First shot is always a flyer!

brownie

brownie

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I have a Uberti highwall in .38-55. I have two loads that I use in it. my 100yd load is 250gr FNPB with 4895 powder and my 200yd load is 280gr FNGC with reloder 7 powder. both loads shoot very well, but with the 250gr load the first shoot is always a flyer, sometimes it even misses the target at 100yds. it does not matter if the barrel wiped dry or not. I wonder if anyone could tell me why it does this?
:confused:
 
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If its a clean barrel then the first is always a fouling shot and it will most likely be off. However if your firing from fouled barrel, and the barrel is cold, it could be a pressure point agaist the barrel when it's cold, and it only groups better once things warm up. The other thing it could be is the bolt holding your receiver are not tightem properly. So when you fire it changes position, then settles back down after you place it down on the bench or rest it agaist someting. Just some thoughts....
 
Two possibilities come to mind: The plain base bullet may be more inclined to strip in a cleaned bore. A bit of fouling may reduce this.
The gas check may provide enough increased resistance to stripping to prevent that.

Second: The plain base bullet might benefit by being slightly larger to improve the seal between bullet and bore. A bit of fouling might just be tightening the bore enough to improve the seal.

You didn't mention what loads you are using with the individual bullets. Reducing the plain base load a bit might also help if you are pushing them near the top velocity they can withstand.
 
the plain base bullet is being pushed fairely good by 31grs of 4895. I will reduce this load a bit and see if that cures it.-------when the weather warms up that is!
thanks
 
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brownie: You are probably at the top for plain based providing you have the fouled bore. Whether there is some stripping or the fouling provides enough resistance to get a bit of bullet upset to maintain a seal would be hard to determine. It's not unusual to get a flyer from a slick bore but for them to be off the paper makes me think you are working at the limit the bullet can tolereate. Even jacketed will shoot differently from a clean bore but it is usually only a matter of a couple inches. Solution: unless you have humidity and high rusting probability clean the bore as seldom as required to maintain accuracy.

I frequently shoot several hundred rounds of cast without cleaning and the rifles may sit for months. Proper fitting bullets and effective lube basically eliminate lead fouling so there is little good reason to scrub them after every use. The bullet lube residue does provide some bore protection when the rifle isn't being used.
 
good idea Stocker.
I guess it doesn,t need cleaned every time anyway. with plain base bullets it gets a little streak of lead about 3/4 of the way up the barrel, this tells me they are really getting revved up by the time they get that far. it is not hard to clean out, I just fire a couple of gas check bullets and the lead is gone. I really don,t want to reduce the load because with these two loads I can shoot at 100 & 200yds with out changing the sights.
:D
 
Flyers

Brownie

When I first saw your question, I presumed that you were shooting BP.
Have you tried BP in your rifle? A smokeless powder I can recommend for BPCR use is 5744. I use it in 45-70 and 50-70. Gotta be some loads for 38-55 using it on the net somewhere.

It is quite common for BPCRs and some MLs to print the first shot from a clean barrel well out of group. I just fired some groups with a newly acquired 'paper' Sharps using BP loads and much to my surpride and delight, the first round from a clean barrel is right on with subsequent shots!

That is rare in my experience, but I'll take it.
 
If there's no first shot flyer with the 280's, quit using the 250's. Assuming the accuracy at 100 is ok with the 280's.
 
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