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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) lighter weight "chicken" bullet (Read 80353 times)
PETE
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #15 - Oct 31st, 2005 at 8:34pm
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Dale53,

  Thanks for the reply. I would have thought with as many Shilouette shooters on here that I would have been inundated with opinions.

  I'm glad to hear my choice of the RCBS 300 gr. bullet was at least a reasonably good guess and it can also be used successfully on the pigs to. I didn't see to many choices in BA's catalog so figured that was it.... good or bad.

  My main thought tho is the recoil of the gun in offhand. As we both know gun movement starts at primer ignition and the heavier the bullet the more recoil you will have. A lighter bullet will impart less movement in the gun, for the same velocity, as a heavier one. So, I am figuring that the lighter bullet should be more accurate if for no other reason than that, all else being equal.

  I've read a little bit on some shooters using lighter bullets for the chickens but so far I haven't seen anything that says they are better. But, leaving everything else out of the equation, I've found in Schuetzen offhand the lighter bullet seems to give better scores at 200 yds. My main .32/40 bench bullet is 210 gr., but have found that a 185 grainer, which is no where near as accurate as the 210 grainer, does shoot better offhand.

  I guess the next question to ask you is what is your load for the above bullet?

  Until the "new" mould comes in I've been working on blow tubing today, and a new method that Steve Garbe says works pretty well for him. So far have to admit Steve's idea has a lot of merit. 12 shot groups of each ran 2" for blow tubing and 1 5/16" for Steve's method...... at 100 yds. Next time out I want to try a coupla different alloys. Hopefully the weather will hold up or else I'll have to finish up next Spring.

boats,

  Looks like we think the same on this. I really don't know why you got a lot of flack about it tho. Seems like the most reasonable way to go from my viewpoint.

  If the spotter says, 2 minutes right, with a 32" barrel that will be 2 "marks" on the slide no matter what the distance. It's the spotters job to give the correct amount to the shooter. Nothing could be simpler. The shooter doesn't have to convert a foot to inches and then over to MOA for the distance being shot. The shooter has plenty enuf to do blow tubing, keeping his eye on which correct target to shoot at next, and getting situated around for it. At the match I observed some of the shooters must have been getting real confused doing all this figuring because many were always asking which Shilouette they had to shoot next.

  At the range I'll be shooting at, at this time, they don't have berms behind the Shilouettes which definitely makes the spotters job even more tough. From what I hear it's not a big problem as you can watch the bullets flight all the way out until you get to the Rams. Then it's anybodies guess. In this situation the shooter can't even help himself by quickly looking up and seeing the bullet strike.

PETE
  
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boats
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #16 - Nov 1st, 2005 at 8:09am
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Pete

The flack was too regimented too strict they just want to have fun.  Well It's fun to shoot well and the truth of the matter is it's not a simple sport. Unless you apply yourself not many targets will fall.

Lack of berms is a problem but one that will be the same for all competitors. I bet someone who shoots a lot at that range has figured it out. On our club range we don't have berms behind the Turkeys, they share the same one with the Rams. you can see the bullet strike windage wise but it's difficult to tell the proper elevation. 

Watching the bullets flight is possable and a good thing. It's a whole lot easyier with a .45 than the smaller calibers.

The Spotting scope is going to be the key.  As long as the scope is up to standard and not too powerfull there is not much difference in how they will resolve a flying bullet.  77 or 80 mm and 20-27 x is the way to go with the 20 probably better.  A solid Tripod will make a big difference too. The big jump in resolution is a binocular set up. 

You see them at the big matches with the hot shots. I used one the other day that a friend had checked out of the Navy armory. It was a two Kowa 80 mm with 20x eyepieces.  They mount on a plate that has screw adjustments for width etc. It's amazing how well they resolve.

I bet  you do just fine

Boats
  
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PETE
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #17 - Nov 1st, 2005 at 3:39pm
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Boats,

  Yep! The main thing is to have fun. Win or lose! If shooting isn't fun you better take up golf. But, with that said, winning is a lot more fun than losing.  Grin

  I didn't got to the last shoot but understand they had some kind of steel plate behind the Turkeys and that helped a lot since you shoot West at them and they tended to fade out. You could see the bullet strikes on the plate so that also helped. Some kind of wood backing was put behind the Rams, but those I talked to thought that was next to useless as you couldn't see the hits. From what I hear they'll have berms behind the Shilouettes next year and they're even looking at maybe holding a sanctioned NRA match.

