Grouchy Spike

While I weigh and sort cast bullets by weight, and weigh each powder charge, I don't weigh or sort cases by manufacturer, but use R-P, Winchester, WW, FC, Hornady, etc (but not military brass) however they come our of the tumbler. Maybe I'm missing something here thinking that this is not Bench Rest competition. Does anyone separate cases by manufacturer and by weight? Has anyone actually related variations in group size to weight or case manufacturer?

I had a similar incident on several semiautos after CleanFire (or is it FireClean) was applied several months earlier. That 'lube' really turned tacky. And it was difficult to remove too.

Wild Bunch is a takeoff on a movie. Maybe in the distant future there will be a game called " Untouchables" based on the TV series.

Congratulations to Captain Sam Evans! Finishing first against such formidable competitors is quite a feat. Boggus Deal is a keen shooter! Four seconds separate them? I'd pay money to watch a video of CSE and BD in this match.

http://www.mssblog.com/2017/02/17/reloaders-corner-coated-bullets/ Although this article relates to shooting jacketed bullets and Boron Nitride coating, the author makes interesting comments about seasoning a barrel, as did Dusty Boddams. What is the composition of the Hi-Tek coating that has gained following among cast bullet shooters?

JFN, I didn't try the moly coated bullets but I did use the powder (?) coated cast bullets from Norm Purcella. Following uncoated cast bullets with coated cast bullets may have been the reason for numerous fliers from an otherwise accurate M96. After a good cleaning (again), a trip to the range resulted in 3" groups at 100 yards. Testing continues, next trip with a chrono.

DB and GJ, thanks again for the responses. I start with the minimum load, check group size, and chrono. I'll shoot all the way to the maximum load that I chose for development (the top of my ladder, not the manufacturers max load) and Chrono. Then I'll choose the best group size and chrono that one. Good weather is here this week, so I'll clean the bore, load uncoated and coated bullets in the same powder load and check group size, clean the bore after each bullet/powder type. I'll try RL7 too.

Lone Dog, I also use Firefox, had this problem one day this month or last month. I always use the same settings in Options: 'Always Use Private Browsing', 'Allow Cookies from Visited Sites'. And periodically I 'Clear History'. I don't know that I did anything to fix the problem - it just went away. Suggest signing out when you finish browsing the WB forum, occasionally use the Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL) to close Firefox completely, then restart. Update to version 50.1.0.

Good news, Happy Jack! I was concerned that a return to a Colt was necessary. :'(

GJ, The M96 had been doing well with 2400 and Purcellas 150 gr. One inch groups at 50 m, two inches at 100m. Granddaughter finished 3rd in one BAM match using the M96 on 16" plates out to 125 yds after having fired that rifle six times before the match. She and the rifle were well matched. Then something went awry. The only change was used of coated bullets with same powder. Now that I remember the history of the use of 2400, I opened a new container somewhere along the way. However, subsequent use of uncoated bullets has not reduced the group size. This might be a powder weight/velocity problem and not a bore cleanliness problem. Or a combination of both. As I read and think about comments from you and DB and analyze the problem, I must start over with load development and the chrono. I have some RL7, I"ll also try it with Purcellas 150 gr both coated and uncoated. The Lyman CBH lists a starting load of 18.0 gr with a 150 gr cast bullet at 1619 fps. I'd expect that a coated bullet would have a slightly higher velocity. I'm thinking of laddering the loads in 0.5 gr increments beginning with 16.5 gr of RL7 up to 18.0 gr. How much RL7 are you using? Coated bullets? In the meantime, I'll try some Patch Out then check the loads I already have for velocity and group size. Thanks for the info.

DB, no jacketed rounds have been put through the bore. I have that in my plan, was looking at 140g non-boat tailed jacketed bullets to load, and then put some time on the range to see how they group. 13.5 gr of 2400 pushes a 150 gr Purcella cast bullet to 1525 fps. Coated bullets would likely be a bit faster. I didn't chrono them, but wasn't impressed with their performance compared to non-coated bullets as the group opened up but there might have been another cause independent of the coating. Judge Hangin Knott wasn't having any tighter groups, so either it's not the shooter or it's both shooters having problems. Which is possible! GJ, I hadn't considered fire-lapping, am barely acquainted with it, but I'll study up on that. I don't have a bore scope. The bore when 'clean' is not so bright as a 03A3 barrel. It's not dark, has some shine. I'll visit all ideas - use the fancy bore cleaner; shoot some jacketed bullets; change powder to Red Dot, 4064, Trail Boss; and fire-lap. I'm a winter temperature wuss (<55F), so the solution could be a month or two so away.

A M96 Swede bore doesn't clean up as do other old bolts. A patch moistened with MC#7 Copper Remover indicates that copper fouling has been removed, so what remains appears to be powder/lead/cosmoline or other protectants. Use of Kroil, Ed's Red, JB Bore paste, and Hoppes #9, have not produced a clean bore, even after overnight soaking and exhaustive efforts with a brush and patches moistened with bore cleaner, and then dry patched. A clean patch run through the bore moistened with Kroil or Ed's Red will have gray/black residue. This is long after JB was run through it so the residue shouldn't be metal removed by the JB, but that's not been confirmed with use of a magnet on the patch. The M96 bore becomes notably dirty after ten rounds, using 13.5 gr Alliant 2400. I estimate that at least 500 rounds of cast have been fired through this bore in BAMM. Occasionally the M96 won't group very well after cleaning (after several fouling shots), perhaps being affected by bore condition from loosened crud that hasn't been completely removed. Another BAMmer reports similar experience with a M96 bore that won't clean up. :o 03A3s and K31s don't exhibit the problem. After reading the article on Patch Out, I'm tempted to try it too but wanted some feedback from those who have used it, hoping to avoid another sit-on-the-shelf product in the pursuit of the 'holy grail' of cleaners.

