist in 72, Sharron barrel in 1977 with .395 ball-.015 patch, 48 gr. 3f, Du Pont powder. Lube is Hoppe's No. 9. I'm on my last 1 lb. can of Du Pont. This combonation has helped me out shoot better shooters than myself many times. Thanks for sharing. Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year. AJ

[Standing Bear]

42" Douglas barrel 7/8" across 1/66 twist. 
.395 ball. .018 patch and have used multiple lubes Hoppes 9, Ballistol, mink oil, spit - all work well.
50 gr Goex FFG to 50/60 yards for small game. 
up it to 75 gr of same for 100 yds orhunting deer, hogs and varmits.
75 gr charge chronoed 2150 at 15 yds for 10 shots with std deviation of 9.
TC

[Candle Snuffer]

On the other end of the scale from my 1 in 72" twist - .40 caliber, is my 1 in 48" twist Green Mnt Brl (.40 x 1"x42) that I used on my Chunk Gun.  After many years of use (off and on) I've yet to find a load for it that I like.  Granted, I haven't spent as much time with it as I should so this is no real indication of what it truly would be capable of.  Some day I'll just have to take the time to work this rifle's load out.

AJ, I've always heard good things about those Sharron barrels.  They're keepers!

Merry Christmas everyone,