  Good info on the spotting scope. Hadn't thought about what would be the best power to use. I have a variable on my 80mm KOWA and it does go down to 20x so should be all set. Several years ago I made up a copy of the tripod surveyors use with the idea of using it when I need a real steady one. Haven't needed to use it much but looks like it'll come in handy now.

  Now that would be a neat idea...... Mount two KOWA's side-by-side. 

PETE
  
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white_owl
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #18 - Nov 1st, 2005 at 5:12pm
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boats, and others:

I shoot the RCBS 300 gr in both my Browning 40/65 and my Shiloh 40/70 Straight.  I had a horrible time finding a good load for it, and I still don't have one that uses straight black powder.

In the 40/65 I use a duplex load of RL-7 and (of all things) Pyrodex P.  It shoots great!  I can't remember what prompted me to try this combination (probably desperation).  MV is around 1400 fps.

In the 40/70, a duplex load of RL-7 and Goex Fg is my best load with it, by far.  MV is 1450 fps.

These duplex loads are not allowed in Silhouette, but I use them for the offhand target at gong matches, where permitted.

Recoil is very noticeably lighter with this bullet.

Also, a comment regarding spotters.  I don't disagree with most of the comments, but it is a 2-way street.  Take a shooter who misses the ram to the left, and you tell him to put in 2 MOA right.  On the next shot he now misses 4 MOA left!!!!   What do you tell him?  Did he move the sights the wrong way (very possible) or is he unable to hold a group?   Trying to spot for a shooter who can't hold a group is just as frustrating as having a poor spotter.   

Similarly, when shooting, I don't like to be told, simply, which way to move my sight.  How does the spotter know what I did while I was shooting?   I much prefer the spotter to tell me WHERE my shot went, and then I can decide how much correction to put on.  Especially for silhouette, there are only 4 targets, at standardized distances, and it's not hard to memorize each target size in MOA.

Let's say I accidently pull a shot on the ram to the left, and I call it right off his tail.  The spotter doesn't know I did that.  If he tells me I missed the ram, 2" off his tail, then I know I'm OK and I'll probably leave my sights alone.  But if he tells me to "come 2 MOA right"  I'll have to ask for a clarification.

I think the important thing is to work all this this out with your spotter before the shooting starts.
  
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boats
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #19 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 7:43am
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White Owl,

Your method works good too. It depends on the way you are used to working and who the most experenced person is.  Most important thing is to have it worked out in advance.

What I did not mention was the strike spot and call routine. It's general pratice to have the spotter mark the strike on a spotting pad and show it to the shooter. It should confirm the shooters break.  Just like in Schuetzen when you look at your target through a spotting scope.

If all match up any devation is due to conditons and can be adjusted for.  At top level from prone positons I think you will find the rifles will hold zero and the shooters hold center.  Any off strike is due to conditons.

The thing I like about Schuetzen is all of this is up to the shooter and advice or spotting by someone else is not alowed under the match rules.

Boats
  
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38-55
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #20 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 10:43am
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As always I read the posts with much interest.  I thought I  would stick my neck out and reply to and area somewhat touched upon.  First let me say I am only interested in older style rifles, and their care and feeding with lead bullets.  I shoot much more blackpowder than I do smokeless, but my 32-40 loves the new stuff.  I live in Pa and enjoy the many shooting disciplines we have, of which there are many.  That being said, we have no regular Schutzen matches, in the regular type of format.  The BPCR matches are well attended, by others who also share an interest in singleshot rifles and lead bullets.  Still no Schutzen interest, when range facilities aren't near as demanding, and there is no metal target expense.  I have to ask myself, what is it, that does not attract shooters to a discipline that you would think they would have a great interest in?  When the state has many types of rifle matches, using what might be considered specialized equipment, that are attended.  The Schutzen rifles and the loading of them, I find fascinating, I guess I am dated.
  
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Dale53
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #21 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 4:56pm
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I don't think you are dated (of course, we are ALL dated with our love of the old guns). I believe that the appeal of Silhouette lies in the "instant gratification" when we hit something - "It all falls down".

