Henry Rifle Forums

Got out for about an hour Sunday and after floundering with about 50 rounds I took a break, and some deep breaths and shot this 5 round, 50 yard group offhand kneeling. I violated the TWO cardinal rules of quality shooting (and practiced by the pros) no alcohol the night before the range and no coffee in the morning!
Regardless there is no doubt my Henry likes the 125 grain jacketed bullets best (for this load anyway) but I also shot some full house (16 grains of WW 296 and 158 gr XTPs) but the best group was with 8 grains of Unique and the 125 grain JHP bullets.

Looks good Misterd
Guess I will never be a quality shooter then. I always thought a glass of whiskey would calm the nerves.

No coffee! That is cruel and unusual punishment. That is great shooting kneeling. By offhand do you mean you did not use your knees for support?

By offhand do you mean you did not use your knees for support?

No, standard kneeling position, IE right knee on the ground and left up supporting my left elbow.

Guess I will never be a quality shooter then. I always thought a glass of whiskey would calm the nerves.

Well if it stopped at just a glass the night before no problem - but I have at times ran a few beers too late the night before shooting but then if it ain't competition who cares? I knew a serious competitive shooter once who told me about his 'abstinence' with both and he felt it gave him the 'edge'.

Mistered wrote:

By offhand do you mean you did not use your knees for support?

No, standard kneeling position, IE right knee on the ground and left up supporting my left elbow.

You are a southpaw. So am I but I learned to shoot both left and right.

That group is a beauty. Nice work.

I'm so addicted to coffee, I'd be having a case of the DTs if I didn't have any, the morning, before. Not having coffee would make my shooting worse, not better. Seriously, I think coffee helps me to focus, better. I'm not at the point of taking it with me to the range (like some people I know - see above), but I'm thinking maybe I should be drinking it more.

I had a bad headache yesterday afternoon and realized I had not had any coffee. When I got back to my camp I brewed some cowboy coffee, drank it and a half hour later was fine. Sorry to steal this thread and make it about coffee.

To get it back to shooting I will say that coffee increases your heart rate which is bad for bench shooting. I try to get the round off between heartbeats when I am bench shooting with a scope.

You are a southpaw. So am I but I learned to shoot both left and right.

No, I am right handed - left hand on the forestock supported on my left knee - pull the trigger with my right finger!

Mistered wrote:

You are a southpaw. So am I but I learned to shoot both left and right.

No, I am right handed - left hand on the forestock supported on my left knee - pull the trigger with my right finger!

Wow, I didn't know I was dyslectic.

Nice shooting for sure, that critter is toast.

that critter is toast.

Might have to go find some critters to try the loads out on!
In the mean time I am going to be narrowing down my loads to find what is the best CAST bullet out of my Henry - going to try some 158 gr and 125 gr hard cast this weekend to see what groups the best.