Raise your muzzle. (Updated Friday)

slug

slug

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The group outlined with the marker was shot with my 30/30 at 100 yards.
After moving the sight to the left a hair, I fired the second group but elevated the muzzle just before shooting to position the powder against the primer.
I've achieved similar improvement by tamping 0.2 gr. of cotton against the powder charge to hold it against the primer.
This is different from using a filler, which hasn't worked very well for me in the past.
Gkfu44X.jpg
 
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That’s a significant improvement. I too would be interested in your load. Did you weigh your cotton to get the .2 gr?

Curious as my 30-30 is certainly not shooting like your second group.
 
The bullet is Accurate's 31-165C, sized to .310 ahead of 25 gr. 844 powder ( an H335 generic ).
The rifle is an 1875 Sharps.

Yes, I weigh the cotton on a gippo scale. Great accuracy isn't required in these cases.
 
That’s somewhat similar to my load. Lee 150 gr powder coated size to .310 using 21.5 gr WC 735 (H335 equivalent) fired out of my micro groove Marlin 336. Maybe I’ll try working my way up along with some cotton. Never tried that before.
 
I had similar results using Unique in a 1904 made 1894 38-55. They say the powder isn't position sensitive but if I put a thin cardboard disk and then some cotton to hold the charge against the primer it went from a 4"+ group size to 1.75" at 100 yards.
 
hunter64 said:
I had similar results using Unique in a 1904 made 1894 38-55. They say the powder isn't position sensitive but if I put a thin cardboard disk and then some cotton to hold the charge against the primer it went from a 4"+ group size to 1.75" at 100 yards.
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I'm totally on board with the cotton swab in on top of a smaller charge...I usually do not fail to perform that task. Never saw the sense in trying without it.
I like Unique in my old 38-55 as well.
 
Very interesting to see that the real world performance contradicts their theory that the powder's position doesn't matter...

Thanks for posting slug!
 
I have debated whether I need to do something like this when loading for my Carcano. Shooting cast bullets only requires 10gr of Unique which leaves a lot of room in the case. I've never had an issue with ignition, and I haven't really gone for precision (mainly shooting steel at 100 yards). But I wonder if I wanted to push out further if positioning the powder against the primer using cotton as above would improve the shooting? Something like cotton wouldn't cause an increase in pressure would it? (read as, should I start the load at the bottom again and work up? [10.0gr is listed max in my manual for this bullet weight])
 
DiMP said:
I have debated whether I need to do something like this when loading for my Carcano. Shooting cast bullets only requires 10gr of Unique which leaves a lot of room in the case. I've never had an issue with ignition, and I haven't really gone for precision (mainly shooting steel at 100 yards). But I wonder if I wanted to push out further if positioning the powder against the primer using cotton as above would improve the shooting? Something like cotton wouldn't cause an increase in pressure would it? (read as, should I start the load at the bottom again and work up? [10.0gr is listed max in my manual for this bullet weight])
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The only data I have for the 6,5 Carcano is the 10.0 gr. max as you've noted. It's significant that the pressure isn't listed; perhaps because it was insufficient to register.
This was in Lyman's 3rd edition of its Cast Bullet Handbook, copyright 1980. This 10.0 gr. limit might be a reflection on the upper limit of cast bullet performance 43 years ago. Bullet lubes and designs have improved markedly since then, and powder coating has rewritten the "rules" regarding CB performance.

Personally, I don't think the cotton would be any cause for concern, nor would careful increments in the powder charge. As ever, be aware of any change in the primer indent as well as case head expansion et. c.
 
I have found similar results with my 8.15X46R Shuetzen rifle at 200 meters.
It's amazing how a little detail like keeping the powder against the primer makes such a huge difference!
Cat
 
My mentor in casting showed me a method using a 1/4" over powder wad using florist's foam, easily made punch with cutting the case head off a .45-70 case. This was for reduced .45-70 loads. 420 gr. cast with IMR 4759 , 20.0gr. IIRC. Worked well for long range steel silhouette loads
 
While raising the muzzle before each shot improves things, I'm a bit reluctant to raise the muzzle of a ready to fire rifle so it's pointing over the berm on some of our ranges. I've switched to using 1/4 sheet of two ply toilet paper tamped over the powder charge before seating the bullet.
Here are the results of two ten shot groups, without and with the toilet paper wad. (50 yards)

....................................Group.................Average..................................Ext. Spr.......................S.D.
Without ................2 & 11/16............1842 f/s....................................97 f/s.........................30 f/s
With........................1 & 13/16............1907 f/s....................................60 f/s..........................16 f/s

Apologies for the truncated post.
 
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I started using a bit of wasp nest a few years back instead of toilet paper or dacron, on a firends suggestion.
It really works super, I now use it in all my reduced loads.
Cat
 
iron cat said:
I started using a bit of wasp nest a few years back instead of toilet paper or dacron, on a firends suggestion.
It really works super, I now use it in all my reduced loads.
Cat
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I've heard of others using it with success as well. One question though, does it ever set to ember after firing? I'd hate to find the easy button solution and then go forth and burn down the countryside!
 
saskgunowner101 said:
I've heard of others using it with success as well. One question though, does it ever set to ember after firing? I'd hate to find the easy button solution and then go forth and burn down the countryside!
Click to expand...
It burns as fast or faster than toilet paper
This was a concern of mine when building ammo for my BP guns for fall waterfowl hunting . :>)
Cat
 
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