I shot it for 15 years until my eyes went. However, I like Schuetzen just as well. It is just different.

Dale53
  
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bluesteel45
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #22 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 5:36pm
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hey 38-55, i've seen you shoot already and have witnessed your results. if you're dated, then i guess we should all be!! i agree with your assessment on the sillouette vs. schutzen game, there's a heck of a lot more opportunity to use these fine old weapons in the knock down steel game than the schutzen paper/ bench game. there certainly are some outstanding bench clubs here in central pa, just schutzen has not caught on yet. we may have to change that........blue Grin
  
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AndyZ
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #23 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 8:07pm
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    38-55  and  Blue:        While it may not be in Pa there are 2 Schuetzen matches at Bath, NY each summer, just over the border from central Pa.  May be too far for you but we manage from Ct.  Will be glad to provide any additional information.
                                           andyz
  
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bluesteel45
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #24 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 10:29pm
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please, let us know!!! bath is certainly close enough. we'll try to do the same....blue
  
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PETE
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #25 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 11:05pm
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Blue,

  Yours, and the others opinions are certainly valid as to why there isn't much Schuetzen out your way. We are just the opposite here in central Iowa. Lots of Schuetzen shooting, both Summer & Winter.

  A personal observation on why there might not be much Schuetzen shooting out your way and a lot more Shilouette. I don't mean this in a derogatory manner but minute of angle is a lot less than minute of chicken, pig, turkey, or ram. Every year it seems we have one or two of the Shilouette shooters show up to try their hand at Schuetzen. That's the last we see of them.

  I assume you are a member of the ASSRA. If so, then on the back inside cover there are at least two listings I recall of Schuetzen clubs in PA. You might give the contact people a call and see where their ranges are at.

PETE
  
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bluesteel45
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #26 - Nov 2nd, 2005 at 11:37pm
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pete, there are some pretty fine benchrest clubs upto and including the 1000 yard stuff here in pennsylvania. just nobody has really grabbed the bull by the proverbial horns and gotten the ball rolling on the whole traditional schutzen end of things. you know, 'build it and they will come'. i'm certain the accuracy thing is not any issue whatsoever as the playing field will be level for everyone. if your sillouette rifle isn't cutting it. get a schutzen rifle in some traditional 32-40ish caliber and go for the sub minute of angle stuff. most true shooting afficinados need no excuses to buy a new rifle....just an excuse to use it. as far as the 2 clubs here in the state that do some schutzen shooting, it's not in the classic traditional schutzen match format....not etna green style anyway. we have the places to do it, just some people have to organize it and do it. i very much doubt it will replace sillouette shooting in popularity, as they are very well established and very well attended. you can actually get shut out of certain matches if you're not pre-registered. believe me, those guys may not be realizing 1/2 " M.O.A. in their sillouette rifles, but accuracy is paramount to most of them. there are actually enough shooters here in the east, that if we can get it to take a good hold, the available unertel , fecker, and targetspot scopes will start disappearing quickly, keep your fingers crossed.....blue
  
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hst
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #27 - Nov 3rd, 2005 at 1:01am
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Pete:

" A personal observation on why there might not be much Schuetzen shooting out your way and a lot more Shilouette. I don't mean this in a derogatory manner but minute of angle is a lot less than minute of chicken, pig, turkey, or ram. Every year it seems we have one or two of the Shilouette shooters show up to try their hand at Schuetzen. That's the last we see of them."



So what you are saying is that I shoot Silhouette because I am not a good enough rifleman for Schuetzen?  Interesting opinion.

Glenn Fewless
  
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DonH
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #28 - Nov 3rd, 2005 at 7:45am
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Amen, Glenn! 

One could deduce that every Schuetzen shooter at every match puts every shot in the 25 ring. An interesting article in the new Precision Shooting magazine comparing the great old-time Schuetzen shooters to great shooters in more modern offhand disciplines like Small Bore and comparing their targets to the Schuetzen target indicates that the best of the old-timers were as good but not necessarily better. Point is, a good shooter is a good shooter.
  
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DonH
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Re: lighter weight "chicken" bullet
Reply #29 - Nov 3rd, 2005 at 7:54am
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Fordot to mention also there are no "race guns" in silhouette.
  
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