Sub-moa with blackpowder at 420 yards!!!

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flintyboom

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I have been testing a lot of different combinations of powders, lubes, wads, primers, etc with my Pedersoli 45-70 rolling block lately, striving for the best accuracy I can achieve.
Yesterday I fired a 4 shot group (was supposed to be 5 shots, but I had windage set too far left for the first shot) that measured just over 3 1/2" at 420 yards
(385 m)
If you look at just the top 3 shots of that group (2 in the same hole), they were all in 2.6"
I know a 3 shot group isn't the best measure of accuracy, but that 3 shot group was .62 moa, with the 4 shot group being .84 moa. I was tickled pink.

So, my best load so far is a CC1 200 LR primer, Starline case, 67.5 gr Swiss 1.5fg powder, .02 card wad,
.06 fiber wad, and a 20-1 cast Lyman 457125 bullet weighing 522 grains and lubed with SPG.
Oh, and the cases are not resized at all. Just de-primed and cleaned, and the bullets are pushed down onto the wads by hand.

I'm going to try some 10 shot groups later this week to see how the 67.5 gr and 70gr loads hold up.













 
That's amazing shooting. Even looking at all the shots in the black it's still very good. I haven't shot BP in several years but I've always been impressed at what they're capable of.
 
I got my Pedersoli 1874 to shoot sub MOA out to about 450-500 meters on a very calm day off cross sticks while prone. As soon as any wind is present, it opens to about 1.5-2 MOA. Took a VERY long time to work up a good load and fouling control method. My load is 71.5 grains of Swiss 1.5 with a 545 postell 30-1 cast, wiping between each shot. Sights are MVA No.100 Soule and No.113 front sight. I think I will try to go paper patched next, since I can get much more aerodynamically efficient bullets that way and they will perform better near 1,000m.

Great to see the performance you're getting. I am looking forward to seeing some further groups with that load!
 
Have you tried gas checks to hold the pressure in the bore?

What about a duplex load of a small amount of smokeless at the primer, then a card and the remainder of the charge load in blackpowder?
 
Hey Sharps 45-70
Is that the Lyman postell mold? I was wiping between shots too. I used 2 damp patches with 10-1 water/Ballistol
I have a Lyman 17 front sight with some size circle aperture and the Pedersoli mid-range soule sight. I want to upgrade to the MVA soon.
I was thinking about trying paper patch too. These will do well for silhouette shooting, but I want to try 800, 900, 1000yd, and paper patch seems to do well.
Where do you shoot?

Thanks Big Boar.

Hey Maple Leaf. I haven't tried gas checks or duplex before. I don't have a gas check mold.
 
If you can repeat that accuracy, you are doing better than most ever achieve with black powder cartridge. Best I can do is 1 inch groups, and not all the time either.
I only shoot paper patch now, and took me about 5 years to perfect that load, including trying out 6 different molds, wads, grease cookies, etc.
No more lead mining for me, but I have to use 2 wet patches, and 1 dry for every shot.
 
flintyboom said:
....

Hey Maple Leaf. I haven't tried gas checks or duplex before. I don't have a gas check mold.
Click to expand...

I might be confusing myself. The gas check is a shallow cup that crimps onto the base of the bullet. I never thought that the mold needs to have a recess. I assumed it was just a force fit and a squeeze.
 
Don't care who you are or what you are shooting, that kind of accuracy with iron sights of any kind is pretty damn impressive!

Keep on keepin' on!

Cheers!
 
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