I borrowed the club's Ransom Rest today for the first time. Got the hang of it pretty quickly, except a couple times did not tighten the elevation lock or push the gun all the way down after racking the slide. The gun is a Colt Special Combat Government with fitted Kart NM barrel. I have a Marine League state of PA 25 yard bullseye match coming up this weekend at Fort Indiantown Gap. I mainly wanted to check my 170g LSWC load and do a final sight-in, but also tried a friend's 185g JHP loads. I like his Solo 1000 load, but I'll use my 170g this weekend. The 170g load was from the caster, and shoots better than 185/200 loads I had tried.
EDIT: I was reusing 22 targets. # 3 has an extra hole I used to adjust aim.

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I would never ever use a Ransom Rest, If I did and saw the actual accuracy in my firearms, I would lose all my excuses for missing the targets. I like to live in my own little fantasy world and blame the gun, maybe even the ammo.

I used to own a RAnsom, but never had a good place to use it, plus setup was always a PITA, so sold it. Sort of wish I still had it, but oh well. I found I can shoot just as well off bags out to 25yds but the Ransom is always right, I sometimes hiccup.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

As you can see, the club has a rock steady steel pedestal sunk in concrete. Setup was not too bad, considering I had no training, just the directions. I wanted to know what the loads can do. Now I can concentrate on doing my part. Accuracy was a struggle the last two years, before the Kart barrel was fitted. I could not get one hole groups at 50', much less 25 yards. Confidence in the gun gives me more confidence in myself. Last year, I just missed 500 shooting 2 lines with the 1911, but shot 542 with my Python in the open match, shooting double-action timed and rapid fire. This is an open-sight match. It's also a combat gun match, so 2-hand hold is allowed. The 1911 match requires a 4# trigger as well.

Don't buy any nice guns, either. I had a Ruger with a TRS-25 for bullseye. Tuned up my 1911's trigger, put a Nelson Custom converson on it, and mounted an Ultradot 25.

Became depressed that there was, in fact, not a High Master hidden within me.

Buy a couple extra sear springs. Put your original in a bag and save it.

Tune the disco leg of the sear spring (takeup, more or less) to deliver 3#. Tune the sear spring to break on an additional 1#. If you find that balance a little too light, drop the disco weight and add a little to the sear leg.

There are some guides out there on how to measure disconnector leg tension without the sear leg in play. The Brownell's guide is pretty decent. Do be aware you're going to roach out a couple sear springs doing this--they'll no longer hold a tension for very long, and pull weights will creep around.

Also be aware that once you learn to do this, you will become addicted to it and no trigger weight will ever satisfy you again.

The way I measure individually is to wrap a paper clip around my trigger scale and put a little hook on it.... With the grip safety removed you can hook each spring and pull it just enough that it moves off its engagement. You can also use a small allen wrench to hook each spring and pull/bend it to lighten it....

And yes, well done 1911 triggers will ruin you, generally they take some sear/hammer work to be perfect. BUT, you haven't lived till you shoot a "Super" with a 1.25lb trigger!!!

My usual bullseye guns are a Python Target and a Ruger Mark ll with VQ accurizing kit. I'll use a Python Target in the open match this weekend. I could have borrowed Python inserts for the Ransom rest, but why bother. The 1911 came with a 4# trigger, albeit a series 80.

That's a good set-up for Ransom Rest. One of my clubs has a similar arrangement except with a steel I beam, and then a steel plate welded to the top, the plate being drilled to directly mount the rest without a plywood base.
Do you have room to test out to 50 yards? Things get very interesting then! The good loads versus the great loads really become quite clear!
We also have a Cominolli device, basically a single shot cannon breach that accepts a 1911 barrel. This lets you test barrel quality and accuracy as a separate factor from the gun and fitting.

Best Regards,
Jim

The rest was set up with 50 yards in mind; there is a base for a target stand at 50. I had to rig a proper height target stand for 25 yds, as the pins in place do not fit within the horizontal range of the Ransom rest, which as you know is very narrow. I was happy not to test at 50 with the 1911, but it was tempting; just not enough ammo. I use the Python with HBWC at that distance and it will print about an inch. without a machine rest. I'm heading out now for a final sight-in.
BTW, I was concerned with the possibility of doubles or triples, as I've heard they are not uncommon in a Ransom rest. There is a house over the hill, 800 yards away that was hit with a bullet before we put in blue-sky barricades. There is no barricade for the Ransom rest, so I loaded one at a time so as not to take any chances.

Couple of suggestions . Tighten your crimp on the Zero 185 JHP load to .469 . I use either 4.5 - 4.6 Bullseye , 4.3 VVN-310 or 4.8 WST with that bullet . With a lead 185 I use 4.2-4.3 WST , 3.9 Bullseye or 3.7 - 3.8 VVN-310 . Me thinks you might see better groups .

Thank you. That JHP Solo load shoots VERY well in my friend's gun at 50 yards. I will play with it after I return from my match. What crimp do you like on your lead bullets? Mine is .472, as I was duplicating the load from the bullet caster who sold me the bullets. I have some Magnus 170g LSWC on order to see if their weight is more consistent. The ones I am using vary from >169 to >172. with .4gr wax. Some people shrug that off, but in a match, I prefer less variables.

BTW, here is a link to a 1998 article reprint about the USMC match 45 load, using a Nosler 185 JHP and VV N310. I may try that powder for comparison to the Solo 1000.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2016/...match-45-load/

The Magnus #806 bullets arrived, weighing much more consistently than what I loaded, which ranged about 169-172. Of 32 I weighed, all fell within 168-169.5, with 24 in the 168-168.9 range. Another thing to try when I return.

USMC load has varied from 4.1 to 4.7 . I too use the shorter OAL of 1.200 . WLP primers , .469 crimp . The 4.8 WST load is best in my gun ( Kart barrel ) . 4.3 N-310 is a close second & 4.5 - 4.6 Bullseye is third . For lead I use the Zero 200 LSWC with 3.6 N-310 & in colder climates I use it with 3.8 Bullseye . For 25 yds only I'd use lead for half the price . BTW I also use .469 crimp for both loads & also for 230 FMJ EIC / CMP loads . Also Al Dorman personally used the Nosler 185 with 5.0 grs of N-100 for 50yds . It was HOT , like 900+fps .

I wish more indoor and outdoor ranges had one on hand...even available for a fee. It would probably cut down on the "my new Glock shoots to the left" or "my new Shield shoots high" complaints. We never seem to want to admit that it's US and not the gun, and that it requires more than 15 shots to become proficient with a new firearm.

I had my 1911 down that far, while trying to get it dialed in to make tech inspection once. Actually found it a little difficult to shoot at first, I had to delay the start of my pull a little bit. After that it was pretty good.

Hmm. Wonder if I could improve my scores by lightening the sear an ounce or two before every match...

Anyways, I hadn't thought of using the allen wrench with the spring installed. I've had the best results bending from the bottom, so I usually squeeze it in a vise and push the legs one way or the other.

Oh good, your hopes have already been dashed. That's always so hard to watch. Last time I saw it, I do believe I saw a target frame go a-flyin'!