1874 MAS revolver can't hit side of barn

[Boltcarrier]

I just bought a 1874 Ste Etienne MAS revolver. It has a shiny bore and in good overall condition.

lock up is great, and alignment to the barrel is good.

I used 455 Webley factory loads as well as reloads using 262 gr lead bullets, webley brass and no 7 powder

tested with a target 20 ft away, missed the whole board completely, I don't even know where the bullets went.

any ideas why the gun is shooting cockeye

 

[fightinghamster]

Is 262gr the correct bullet weight for that gun?(I honestly don’t know) my enfield no2 was designed around a 200gr 38s&w bullet but I can’t find anything becides 145gr so the sights are off, you may also need to slug the barrel to find the correct diameter bullet for your barrel, my no2 might not be broad side of a barn bad but it’s no where near as accurate as a modern pistol

 

[tiriaq]

Quick search indicated 181gr (430fps)and 164gr (620fps) bullets were loaded. Set up a really large sheet which would catch all bullets and find out where they are going. I wouldn't expect the 265gr Webley loads to shoot poa/poi, but at 20 feet a large enough sheet should show holes.
Once you find the holes, you might want to consider handloads that duplicate the originals.

 

[tigrr]

Start at 5 feet and move away from the target.
Hot 45acp went low on the target and came up to point of aim as I lowered the powder amount.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

LOL. I have a Schofield, and I'd have a hell of a time in a gun fight at 20 paces.

 

[snooker]

A larger target backer could show if the bullets are key holing as well.

 

[Lodi]

The gun, the ammo, or the shooter. I'd start with the shooter, easiest of the three to diagnose. Use a solid rest when shooting, use as small an aiming point as possible. Shoot single action and hold the trigger to the rear until recoil subsides. Don't raise your head too soon to look at targets.

 

[Arcosdad]

In case you hadn't come across this information:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...-11mm-French-(Naval!)-Ordnance-revolver-round

I looked this up for a pal who was thinking of buying one. Load experimentation sounds like a good winter project!

 

[Dave.S]

I would be Leary of shooting the Fiochi ammo from that,these guns are blackpowder guns,the 73s have a thicker cylinder wall and may be ok.I have several 73s and 74 and shoot blackpowder only,My opinion only,not backed by research.

 

[jjohnwm]

...the 73s have a thicker cylinder wall and may be ok.

I don't have an 1873 to measure, but I wonder if you are saying this ^ because of the unfluted 1873 cylinder vs. the fluted one on the 1874?

On a fluted 1874 cylinder, the cylinder wall between the chamber and the flutes is still thicker than that between the chamber and the outside perimeter of the cylinder. So the flutes are immaterial with regards to strength; the chamber-to-outside wall is the thinnest and thus the limiting factor.

Or do the 1873's have cylinders of larger diameter? I can't see how this could be the case since the frames are the same; there's not much space on the 1874 for a larger cylinder.

 

[apexanimal]

Just shoot at a closer target. I had an old 38 cal webley snub nose that wasnt hitting at 25, so i shot at 5 and lo and behold the rounds were extremely high, something you can't discover if the rounds arent hitting the paper at longer range.

 

[Dave.S]

The frames are shorter on the 74 ,I’ll measure both to see thickness

 

[Deathrawt]

I wonder if the bullets you are using are a bit undersized for the bore?
Maybe they are keyholing all over the place
When you put a cartridge bullet first into the muzzle does it swallow it up to the brass?
Those factory rounds might be too spicey for it too
Might have to reload for the old girl

 

[Boltcarrier]

I wonder if the bullets you are using are a bit undersized for the bore?
Maybe they are keyholing all over the place
When you put a cartridge bullet first into the muzzle does it swallow it up to the brass?
Those factory rounds might be too spicey for it too
Might have to reload for the old girl

that's a good point on sizing the bullet to the muzzle..

I also did reloads with 262 lead bullets and 455 webley brass purchased from Rusty's in Mission

I used Special no 7 which is equivalent to black powder, matter of fact, the smoke coming out of was a big plume, really interesting. First time loading black powder.. it's like in the movies.. kind of fun.

but both Fiocci and reloads, could find where the bullets went.

 

[Boltcarrier]

In case you hadn't come across this information:
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...-11mm-French-(Naval!)-Ordnance-revolver-round

I looked this up for a pal who was thinking of buying one. Load experimentation sounds like a good winter project!

Thanks for the links... very informative..

I didn't know that you supposed to lube the bullets

 

[Boltcarrier]

I wonder if the bullets you are using are a bit undersized for the bore?
Maybe they are keyholing all over the place
When you put a cartridge bullet first into the muzzle does it swallow it up to the brass?
Those factory rounds might be too spicey for it too
Might have to reload for the old girl