All of us have labored to clean bores of the old military bolts (and maybe some cowboy bores too) and are frustrated at what seems to be never-ending and incomplete efforts. Check this thread which includes some discussion about cleaning bores with Patch-Out, the successor to Wipe-Out. http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?572521-Kroil-does-it-remove-more-than-rust Have any of you shooters tried this product? http://www.eabco.com/WipePatchout.htm Here's a testimony on ChuckHawes.com http://www.chuckhawks.com/wipe-out.htm My assortment of gun powder is exceeded only by my assortment of cleaning supplies, the use of which has been reduced to Ed's Red, Rem Oil, Kroil, JB Bore Cleaner, and MC#7. Share your experiences!

When I found an anvil laying on the loading bench after pulling a bullet with an impact puller, I decided to punch out the primers for match ammo. On practice ammo, packaged as such, I will usually inspect and reuse after marking the primer with a dot of red finger nail polish. I've not found any more 'extra' anvils since that one.

I was listening to a reloader talk about removing a cast bullet from a loaded cartridge using an IMPACT puller, and reloading the case leaving the primer in place. He maintains that the primer can be damaged by the force of the impact force generated with the impact puller, so he replaces the primer. Your thoughts?

Garrison Joe said: "I will continue to suggest that we need some other, more visible, part of the act of firing at a target to decide if a target no longer needs "another shot attempt" on it. I really like condition of "a bullet has left barrel" as a sufficient condition to have "engaged" a target. We already use that act (for first round has gone downrange) for similar purpose - it marks the time that a shooter is committed to the stage. And it has turned out to be a much clearer and not-easily-argued condition on which to make a call." GJs definition of 'engaged' eliminates the subjectivity in the term. Why not adopt it and include in the the rules?

The shooter didn't complete the Nevada Sweep on the black targets before addressing the white targets, and his target sequence is incorrect, seems to be a Procedural penalty here. The shooter has one unfired round when the pistol sequence is completed, fired nine shots instead of ten, and the unfired round is counted as a miss. The miss did not cause a P as the P was earned on the 10th shot. The miss was earned after the 19th shot when the 20th shot was not fired. P and a miss.

Front Sight? Are we to use a front sight? Maybe I didn't read all of the instructions.

Lone Dog, I'm ready except for cleaning magazines. I recommend that you disassemble and clean the followers, springs, and bores of your magazines with powder solvent, then wipe them dry. Accumulation of powder residue can impede the upward movement of the follower and you can experience some misfeeds/jams. I became a believer after that happened to me!

And most important, I must clean all 1911 magazines!

I'm hoping that there are a bunch of lurkers who have interest in BAMM but have not responded to the question!

Good news! Weather for the State WB match is perfect - 73F for a high, about 50F for a low. Cool enough to prevent overheated 1911s! I must replace fuel pump on Suburban as it gave up 70 miles from home yesterday, load 300 rounds of 45 acp, pack it up, and I'm ready. Are you ready, Lone Dog?

Dusty, thanks for the comments and the ideas about including other military rifles. I'm liking that so as to get more folks into the game!

Griff, the rise in prices of these old bolt guns is kinda amazing. :o I don't know what's driving the increase because for hunting or defense purpose a new rifle can be had for less $$ than many of the old bolts are selling for. Maybe there are some new collectors putting pressure on prices.

What is the interest in Bolt Action Military Matches nowadays? It's grown from it's inception at the Comanche Valley Vigilantes to other clubs and has been included in EOT schedules. CVV runs frequent BAM matches, likely the most of any club. Which clubs are hosting Bolt Action Military Matches? Are these side matches after a Cowboy Main Match? Included in annual match? Included in Wild Bunch match? How many shooters are participating? How many rounds in a typical BAM match? Is there a limit on velocity, bullet hardness, or power factor? Is any club using BAM rifles during a WB match in lieu of the lever rifle, as a separate category? At the Texican Rangers in Comfort TX, BAMM started up in 2015 and is usually conducted as a side match after the Saturday Main Match and as a side match in the annual Comancheria Days match. It has grown from three hardcore shooters to as many as nine in monthly matches. The monthly course of fire includes at least three scenarios, two with 10 rounds, one with 15 rounds, for a total of 35 rounds. If time permits the shooters who pack handgun/shotgun run a separate scenario of 10 rounds with a Model 1911/1917 for ten rounds and a Model 97/12 for four rounds. This scenario really stirs up the adrenalin! Target distance ranges from 55 yards to 125 yards. Six targets are large Cody Dixon targets (24") between 55 and 65 yards, and the remaining 11 targets are 16" targets from 75 to 125 yards. For the 5th Saturday monthly Wild Bunch match I'd like to see another category where the BAM rifle is used instead of a cowboy lever rifle, as the Cody Dixon category is allowed at monthly cowboy matches using a single shot or lever rifle in 38-55, 45-70, etc. Tell us about your BAM game!