Yesterday, I shot one of the funnest matches yet in 30 years of shooting, a Centerfire Silhouette Match shot on paper targets, chickens at 40 yards, pigs at 60 yards, turkeys at 77 yards, and rams at 100 yards. Targets were reduced and extremely small, the chickens were about 2 1/2" tall, very challenging to hit. 40 rounds total, five shots at each animal.

I shot my Ishapore .308 carbine, most other shooters were using some sort of AR-15 rifle, one guy had an M1 Garand. When the results were tallyed, I had tied for first place with a young man shooting a scoped M-4 carbine. We had a shoot-off, chickens at 40 yards. First shoot-off we tied again, second shoot-off yet another tie, third shoot-off he beat me by one hit. A very fun match...

I was using my pet cast lead handload, a 180 grain lead round nose bullet from a Lee mould, straight wheel weight lead with a gas check, powered by 10 grains of Unique for 1350 FPS. A mild, accurate load perfect for target shooting, power level is between .357 and .44 Magnum.

Here's some pics:

Five shot group fired off hand at 60 yard pig, Mexican Peso shown to illustrate pig and group size. Note I did jerk the trigger a bit, ruining a perfect five shot group:



Rifle with second place ribbon:



Casting and loading for this Ishapore .308 rifle has been some of the best fun I have had with my shooting hobby. The competition season has ended for our club, no more matches till next spring, so now is the time to cast more rifle and pistol bullets for next year....

I would have to say that is some pretty good shootin' especially against a scoped rifle.

Well done.

I shot a carbine match and one of the guys used hi 03a3 springfield. I plan to shoot the next match with my 03a3 using 200gr. lead bullets with 20gr. 2400 very mild load, now to find some stripper clips. Woody

canoeguy, is that a Gibbs Rifles No. 7 Enfield? I have one of those as well, and it is a lot of fun to shoot. Accuracy ain't bad either. I use a load I developed to duplicate my department sniper rifle ammunition (Federal Match 168 gr. BTHP) using 3031 powder, once fired and trimmed Federal Match brass and Sierra or Hornady 168 gr. BTHP bullets. Works very well in that rifle.

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Dave Frost

That's outstanding shooting. Congrats!
Light cast bullet loads are a fun way to enjoy a center fire rifle.

Now I gotta' load up some more for my Sedgley Sporter for next weeks range visit after seeing that...

Looks like my Gibbs, 'cept mine is in 303....

I cast an RCBS 180 grain GC bullet for my 30-06's. It is a great bullet. And it sure makes practice alot cheaper. In one of my rifles I even hunt with that load. It is devastating on deer, at about 2,000 fps. I could push it faster but see no need.

I often wonder why people buy smaller cartridges for kids to deer hunt with. Just load down some cast bullets in dad's 30-06 and shoot all day for very little cost. Even if you need to get a second, shorter stock. But instead they choose a 243 and buy $1 a piece bullets. Pretty expensive for a kid to practice like that!! Tom.

What are you powdering that load with?

Thanks, Pete

Excellent work canoeguy, and good shooting!

For those who scoff at such shooting, it is done offhand. That'll seperate the men from the boys.


Cat

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Think for yourself.

Now thats just outstanding Canoeguy! Cool weird rifle shooting cast bullets and kicking butt with it. Dont take the weird rifle comment the wrong way most of the yung un's these days just dont know what they are unless its an AK or AR. My Isshy is a 2A in 7.62 Nato that is a fine shooter, Im going to have to try cast in it.

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Stay safe people!

Superb shooting with iron sights! Must have a good barrel and good bedding. Not to mention precise handloads.

Regards,

Dyson

I use alot of 2400 in my 44 magnum and 45 Colt loads. And I use alot of RL-7 in my 45-70 loads.

So in the 30-06 I can drop it down to the 1300-1400 fps range with 2400. Then tune it up a bit to around 1700-1900 with RL-7.

A good starter load with RL-7 is 25.0 grains of powder. I work that up to around 30.0 grains of RL-7 which should take you to just over 2,000 fps. Please reference all this data I am working from memory here.

Just work up slow and be safe.

I have heard you can also work 2400 up a bit faster but I have not tried it. No need to . RL-7 works great.

I do not have Quick-Load, but ask someone who does. They could work you up some compatible loads with other powders. Tom.

Thanls for the kind comments, yes it is a "Gibbs Survival Rifle" carbine. If you see one at a gun show, get it, great rifles!

Nice shooting.............Creeker

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Joshua 1:9