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Post by elkman1310 on Jan 25, 2017 16:01:06 GMT -5
I got to test two new muzzleloaders I built. Both on S/S Rem 700 actions which I modify for a 209 primer. Both guns have Shilen 1-20 twist barrels #7 LV and a small amount of profiling. Both have Boyd's thumbhole stocks one in Nutmeg the other is Pepper.
The Nutmeg stocked M/L has a Leupold VX6 3x18x50 Ill scope mounted with Burris extreme tactical rings on a 20moa base which I cut out for easier access to install the primer. The Leupold VX6 has some mounting challenges when you install this scope with big tactical rings they don't have a very long scope tube and it is really short ahead of the turrets. I got the gun sighted in and shot a three shot group. The bullets were really on the loose side which cost me the first shot out of the group because the second two loaded with a little more resistance due to more burnt powder in the barrel. I do think the gun is capable of going a lot smaller. Load used was my standard test load 73grs of IMR 4198 a Hornady 300FTX and a fed 209a primer with a wool wad.
The Pepper stocked muzzleloader had my Burris 3x15x50 Veracity scope on it. I use this scope for my tests it has not failed on a muzzleloader and the optics are first rate. With a total of 5 shots through the two for sight in and 3 for a group it is a real shooter. Same load of IMR 4198 and a Hornady 300gr FTX and the fed 209a and wool wad. These bullets were on the snug side. But I have a bunch of bullets that have been sized for different barrels so I get them close for first round test purposes.
With the right sized bullets and a better trigger these guns will consistently shoot small groups. Yanking on a 2lb trigger even though it breaks clean is still a handy cap for trying to shoot small groups. But I don't like to take a stock Rem. trigger below 2lbs yes you can get them lower but 2lbs is a good weight for hunting. If you take notice I am shooting off a regular rest and rear sand bag and benches that are not up to benchrest standards.
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Post by doug136 on Jan 25, 2017 17:04:48 GMT -5
Your the man Elkman . Nice shooting !
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Post by jims on Jan 25, 2017 17:27:15 GMT -5
Both shooting well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 17:53:09 GMT -5
Lookin' good.
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Post by elkman1310 on Jan 25, 2017 18:10:57 GMT -5
I have got to learn how to take better pictures. It was not bright and sunny like the pictures show. Now that both guns performed well I can finish etching the info on the barrel and the customers name if he wants that on the barrel. Also these guns will be getting low Burris extreme tactical rings when you use a 20moa base it raises the scope quite a bit higher than standard bases mounted on the action so you can go with lower rings with a 50mm scope. I like my scopes higher some people like them lower the ones in the pictures are Burris Med rings.
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Post by hillbill on Jan 25, 2017 18:44:42 GMT -5
nice looking rigs, shooters too!
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Post by 68hunter on Jan 25, 2017 19:52:36 GMT -5
Nice job Carl. I see what you were talking about with the VX6 mounting. Hope the weather breaks soon so we can send a few down range.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 20:37:05 GMT -5
It's amazing how well these sml shoot!! Great workmanship and trigger pulling!!
Elkman, are your plugs recessed?
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Post by mike on Jan 25, 2017 20:56:52 GMT -5
Very handsome rifles indeed, elkman. And outstanding first groups especially since using production grade bullets.
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Post by schunter on Jan 26, 2017 7:56:14 GMT -5
Both are lookers. What size bullet did each barrel require?
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Post by elkman1310 on Jan 26, 2017 9:36:03 GMT -5
No my breech plugs are not really recessed the locking screw is just below the face of the plug I have tried several methods and I didn't see a bit of difference. The only thing you shouldn't do is have a pocket between the bushing and the locking screw that can cause the powder to get between the two and the locking screw can crack.
I am always amazed by the accuracy these muzzleloader show and they do it with ease. I only weigh out powder to within 1-2ths of a grain I don't weigh any bullets strictly size them three passes through my Swing-Loc dies and check them for diameter and load and shoot. If you took the time and did everything up to benchrest standards including shooting off a better bench and rifle rest and bags I do believe that you could at least 3 shots through the same hole at 100 yards. Hornady makes a very good affordable bullet and it shoots very well at long range it just lacks the BC of the custom bullets.
Shilen barrels are .457 dia. a correct sized bullet for the Pepper stocked M/L would be .4489 the Nutmeg .4490 that is only 1/10 thousands of a difference either one will work I went strictly by how I like to have the bullet feel when it goes down the barrel that's why the adjustable sizing die is so nice to use.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2017 10:14:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Elkman, I've always wondered about recessing a plug, just ask Jeff I've asked him enough about it. My thought process is the closer the powder can get to the primer the better but I do believe there is a happy medium. I wish I had all the tools necessary to experiment with these smokeless build but I don't. I have a lot of ideas some that people have already tried. My biggest issue is I live in town and if I were trying new things if love to be able to open my back door and test my theories. Not happening where I live, used to be able to do that when I lived in the country. Thanks for your range report, for those of us who don't get too go shoot as much as we'd like gives us something to think about.
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Post by dennis on Jan 26, 2017 10:33:54 GMT -5
Nice rifles both shooters for sure.
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Post by Richard on Jan 26, 2017 11:17:59 GMT -5
If you ever get a chance, try one of John Wenig's thumbhole stocks. They put your trigger finger in a better relation to the trigger than the Boyd's!
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Post by doug136 on Jan 26, 2017 14:57:49 GMT -5
Wow I called John Wenigs . To get a thumbhole stock with adjustable cheek piece is 1500 . There sure do look nice though
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Post by elkman1310 on Jan 26, 2017 15:27:00 GMT -5
Doug it's only money you have to get a few more jobs in the body shop and you can go on a spending spree! I think the Boyd's works just fine or the one from Stocky's I believe their thumbhole is a little different. I don't have a need for a adjustable check piece my cheeks are fat enough that I always need medium or high rings on my guns.
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Post by Richard on Jan 26, 2017 22:28:04 GMT -5
My deep purple is actually the John Wenig stock I used for my first Savage .45. The thing is, it was unfinished (completely)...........no barrel channel or inletting of any kind. Due to the conversion to the 700 action, I had to do a lot of work with epoxies and fillers and as a result, I had to paint it. Oh, and I paid $290.00 for it back in 08' free image hostfree upload
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 0:08:14 GMT -5
Nice work Rich!
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Post by doug136 on Jan 27, 2017 9:55:09 GMT -5
Very nice Richard. They told me they would have to have the action and barrel if I wanted one finished . I do like the way they look . It looks more like a pistol grip with a thumbhole .
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Post by doug136 on Jan 27, 2017 9:59:57 GMT -5
Elkman the reason I want a adjustable cheek piece is that it seems like I get vertical stringing if I don't have a decent cheek weld . But that may be because I'm not doing something else right ? Still learning
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