November 15th 1885

[RanchRoper]

28F with 40 mph west wind today, blowing straight down range. A little extra jet stream for my 45 Colt 250 gr LFN, with 7 gn of Universal to launch them.

Well today was the day. The 250 yard target board. Shooting from 1 knee with my little flip up tang sight. Sort of a Quigley Squats Down Under.
A 12" target and 20 rounds to play with. I have been wanting to shoot the long range (that's as far out as our gun club range goes) since I got the rifle. My new Uberti 1885 High Wall. I guess it really is a long range rifle because I was able to get 16 out of 20 rounds on the paper! I have tried the 250 yd with my Henry 1860 a couple of times, and could hear them hitting the wooden board at times but I don't recall ever getting any on a target. Anyhow, this rifle is a shooter. I believe it would do well at 500 yds or so with a nice gong. For a pistol cartridge, not bad at all. It took me a few rounds to get the elevation and windage figured out. Instead of a 6 o'clock this was more of a 7pm hold....that target is nothing more than a dot sitting on top of the front sight post, and it took me some binocular figurin' to get it working for me. I am quite pleased with this first effort, and cannot wait for a day with no wind (we get a couple every year) to try again. Hope you enjoyed the little report.

Shoot safe, and often...like the postman; neither rain, nor sleet...RR

PhotoFunia-1605483948.jpg (117.12 KiB) Viewed 1525 times

[CT_Shooter]

Thanks, RR. Two hundred fifty yards? -- unfricken believable. You ARE the forum's Sharp Shooter. Awesome!

[RanchRoper]

There was also some walking out there and back a few times to see what was going on as well....good exercise. As I said the first few rounds were into the wood, and luckily the big 45 Colt holes are easy to pick out on a target board. The first 4 rounds were way low, so I was playing with the elevation on the tang sight to get the bottom 3 on the paper, then it started to get a little better. Basically keeping the dot in the same place and adjusting the rear tang ever so little. I mean miniscule adjustment.

I also have noticed that the rear tang is really not that much help 100 yds or less. The buckhorns are better. Don't know why but they just seem better to me at that distance. A very interesting experience shooting a single shot. You tend to slow down and spend more time looking and thinking. At least I do.

[BigAl52]

Nice job RR and yes spotting and being able to see where you are hitting is important to success. When I did that with the sharps you really did need a good spotter to shoot well. Reading that wind as well is fun. Id be curious to see what some bullets pushed by some 2400 would do.

[RanchRoper]

With winter here I may just try another powder or two when I am restocking the ammo cabinets. Yes a spotter would be nice for sure. Unfortunately I am usually the only guy at the range from now until spring....

[North Country Gal]

Amazing work, RR, just amazing. Have to chuckle with your post titles with that 1885 after the date. I keep reading the 1885 as the year. Of course, it fits, as I'm sure you intended. Your posts really are something right out of 1885.

Congrats on getting the single shot bug and there's no single shot bug like the classic falling block kind. We have bolt guns that have better triggers and can shoot tighter groups and I usually shoot them single shot, but they can't touch our Winchester/Miroku 1885s for the sheer joy of shooting. Every time I shoot one of them, I get that warm going home kind of feeling. My favorite rifles, by far.

[Headhog]

That's some really great shooting. I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt, but have never tried it past 100 yds. My load is 250 gr. LFN powered by 6.8 gr. of Bullseye. It's a pleasant load to shoot and seems fairly accurate at 100 yds. Now I'm going to have to carry a target out to the 200 yard berm and see if I can even hit the paper.

Paul

[RanchRoper]

Thanks all. That Winchester is a beauty. I think with the single shot I am taking more care shooting. Not that I don't love the 1860 Henry, cuz I really do, but the lever action lends itself to just point & fire. Since I like the slower pace with the single shot, I guess I'll love the .50 cal black powder rifle when it shows up. Guess I'll have to start packing a lunch. Maybe the single shot will help prepare me for that transition.

[JEBar]

Thanks, RR. Two hundred fifty yards? -- unfricken believable. You ARE the forum's Sharp Shooter. Awesome!

amen .... no, make that AMEN .... 28 degrees with 40 mph wind .... unbelievable

[RanchRoper]

Today the wind was my friend. Other days....not so much. But it's supposed to warm up to 50F next couple of days so we are getting that Chinook west wind coming over the mountains from the Pacific.