August 2009 Cowboy Silhouette

The Cool way to arrive. I'm sure in some parts of the country seeing bikers with rifles would generate some 911 calls... Here the good guys can still have guns too


Good turn out for the morning rimfire session.

Commence Firing!


R and W putting the hurt on steel. Notice the bullet holes in the barrel - sometimes they shoot back ;^)

Match director and Great guy A hammering the Rams. Al tied for first in both matches but was edged out in shoot-offs.

100 year old Winchesters still on the job - contending and winning matches.

Gear Review: STove +

Coleman Website Photo

I've had a Coleman Peak 1 whitegas stove since ~1980 that is still going strong. I use it extensively for backpacking, melting wheel weights into ingots and occasionally boiling water for a Dungeness Crab feast. For those purposes it has served me well.

More recently we needed a multi-burner unit for our outdoor excursions and I reluctantly gave in to the convenience of the disposable propane fueled units after learning they could be refueled. We bought the Coleman PerfectFlow InstaStart stove at Cabelas for less than $50. The unit is lightweight and compact but it opens up to create a roomy cooking surface capable of bringing large pots of water to a boil quickly.

It is easy to light but isn't as instant as the name implies usually taking a few pushes of the sparking button. The Windscreens work well to protect the flame from wind and the stove itself is very stable if a flat surface is available.

The burn time of the propane canisters averaged four meals including heating the dish water - not real economical or practical for regular use but more convenient and cleaner than the liquid gas versions. I learned of a fitting that would allow refilling of the disposable containers from refillable bulk tanks. It is called the MacCoupler and it is also available for ~$20 through Cabelas.

Since we use this stove for more than 100 meals each year I purchased the MacCoupler and found it to work very well. I have found that chilling the "disposable" container in the ice chest before refilling more fully fills the container. Also inverting the bulk tank is important. After repeated refillings the MacCoupler has paid for itself and I am pleased with the purchase.

Ruger Single Six

Ruger Single Six (Ruger Catalog Picture)

About the biggest grin you'll ever seen is the moment your son/daughter, nephew/niece (who have the maturity and experience) gets permission to go plinking on their own. Due to the deliberate nature of single action shooting and robustness of the gun a Ruger Single Six a dandy gun for such an occasion. For many of us the Single Six was our first experience with a cowboy six shooter and it didn't matter how old we were, it was fun!

Over the years I've had five of them in barrel lengths of 4-3/4" to 6-1/2". Without exception they were good shooters. For one reason or another I traded them off but always kept at least one.

Meat Makers

Besides being good for inexpensive practice they are good hunting rifle companions. When hunting with a centerfire rifle I typically take the Single Six along to take Grouse I happen upon.

Equiped with the 22 Magnum cyclinder they are capable of Coyote sized critters or bigger in a survival situation. The Federal 40 grain WMR ammo clocks just under 1400 fps over the Chronograph which is better than all but the hyper velocity 22lr ammo out of 22 rifle. A Single Six with both cyclinders and a few boxes off ammo weigh right around three pounds and make a handy addition to the BOB.

Rimfire Cowboys

With most 22 lr ammo the velocity hovers around 1100 fps which is usually between 100 and 200 fps slower than it will do in a rifle.

25 Yard Target

The New Model Fixed Sight version is a VERY nice little six shooter. The grip is smaller but not too small. It is probably the prettiest Single Six ever made.

The Single Six can usually be had for under $300 used and there are a bunch of them out there. The best deals are from guys that prefer to burn through one magazine after another and find the Single Six too slow to reload. I guess they haven't seen my nephew burn through a brick with mine...

Late ADD: Single Six Chronograph Data 4-5/8" barrel
Federal Bulk 37gr HP = 1110 fps
Aguila SE Subsonic, 40 HP = 923 fps
CCI CB Long = 573 fps
CCI Mini Mag 40 grain Solids = 1063 fps
CCI Blazer 40 grain Solids = 1012 fps

CCI Maxi Mag (22 Mag) 1280 fps average
Federal 40grain FMJ 1387 fps

Mountain Bike Scouting

Before I get started on this post I want to thank everyone for the questions and correspondence. I'm amazed by the response my last few posts have generated. I would also like to encourage those interested in Mountain bikes to read The Ultimate Bug Out Vehicle posted over at the Nova Scotia Preppers Network. It is a Terrific series on bikes (and some great gardening articles as well) and their practical day to day use. My experience echoes those in the post and I predict you will find them very helpful.

