300 yards

[Dphariss]

Attended the monthly chunk/bench match at Cody.
Since they have a 300 yard steel man silhouette I decided to try it since the wind was very light.
Based on shooting 285 with another 50 caliber I tried this hold+- and was 3 ft low.
Held higher and was a foot low and 2 ft left on #2. Spotter said that it would have killed his horse had he been on one
#3 was inconclusive, my spotter did not see it but I thought there as a flash change in light on the target, it does not "ring".
#4 I raised the aim point maybe a foot and got a dead center hit. But was probably 9 ft over the silhouette's head.
This as significantly higher hold than the 3 shots I shot from prone in warm weather, I am guessing about 5 degrees at Cody yesterday. The 285 yard shots were done with a 50 caliber of similar barrel length with 75 grains of the same powder.

50 caliber rifle, 90 gr of FFF Swiss, 495 cast ball, .018 ticking lubed with water soluble oil and then allowed to dry. Wiped with a spit patch and a dry patch between shots.

Dan

[bgf]

Dan,
That's good shooting -- at that range almost anything can happen.  I've noticed colder weather tends to make me shoot lower (i.e. have to hold higher) -- don't know if it is actual physical effect (lower gas pressure?) or a by product of the lower sun angle and light intensity this time of year, or maybe all that and then some.

[bob in the woods]

The colder air temp. makes a  real difference at the longer ranges. I know from my 1000 yd BPC shooting, the difference between Aug [ 90 deg F ] and Oct [ 40 deg F] is approx 5 min on my rear sight.

[northmn]

Even with temp differences the charts show about a 13 foot drop at 300 yards depending upon sight in etc.  I do not know how far above sea level Dan's country is but tables are all set for sea level.  Higher altitudes with slightly thinner atmosphere give less drop, but how much?  Still good shooting.  Kind of illustrates the limitations of the classic rifles and the issues opf the long shots taken in legend.  heck I read where Simon Kenton shot a turkey in the head at that range first shot

DP

[Dphariss]

Even with temp differences the charts show about a 13 foot drop at 300 yards depending upon sight in etc.  I do not know how far above sea level Dan's country is but tables are all set for sea level.  Higher altitudes with slightly thinner atmosphere give less drop, but how much?  Still good shooting.  Kind of illustrates the limitations of the classic rifles and the issues opf the long shots taken in legend.  heck I read where Simon Kenton shot a turkey in the head at that range first shot

DP

Elevation is 5300-5350 ft at the Cody Shooting complex according to Google Earth and my GPS.

I figured the temp would be a factor as well and the barrel was cold as well, taking the gun inside would make so much mirage that aiming was "difficult"  and I don't think the patch lube gives the velocity a oil or tallow lube would.
I will have to do some experimentation in warm weather and also with slicker patch lube. But I usually only shoot once a month, if that, at Cody. Its 150 miles one way.

The 285 yards hot was at about 4700 ft.
But this changes from day to day as far as actual density altitude is concerned.

I had not shot this rifle/load at 300 so was guessing. Someone back in the day who knew his rifle might have done better.
The 400 yards shot reported by Col Hanger during the Revolution was still a great shot even if it was 250-300 yards rather than the reported 400. But still if the shooter had a tree to use for a hold over point?
I was using a sage beside a cedar bush about 500-600 yards beyond the target. A closer aiming point would have made it easier. Figuring how much hold over is adding another foot when the aiming point is that far in background is a best guess thing.
This is always fun and enlightening. It gives some insight into shots like those credited to Tim Murphy at Saratoga.
On the same  target and told about where to hold SPG got a hit on this plate shooting off hand with the 16 bore. But it does much better at longer ranges considering the ball is about 2.5 times as heavy as a 50 cal ball.
Dan

[bob in the woods]

I think that you did very well for 300 yds and using the .50    We have regular 200 yd shoots, and the .54 cal really shows it's edge over the .50

[Daryl]

That's good shooting with a .50, Dan.

We used to have a 300 meter full-bore range.  On the 300 meter (328yards) target stand, hung a 3' diameter saw blade.

The last blade of my Express sight was filed for this 'range'. It did not matter who shot my .69 - that gong was never missed. Now, the fellows weren't actually lining up to shoot my rifle at that gong, but those who tried it, never missed, no matter who was shooting - offhand, of course.  Some guys don't think 165gr. 2F and a 480gr. RB is THAT much fun in a 9 1/2 pound rifle.

The larger the bore - the greater the potential for longer ranged accuracy - which is why a 32 pounder has more range than a 6 pounder - or a .50 longrifle longer ranged than a .28 squirrel rifle.