A Big Thank You! to kdiver58 and 75vette

[jaymoore]

IHMSA really is a team sport. Without spotters, the shooter can't make the changes on the fly that are needed to get and stay on target, especially whilst working up the classification ladder.

I've relied heavily on Kdiver's input over the past several years, and we've worked out a pretty good system that has helped much to make sense of what is going on downrange. He has made easy to use scoring sheets that we keep to track hits, and more importantly, misses for later analysis.

Good verbal communication is also important!

This last match, 75vette jumped into the spotter role as kdiver58 had to work, and did a great job, especially during my Field Pistol Any Sight entry, allowing me to make small corrections on the Rams that resulted in an all time personal best score of 31 out of 40!



Here's hoping I was able to help him out as well, whilst he works through the often frustrating task of working up a load that is both accurate and won't beat you up over a long course of fire. (Especially daunting with big bore revolvers!)

Sadly, no range photos on what turned out to a very pleasant day, with great food served during the lunch break! Elk and deer burritos with little apple fritters for dessert.

 

[75Vette]

J., I'm glad I could help!! You did a great job on the steel varmints. I was happy for ya to see you do a personal best. That grin was ear to ear!!
I know for myself, I won't be buying anymore Trail Boss! I wish I could've seen what you did thru the spotting scope as my boolits slopped their way down range. An all time low for me.

All in all it was a beautiful day though and Sherri's burritos and apple fritters were deeelicious!!

 

[jaymoore]

Next month's match may be a bit more "unrestrained" as to entries, being the last match of the year.

I really would like to make AAA class in FPAS, but iron sighed FP class I may bring one of the 6" 29-5s or maybe a 686. (To make International class I'd have to shoot two 30s in one day! Not too likely....)

Or do y'all want to go mad and shoot "small target" Bordello? 4" max barrel length revolvers or 5" autos. No sight changes after sighters.

Kdiver58 may bring his Skorpion in .32 ACP! Maybe even suppressed. I've shot it and was able to hit large steel out to 200 yards at Gun Site Hills in Lexington some time back.

 

[75Vette]

I'm game! Let me know so I show up with the right gun. Probably a 4"er. I had a HUGE group with the 3" dash 1 last week at the range.

 

[jaymoore]

I'm game! Let me know so I show up with the right gun. Probably a 4"er. I had a HUGE group with the 3" dash 1 last week at the range.

Well, if it don't suit you, I won't mind having it back!

But bring whatever 4" revolver you think will topple some critters whilst keeping the misses inside the range....

Can't decide at this point meself. Maybe the 4" 25-5, or the 4" 629, or an early 67 or the retired FBI 66.... Or...maybe the 3" 24-3??? Nah, not this year. Too much work getting a good zero past 50yards.

Really, the way I shoot lately, it may not make much difference. Fairly disappointed with yesterday's 100 yard range tests with two revolvers. But I was shooting great standing with the .223 deer rifle, so who knows?

 

[75Vette]

I'll keep the 3"er!! Just need to get better aquanted with it!! I have a nice 629-4 4"er that might be up to the task.

 

[sw282]

There's this S&W 460PC l have been shooting lately. Certain not a
snubby with its John Holmes barrel...44 Magnum is max at Gainesville.
l could load up some ''Warm'' 45Colts tho...Don't know about accuracy
with that short case in such loooong CYLINDER

 

[jaymoore]

Dang, dude! Don't even need "warm" .45 Colt to topple little steel. No wee guns in your stash?

On the other hand, I've often wondered how well really short cases work for accuracy past Steel Challenge/IPSC distances. I think the .45 Colt in a .460 would let the bullet rattle about in the chamber a bit before finding the throat. Not unlike those folk using .38 Short Colts in .357s.

BTW, we were shooting the .32 ACP Skorpion the other day, and, whilst extremely precise, it wasn't accurate. That is, it shot teeny groups in the wrong place. And the sights aren't easily moved. Shot high all the way out to 100 yards. Which is probably why 200 yard hits were so easy!