Back to Scouting on a bike.

Today (and yesterday) I spent some time in the saddle exploring the areas in proximity of my residence. One of the areas I scouted was another big block of State land (this one is managed by the State Parks) that is popular with campers, hikers, geocachers, cyclists and beachcombers. It has been a while since my last visit, mainly due to the amount of pavement I have to ride to get there. I was pleased to have the trails to myself and discover a new trail had been added to the lake.

The topography is more severe but the trails are less technical - even buff by singletrack standards. Again today I came across a variety of wildlife that didn't detect me until I was very close to them. A rabbit feeding along the trail bolted at the shock of discovering there was a human a few feet away. Also I came across deer again and this time I had my camera.
Just as I was exiting the trail onto the reservoir road I saw this little doe as she stepped out onto the road just ahead of me. I stopped and she stood frozen looking back at me wondering what I was. I slowly raised my camera and took a picture, and several more that all look the same as this one as we watched each other over several minutes. Eventually her curiosity got the best of her and she moved closer until she could wind me and then hopped off into the thickets.
In a couple of hours I covered a majority of the trails and gated roads in the nearly 600 acre park, saw a number of critters, got some exercise and learned more about the area I live. They say the best view is "between the ears of your horse..." I would amend that to include another saddled mode of transportation - the Mountain Bike.

Mountain Bikes - Part 2

My one second of fame in the movie "Practical Magic" as a bike riding extra.
I'm front right on the red and yellow Cannondale.

Interestingly my post on Mountain bikes has generated a number of emails. In this post I will try to address some of the questions raised and clarify my reasoning.

On suspension: I raced XC and Downhill Mountain bikes from the late eighties to until 1999. Suspension forks and later full suspension bikes were evolving at an incredible rate. They greatly improved the comfort and speed on can travel off road on a bicycle.

My reasoning for choosing to use a rigid fork is the simplicity, reliability and ease of mounting fenders and racks. They are also quieter, lighter and require no maintenance. They are superior on the paved sections of my ride. Speed is less of a virtue for my bicycle needs these days.

I am also a bit of a “retro grouch.” I appreciate the simplicity and enjoy the challenge of riding a bicycle off road where I am challenged to pick good lines and maintain momentum.

One of my favorite bikes is a SINGLE speed – fully rigid Mountain bike – I had a local frame builder install track “fork ends” (horizontal rear dropouts) so I could run different gears on my Phil Wood “flip-flop” rear wheel (one fixed, one freewheeling) without chain tensioning devices. There is great satisfaction in cleaning a difficult section of trail on a single speed mountain bike. I was a skeptic before I tried it. Now it is my preferred recreation cycling method.

For all around general purpose use, a multi-geared rigid Mountain bike is difficult to beat.

On Frames and Components: I’ve owned and raced Steel, Aluminum (Cannondale & TREK) and Carbon Fiber (early Generation TREK and GARY FISHER OCLV frames) bikes. All – just shy of three dozen in a little more than three decades - were terrific bikes. My stable (down to six bikes – 3 mountain, 1 touring, 1 road and a tandem) is now purely steel (Reynolds and True Temper Tubesets). For value and durability, steel is the deal.

My Gary Fisher ProCaliber LTD

OCLV Frame - Machine Tech and Shimano Components (circa 1994)

For Mountain Bike components I use a mix of mostly Shimano XT-Hubs, Derailleurs and shifters (old school thumb, bar-end and down tube). Cranks are LX, XT, Ultegra and Dura-Ace. For my general purpose bike I like the ancient Suntour XC “bear traps” because they work well with boots. My other bikes sport Time (MTB) and Speedplay (Road) “clipless” pedals. This is a personal preference – I like plenty of “float” and in the case of the MTB Time pedals, reliability in the mud. Even more important than the frame is a good wheelset. I build my own wheels using Mavic and Bontrager Rims because of theirreliable quality. I prefer double wall-eyeleted-welded seam rims with a machined braking surface. I have wheels that are nearly 20 years old. When they fail it is from braking surface wear. I lace my wheels three-cross for durability and typically run a 36 spoke rear on all but my racing bikes. Wheelsmith and DT spokes are the best in my opinion. I use brass nipples and coat threads with linseed oil while building. Rarely do I need to true the wheels. Brakes - I use Old School cantilevers for their ease of use with fenders and the modulation adjustability. I hear the modern disk brakes are much improved and I would probably use them if and when I ever have to rebuild a wheelset.

