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Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 6:57 pm
by RanchRoper
Ok go easy on me. 2nd time shooting a rifle and 1st time on targets. The other night was obviously a lucky shot hitting a paint can on a fence post. Here's a couple of targets from today. Had the range to myself. Fun! Forgot to put ear plugs in once; won't make that mistake again!! Wow, that's a big bang inside a tin shed shooting out. Have a look. The ones with lines thru them were first attempts. Took me a bit to figure out the sights. I have not touched it yet. Still factory set. Winchester 250 gr LFN. I did notice that the casings from this ammo ejects with black powder burns but the Hornady did not. Comments?

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:02 pm
by JEBar
you are a better man than I am Charlie Brown .... being able to shoot that well without hearing protection in a metal shed is incredible .... :D

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:15 pm
by RanchRoper
Sorry what did you say?

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 8:15 pm
by RanchRoper
So without knowing much about ammo, the Winchester Super X 250 gr LFN seems to make a much louder sound than the Hornady 255 gr LFN and seemed to hit harder. Both are "cowboy action load" on the box. The Winchesters also heated up the barrel. Just an all around bigger bang it felt like.
I'm surprised there would be such a difference. Maybe that's how it goes for different manufacturers.
I'd like to try some Black Hills in it.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 12:33 pm
by RanchRoper
Being a new shooter I did not know what "off hand" meant but now I see that my 25 yds standing were actually off hand in correct terms. I'm learnin'!

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 1:25 pm
by Deadwood Dutch
You did very nicely, especially for offhand! Yes, when I am under the tin roof at my gun club the noise is a bit louder than out in the open. You need the ear protection even if you are not shooting, but doing something else at the shooting station and someone else, especially with a centerfire is shooting at another station, even if it is 8 stations away. You really made a nice choice in rifles and caliber, especially for your job.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 1:58 pm
by RanchRoper
Thank you Dutch. I'm very happy with the rifle. We get along just fine!

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 2:13 pm
by PT7
All-around good job -- 2nd time out with the rifle and shooting off hand. Your targets show" more than a good start." :)
Plus the Henry is pretty accurate new-out-of-box, isn't it? Great rifles! It will be easily dependable, if ever needed, when it is riding along in your scabbard on the range.

Congrats :!:

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 3:24 pm
by RanchRoper
PT7 wrote:All-around good job -- 2nd time out with the rifle and shooting off hand. Your targets show" more than a good start." :)
Plus the Henry is pretty accurate new-out-of-box, isn't it? Great rifles! It will be easily dependable, if ever needed, when it is riding along in your scabbard on the range.

Congrats :!:
Thanks! It shoots unbelievably good out of the box. I look forward to the next time I'm at the range. Maybe Thursday night!

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:06 am
by daytime dave
Nice shooting. I think you did great. I'm glad your new rifle is working out so well.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:23 am
by CT_Shooter
For a new shooter with a new gun, your targets are fantastic! "A good start" is right! Actually, a "great start" would be more accurate; not unlike your shooting! Thanks for the report.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 10:00 am
by RanchRoper
Thanks! Will have another go at it this week.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 10:22 am
by Squatch
You did good! If you are having fun than you did extra good!!!!

Yep there is a lot of variation between brands and the powders they use. Winchesters get the case black with 44 mag as well. But I've found the ammo shoots well.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 10:49 am
by RanchRoper
Squatch wrote:You did good! If you are having fun than you did extra good!!!!

Yep there is a lot of variation between brands and the powders they use. Winchesters get the case black with 44 mag as well. But I've found the ammo shoots well.
It seemed to pack a wallop. The Hornady brass still looks like new.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:03 am
by Squatch
Just a different powder formula. I think most Winchester powders tend to be a little dirtier. Doesn't hurt a thing as long as you clean the rifle. I think they use a different alloy in their brass as well. it's a slightly different color than some of my other brass. It takes a little longer in the tumbler to clean as well.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:14 am
by Sir Henry
Deadwood Dutch wrote:You did very nicely, especially for offhand! Yes, when I am under the tin roof at my gun club the noise is a bit louder than out in the open. You need the ear protection even if you are not shooting, but doing something else at the shooting station and someone else, especially with a centerfire is shooting at another station, even if it is 8 stations away. You really made a nice choice in rifles and caliber, especially for your job.
I couldn't have said it any better.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:29 pm
by RanchRoper
Looks like Thursday night I'll be back at the range slinging lead at those pesky paper targets. If it goes well I'll post results. If not, we never had this conversation.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 4:31 pm
by RanchRoper
Squatch wrote:Just a different powder formula. I think most Winchester powders tend to be a little dirtier. Doesn't hurt a thing as long as you clean the rifle. I think they use a different alloy in their brass as well. it's a slightly different color than some of my other brass. It takes a little longer in the tumbler to clean as well.
The Hornady looks like a thicker wall on the shell too. I'll shoot them this week under same conditions so it will be interesting. Thks.

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:29 pm
by White Squirrel
RanchRoper wrote:Looks like Thursday night I'll be back at the range slinging lead at those pesky paper targets. If it goes well I'll post results. If not, we never had this conversation.
Yes sir, I agree.

I had a boss who always said, "If it's not on paper, it didn't happen!" No pictures works the same. :D

Re: Big Boy 45 Colt at the Range

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:05 pm
by PT7
I think most Folk here, Ranch Roper, don't mind "the good, the bad, the ugly" in terms of targets.
We all learn something from all three kinds.

For my "Range Report2 __ BBB and Me," I posted four targets. 3 out of 4 of them I would write home about. The 4th was a problem I had with the barrel weight of my Big Boy throwing me out of kilter. And it showed that with an abysmal result of 6/15 POIs in target. But I got some real good suggestions on how to hold my rifle with the goal of helping "barrel fatigue." Can't get better than that, as far as I'm concerned. Next time out I plan to try those suggestions/advice, and handle my heavy Big Boy a little differently. Should be fun to learn off that weak target!



RanchRoper wrote:
Looks like Thursday night I'll be back at the range slinging lead at those pesky paper targets. If it goes well I'll post results. If not, we never had this conversation.