rkba2nd wrote on Aug 6
th, 2020 at 1:59pm:
At that time and place, wonderful scores were made with other than spitzer bullets, no question. My point being that they are no longer used in 1000 yard benchrest matches, where the current record is something close to 3 inches for 10 shots. As I said, like comparing apples and oranges. There must be a sound reason why long range shooters today are using very long (rocket shape) , if you will, bullets as oppoosed to large meplat bullets. If you are trying to replicate what was in use 100+ years ago, rcords are still being broken, but nothing even close to what is being accomplished today. Again, apples and oranges. The same applies to short range benchrest, the distances we shoot, again apples and oranges, albeit the difference is less notable. As J louis, I believe noted, each rifle is different, and one must find what works best in that particular rifle, barrel, cartridge, etc. But, if you don't at least try, you will never know for sure. Krag
I think that the old time Creedmoor shooters more or less do what modern long range shooters do. Use a bullet that minimizes wind drag and drift. Modern black powder bullets for long range are not very different than what was used originally, i.e. no meplat and long-ish noses that are not super blunt. These work very well for the velocities used. The modern ones, as I'm sure you know, are much better at supersonic velocities.
With a good long range (black powder) bullet like the Money bullet ( very similar to the original Metford design ) it'll be completely stable to 1000 yards unless the twist is really inadequate, or the bullet is a poor fit fore the rifle, or the guy loading the cartridges has no clue
. I've seen a few cases of oblong holes in the target at 1000 yards but they've generally been from guys using non standard rifle/cartridge/bullet combos.
Chris.