Carrying a Firearm: To be honest I have not found the perfect solution to that issue. With rifles it comes down to comfort vs. interference with pedalling or mobility. Using a sling or Kifaru Gun Bearer usually wins out if I am hunting. The handlebar mounted racks are a pain on narrow trails but are more comfortable. A scabbard lashed onto the bike can interfere with pedalling, mounting dismounting or field of view.

For handguns perhaps the most comfortable and easy to access is a lightweight and smaller handgun. I've tried holsters, both tanker style and belt carry. They work OK but when riding hard, prespiring and juking around obsticles I found them less than ideal. Handlebar bags work well if you find one with easy access and protection from spray thrown up by the front wheel.

Mountain Bike - A very useful tool

This morning I rode my Mountain Bike on some nearby State land. It is a nice block of mostly 2nd and third growth forest, a marsh, abandon logging roads and trails (aka single track). There is some technical riding but not a lot of vertical deviation.

Soon after I arrived and within a quarter mile of my tires hitting the dirt I rode up to a Blacktail doe. I stopped and watched her for a while until she figured out what I was and hopped away. The trail I was on looped away and then switched back to the direction she retreated so I speculated I may see her again - sure enough I spotted her again looking back where I had spooked her. I rode within 25 yards of her before she spooked again. I had forgotten how stealthy a mountain bike can be.

Before I could ride another half mile I spotted another Blacktail and within a half mile of that I spooked another. When I spoke with hikers in the area I asked them if they were seeing any deer. None of them had...

In the past I have noticed I see a lot of game while riding. Usually a good thing but one time I rode right between a sow Black Bear and her cubs... Luckily I was well past her before she took notice. I've used the mountain bike to access remote hunting areas in the past. A Forest Service gate was a welcome sight, barring motorized travel but allowing access to those willing get out or off of their vehicles. Covering a lot of ground quietly makes it ideal for forest grouse that are common sights on and along forest roads. Even when spooked they rarely go far. If my tag is filled or I've given up on an area I will take a Grouse with my sidearm or a reduced load in my rifle.

It is just about time to start scouting and I can think of no better way to cover ground and see game from a highly mobile and quiet machine. With Bear season just a week away, it was a good reminder of how useful a mountain bike can be for hunting.

My general purpose bike. Because I live in the Pacific NorthWET fenders greatly inprove comfort while riding in the rain. I use the old style "thumb shifters" so I could canibalize any 26" rear wheel regardless of the rear cluster - 5 speed 7 or 8 speed, even nine speed if I could also salvage a chain and crankset) and still shift in friction mode.

This is my Touring bike. It is a converted mountain bike that I switched out the handlebars, brake levers and shifters. I have a front rack and front panniers that help me extend my range - water is usually the limiting factor - and the rugged frame and wheelset can handle the roughest dirt roads.

More Battering of the Rams - Not!

This silhouette game is addictive, Geoff and Wind are my enablers on the eastern side of the state. I met a gentleman named Paul that invited me to try it on this side at the Custer range and is now my western enabler...

The range is very nice - sorry I forgot my camera . Covered line, concrete pad, benches, PA, buzzer, lights... even a kid that rides out on his quad to set the Rams and Turkeys. 16 participants for the pistol caliber and 12 for rimfire. Nice folks - most shooters are - and very welcoming. I'd encourage others in the area to give it a roll. Cost is $7 / match.

I didn't get everyone's name. I was paired up with a friend of Wind's named Dan S. - good guy and we managed to stay out of contention by battling for the "vegetarian" (least critters hit) honors. Paul, my enabler won both matches with some ancient WWI vintage rifles that were about the same age as he is... The Winning scores were in the low thirties and top threes in the high twenties. Great fun.

On the upside I managed my first ever clean sweep, tipping all ten boars in the pistol caliber and I managed to improve my Turkeys to 6 compared to the 1 I hit in Tonasket a couple of weeks ago. Stunk it up on the rams for some reason. The 45 Colt 255 grain RNFP sure makes the chickens dance.