 

[75Vette]

Somebody wants to bring "Bam Bam" to the range!!

 

[jaymoore]

Getting enthusiastic about .45 Colt again! The 25-15 doesn't have the movement damping front end of the 625 PP, nor the trigger, but it seems to be coming together. (That 625PP has got to be my favorite revolver just as long as I'm not looking at it....! Homely thing. If it didn't have that danged "illegal" port it would likely be my first choice for FPAS.)

Got a new batch of SNS 200gr HiTek coated cast bullets. Sorted 1000 for weight and they fell in the same steep bell curve as the previous batch. Handy, as there's some left over from before. Figure about 800 are good enough for Field Pistol duties. The culls likely will be expended on steel as well, just the "close in-go fast" kind.

Have about decided that IF I shoot a "Bordello" entry, it'll be the 67 or 66.
"IF" meaning I am hoping to get the second leg in AAA FPAS! Main goal. Thought it would have happened by now, but Big Bore took focus away. Have been bumping up against that step for too long.

If things go well, hope to have time to goof about. Not bringing the 29-3 in any event. It'll be FPAS then Bordello, time permitting. (My idea of "fun" apparently means blue million hours working towards 2 minutes of glory. Seemed the same doing SCCA!)

 

[75Vette]

Sounds like a 45 & 357 day. It'll be odd not seeing one of the 44s in your hand!

 

[jaymoore]

You may, but it'll be the "high rise" scoped .44.

Dunno if it's possible to make International class in FPAS with a revolver, have never heard of it being done, but AAA is SOOO close!

 

[75Vette]

Just do what you tell me,"Whatever you did last time, do it again"! You'll get there!

 

[jaymoore]

OK, you steel toppling fiends, my choice so far for Bordello at Gainesville is the early 67 using the old American Rifleman .38 Spl. accuracy load of a Speer LSWC over 231 and a Rem 1 1/2 primer. Proved capable of 100% Pig hits and about 80% on 100yd Rams...on paper targets at least. And with sight changes! (Didn't bother with Chickens and I still haven't figured out a good way to do 75 yard Turkeys.)

I don't expect anywhere near those kind of results on the first competition! It's not unlike shooting sighters at the match, the results often are just to confuse you. Only way to dial in is to actually shoot the row of critters, especially when running iron sights.

Couple of notes:

1)Could not achieve as good results with .357 cases (again!!!) nor using .38 cases in .357 chambers. But it seems the second option is better than the first, esp. past 50 yards.

2)Wished for 75Vette's windage holding skill particularly when testing the slow .38 Spl. WST powder loads! Still have an annoying tendency to throw shots to the right, especially noticeable at 100 yds. Even with K frames.

ETA: Hey, sw282, a bit OT, but I finally brought home that RSR 657 "Light Hunter". 1997 vintage, same as the 686+ "LH". The 629 is a little earlier, 1996? Just need the .45 Colt version to complete the set.

 

[75Vette]

I haven't had the range time this month that I'd liked to have had but aim to put an hour or two in today. I'll see how accurate I can be out to 45 yds (range max) with my 629-4 4"er. I need to take the Magnum Hunter along and see if the Apex firing pin helps erase the light primer strikes I've experienced. I also need to test drive the latest acquisition, a 5" 629-3 Classic. I see a huge pile of brass in my near future!!

 

[jaymoore]

Test fire and goof off day

Don't often get two range days in a row any more!

The 657PC did well with cast bullets as long as the loads were relatively stout. The extra weight definitely helped! Too bad it's ported. Have had little success with cast bullets in .41s unless on top of H110 or similar previously. Still think ,45 Colt is the best chambering in S&Ws for use with cast projectiles at less than magnum velocities.

But it was all bullseye targets today. Warmed up with the old Model 41. Which shot well, but didn't want to cycle the Federal Auto Match ammo, so Timed and Rapid fire strings were problematic. Nice to go "old school" for a change, though. Kept em in the black pretty easily at twenty five yards, but slow fire at 50yds wasn't so pretty. Called them, but still some out of the black there. Out of practice!