Sorry I didn't "represent" for the Tonasket guys very well. I think we'll need to import a ringer like Wind or Geoff to give a more accurate (pun intended) representation of what the Tonasket guys can do.

They do a couple of matches a month up there including the long range rifle calibers. I'd highly recommend visiting and giving it a try to those within driving range.

Cowboy Silhouette

With the temperature predicted to reach 100 degrees it was decided to eliminate one of the two silhouette matches for the day. You could choose which - rimfire or pistol caliber. I chose the rimfire with the Marlin Mountie because I shoot it the most.

I had a rough start with the chickens, only six and then started to get on track with the boars, nine before struggling with the turkeys, ONLY ONE TURKEY! Yikes! I shot six rams in a row and finished with 8. Knocking down 24 out of 40 is good for me, the winner managed 31 and a few other guys had mid to upper twenties. Al - the match director - shot 38 out of 40 in the pistol caliber class. Except for the heat, no excuses.

I did get a few pictures even though I was participating.








The Captain, friend and all around good guy partnered up with a rookie he's encouraging into the sport and still managed a competitive score.

Next time, Wear a hat - baked myself. HIT more Turkeys!! One shot at a time!

Marlin 336CB Cowboy

The more time goes by, the more my eyes appreciate longer barrels. I'm holding out as long as I can before I scope my leverguns and I'm finding that means getting the front sight out a bit further than the carbine lengths. A range session with the 16" barreled 336SDT really strains my eyes. Conversely the sight picture on the 24" Cowboy is easy. Looks like before too long I'll either have to scope or sell the SDT to conform with my 'If I own it, I shoot it policy.'

Not that I'm admiting defeat but I've even sent one of the 336 Texan's in for the "Cowboy Conversion" - 24" octagon barrel and forend. I haven't heard back yet but I'm optimistic they'll be able to do the conversion - I'll write a full report when/if it happens.

A lot of us enjoy the quick handling and portability of a carbine. We spend more time carrying it than shooting so it really excells for field use. The downsides are muzzle blast, increased report, shorter iron sight radious and a small velocity penalty with some loads.

Now that I own both extremes the contrast is more evident, and the longer barrel is winning me over. Offhand the front sight just seems to hang on the target. The long sight radious doesn't require me to squint. The report, especially the subsonic loads, is greatly reduced. The chronograph has higher numbers and the gap in velocity is higher at the full power levels. Another bonus is the extra-cartridge or two that can ride onboard - "load on Sunday, shoot all week."



There is a small weight penalty and I've complained in the past about hunting thick stuff with longer barrels but my view on that is softening and I may take one of the Cowboys hunting this year.
A fun "Gallery Load" that shoots well at out to 25 yards and OK out to 50 is a '0' buckshot over 3 grains of Bullseye. It is very quiet and averages just over 1000 fps.

45 Colt load for the Ruger New Vaquero

My favorite packin around gun is the Ruger New Vaquero in 45 Colt. Not only is it beautiful it is capable - from putting Grouse on the menu to the peace of mind that comes with the cartridge that made all men equal - thanks Sam Colt. I sleep well knowing that whatever pokes its nose in the tent better have an invitation.

"Nothing says go away like the muzzle end of a 45." - unknown

My keg of SR 4756 is now empty... A powder I just happened onto turned out to be a real winner in my 45 Colts. Thousands of rounds and many smiles later I'm contemplating purchasing another Keg (= over 4,000 carges / keg). It meters well in my Lee Perfect Powder Measure, it is fluffy so fills the case nicely and a double charge is easy to spot and it is one of the cleaner powders I've tried. Bullseye, W231, AA#5, SR 7625, and Unique... all worked at least OK but had at least one drawback or lacked good data in 45 Colt.

A friend recommends Hodgdon Tightgroup. It is supposed to meter well (but might not fill the case enough to make a double charge easy to spot), isn't temperature or position sensitive and it is economical (few grains / fps). The reason I haven't tried it is the most popular powders have been sold out since the Presidential elections - primers , bullets and brass too...

A powder that I still come across and have had success with is Red Dot. I still have some so I gave it a try. Under the 255 grain Lee bullet it has really excelled with single digit standard deviations, promising accuracy and clean burn. While it doesn't seem to meter well it does Scoop (Lee Powder Scoops) very consistently - I still weigh every charge. Red Dot is typically at the bottom of the price scale too... coupled with lower weight charges = inexpensive shooting.

At the range today it continued to impress. Under a 255 grain RNFP cast bullet I was able to find a load that shot Point of Aim = Point of impant while averaging 935 fps with single digit SD. This load is a bit north of the published data but there were NO signs of excessive pressure. The primers look normal and the cases fall easily from the cylinder. As a bonus the load burns cleaner than my favorite SR 4756 load. The results are good enough that I will continue testing and may consider changing my go-to 45 Colt powder to Red Dot.

On an off topic note; 22lr ammo has been non-existent for months. On occasion I come across some CCI Mini-Mags for about $8/100. YIKES!!! Using the prices I paid for components (not counting my time or the brass) I'm shooting 45 Colt for less - paying $0.25/ pound for lead = ~ $0.01 per bullet, Primers last cost me less than $30 / 1000 so <$0.03 each and a paying $20 / lb for powder costs me less than $0.02 per charge. Hard to believe that shooting 45 Colt is cheaper than 22lr... My current reality...

Marlin 1895 LTD III

Marlin's most perfect 1895 - the LTD III

The day it arrived I couldn't wait to get it to the range and took what ammo I had on hand, here is the first range report.

First up was some 405 grain Laser-Cast RNFP PB over a 25 gr charge of SR4759 (always double check your data ) a WLR in a Starline case. This is a (or used to be) fairly economical load so I shoot it a lot. Within a few shots I had it sighted in and was shooting open sight POA = POI @ 50 yards. Grouped consistently ~1-1/2" front rested with open sights.

A five shot string over the chronograph averaged 1388 with a standard deviation of 11.87

Next up I shot up what I had left of some 425gr bullets I cast last summer. The RANCH DOG TLC-460-425 RF has proven to be accurate in all of my 1895's (four of em) and proved to be in this rifle too. With the same charge of SR4759 as above in Starline cases (with 12 reloads on them) it chugged along a 1374 with a standard deviation of 7.68. These bullets were Gas Checked and Lubed with Lee Liquid Alox and sized to .460"

After those were gone I pulled out five leftover from last hunting season 425gr Beartooth Bullet "Pile driver Jr" over a 37gr charge of IMR 4198. These showed promising accuracy and averaged 1573 fps with and SD=38.47. This is about the limit of recoil I'd consider shooting off the bench without padding. It wasn't punishing but it was stout.

All of three of the loads above printed very nearly the same at 50 yards with this sight setting.

Lastly I shot some plinker loads using the 405 gr LC bullet over some 8 grains of Bullseye (Data on www.gmdr.com ) with WLR primers in WW cases. These loped along at 858 fps average with a SD of 6.08. Accuracy was the worst of the bunch spreading out over 2" and printing a full 6" higher at 50 yards with the same sight setting. Very mild recoil.

I think I'm going to like this rifle. It has the aesthetic quality of the Cowboy and the handiness of the Guide Gun with an extended mag tube. I have some Hornady 350's, some Remington 405s some more cast bullets yet to try including some 300 grainers. I'll let you know how that goes too.



Special Thanks to 2ndovc for answering all my questions and convincing me I needed one of these.

Marlin 336

These things keep following me home


Range report re-posts

2 December 2007 - This was my first trip out with this rifle. The 170 grain Sierra and Oregon Trail Laser-Cast bullets look promising and the commercial Federal 170 grain ammo performed well too. I was disappointed in the 150 gr Remington bulk bullets.

Details:
-1976 vintage
-20” Microgoove barrel.
-Weather: Lightly snowing, 32*, wind quartering from right front and COLD.
-25 & 50 yard targets, 3-5 shot groups
-All reloads crimped with the Lee Factory Crimp

Not meant to be a reloading guide but if you use it, double check data and use at your own risk.

Bulk Remington 150 grain Core-Lokt JRN
-IMR 4895 (70’s vintage), 30.5 gr, (IMR data) = 2032 fps, 1” 25 yard, 2.25” 50 yard groups
-IMR3031, 30gr, (IMR data) = 2180 fps, 7/8” 25 yard group, 2” 50 yard groups
-Varget, 33gr (Hodgdon data) = 2120 fps, ¾” 25 yard group. 1-1/2” 50 yard groups.

I had hoped for better since these are relatively inexpensive and have a good reputation for hunting. I have enough to keep trying but unless there is a dramatic improvement in accuracy I'm probably not going to buy these again.

Sierra 170gr JFP
-IMR 3031 29.5gr (IMR data) = 2036 fps, 3/8” 25 yard, 13/16” 50 yard group.

This one is showing some promise. I'm down to my last batch of these but the new rifle shoots them better than my other two 30-30s so far.

Federal Power Shok 170gr JRN
-Factory Ammo = 2163 fps 7/8” 50 yard group

This is that sale ammo I bought early this fall. Shoots well in all the rifles I've tested it in including some that aren't my own... In my 336CB the average velocity = advertised velocity. Good ammo and the price after rebates was better than I could have reloaded it for.

Oregon Trail

Laser-Cast 170gr LRNFP, I lubed with Lee Liquid Alox and added a Hornady gas check
-IMR 4227 17gr (Lyman Data) =1637 fps, ¾” 25 yard group, 1-5/8” 50 yard group.
-IMR SR4756, (gmdr.com data) 6gr. No chrony data. ½” 25 yard group.
-IMR SR4756, (Lyman Data) 10.4gr, no chrony data, <1”>

Saturday, August 30, 2008

336 Texan

93 grain Lyman mold cast (wheel weights) bullet, sized .311"
3.3 grains of Red Dot (=.5cc Lee powder scoop)
Remington 9.5 primer
Winchester Brass
Loaded with a $20 Lee Loader

I was given a few hundred of these bullets and I've been toying around with them in the 30-30. The last time out I tried them with 5 grains of Red Dot and averaged 1178 fps with OK accuracy. This time I dropped the load to 3.3 grains and averaged 1007 fps. The accuracy was 2-1/2" at 50 yards with iron sights and it shoots about 2" lower than 170gr Remington Corelokt factory loads. At 25 yards It managed to keep them at 1" including the flier and shot point of aim. it would make a good close range Grouse load.

The surprise of the day:
.314" average ~48 grain Buckshot pressed into the case with thumb pressure
a 22lr case full of Bullseye powder
Remington 9.5 primer
S&B case (terrible brass, I won't reuse them again)

Out of curiosity I decided to try this load at 50 yards. I was VERY pleased to see that it shot point of aim and about 2" group size. Much better than I had anticipated at this range and better than the 93 grain load. The load averaged 1059 fps. At 25 yards this shoots under 1" and just slightly below the point of aim. Very economical. The most expensive component is the primer. The report is less than a 22lr

Next I ran some 170 grain factory Remington Core-lokt's through which currently a $5 per box rebate going on... Get it on sale and you'll end up paying less than $0.50 per round for it. This batch ran through the chronograph 2253 fps average which is a 100 fps quicker than previous batches I've purchased. The accuracy was good, just slightly over 1" at 50 yards with iron sights.

This rifle loves and is sighted in for a 170 grain Laser-Cast bullet over 5 grains of Red Dot. I shot a 3/4" fifty yard group as a baseline and it averages 1024 fps.

[B]The Cowboy[/B]
The last trip out the Cowboy showed a strong preference for the Ranch Dog TLC311-165 bullet with a Hornady Gas Check ( www.ranchdogmolds.com ) over 10.5 grains of SR4756 - which happens to be the charge my 45 colt Rugers like with a 255 grain cast bullet. Today that trend was tested and proved. The load averages 1420 fps and produced sub 1" groups once the barrel was fouled. I'll probably try this load for Cowboy Silhouette matches using this rifle. Mild shooting and low report.

Also shot my "big bore lite" Marlin 1894 in 45 colt. It really seems to like the 300 grain bullets better than the 255's. I've been shooting this rifle in the Pistol Caliber Cowboy Silhouette matches with the 255's jogging out there at 1150 fps. I'm thinking the 300's might add another 4 or 5 down. The 255's SLAM the targets. A low hit on a chicken will send it spinning into the air and over the berm. The 100 yard rams crash down with authority. The 1200 fps 300+ grain cast bullets might add to the drama.

Also shot the Ruger New Vaquero and my Single Sixes. The Winchester Bulk ammo seems to shoot VERY well in these producing the best groups of the day. The Federal Auto Match ammo did well too.

Marlin 336 CB and the Ranch Dog 165 grain bullet

I've had good luck with this bullet in all of my Marlin 336's, especially the Cowboy. I tested it with a variety of powders yesterday and all produced good groups - 1" or less at 50 yards with iron sights.

An easy shooting and very accurate load uses SR 4756 (NOT 4759). It rolls them out at a little over 1400 fps and on the fifth notch up from the bottom on the rear sight it pretty much zero's the 200 meter rams. The fourth notch is on for the 150 yard Turkeys and the third notch is essentially a 100 yard zero. Aiming at the foot of the 50 meter chickens rolls them over with a center body shot.

Another stand out load yesterday was the AA5744. Those that know my history know that I am not a big fan of this powder but yesterday it did produce some excellent groups. The downside is that this load prints 6" high with the rear sight elevator at the lowest point.

The worst of the day, but still pretty good was 2400. I have a bunch of this powder and I haven't found a good use for it since I sold my 44. I was hoping it would do a little better but the other powders did better.

More Fun with the 45 Colt

A while back I picked up a .454" Round Ball mold. I've been trying to create a useful load for my Ruger New Vaquero and Marlin 1894CB. Incrementally I've been working up trying to find "the load" but haven't manage it yet.

My latest attempt was with 6 grains of Red Dot under the 147 grain ball. The accuracy and the velocity deviation are improving.

The Point of Impact (POI) with the Marlin is slightly higher than with my usual 300 grain 1300 fps load. It would make a decent Grouse and garden vermin load with a little more pressure to seal the chamber to prevent the gas blowing back through the bolt and sooting the cases. To remedy that I'd probably have to ramp up the velocity quite a bit more. Right now this load is averaging 953 fps which makes for a reasonably quiet and rimfire like recoil - pushing it faster would no doubt increase the report which is contrary to my preferences for the load... I may try it anyway.

Out of the Ruger New Vaquero the Red Dot/ Round Ball load average 730 fps. The accuracy was OK, a bit over 2" at 25 yards but it printed a full 8" lower than point of aim.
The 25 yard Round Ball group is below the target on the cardboard. The group in the bullseye is a 255 grain Lee cast bullet pushed to 925 fps by SR4756 - it shoots Point of Aim.

At 25 feet the Round Ball load still printed well below the 255 grain load.

25 foot group

After my testing was done I decided to have a little fun and shoot the Ruger at 100 yards. Aiming about 12" high the "group" (loose sense of the word but still "minute of zombie.") measured just beyond the span of my hand, stringing mostly horizontally so I expect it was mostly the result of pilot error and the RNV is capable of better. The delay between the muzzle blast and the dirt splash/thud was enjoyable. Boom.... thud! Grin. I "bonged the 100 yard gong" 3 out of five times while shooting offhand (two handed).

Next time I may see if I can knock down a 200 yard ram... ;^)

Review: Camelbak packs

A few Elk seasons ago I managed to get myself lost. It was the first time I had hunted the area and I spent the afternoon and evening on a long stalk. I was so focused on the Elk I did not pay enough attention to my surroundings. When the sun set and I had to abandon the hunt and head back to camp which I assumed was just over the ridge. As I crested the ridge I didn't recognize any familiar landmarks. I guessed the stalk had taken me further away from camp than I realized so I continued on my original bearing to the next ridge. After an hour of hiking and still uncertain of my location I admitted I was in fact lost which brings me to the point of this preamble - I had the gear I needed because I was wearing my pack.

My gear gave me confidence and gave me options. Light, map and compass if I wanted to try to navigate my way out and/or make a fire and build a shelter as well as the comfort of extra clothing and food. I had some control over my situation and was able to calmly make good decisions. My adventure ended well, as I was able to navigate my way back to camp and the only suffering I endure is the razzing I get annually from my hunting partners about being (really) late for dinner...

A while back I did a gear review on the CamelBak Striker pack. I've since added another two Camelbak packs to my collection - The Commander and the Ranger.

All of the packs are well made and loaded with features like organizers inside compartments, cinch strap stabilizers, lashing loops, and easily adjustable shoulder straps and waist belt. I'll give a synopsis of all three.



The Striker is a great pack when the terrain is thick and maneuverability is a priority. It also excels when worn mountain biking. It is big enough to carry essentials and small enough not to get in the way. I've hunted with this pack on several occasions and found wearing it all day with ~20 pounds of gear and water is comfortable. I would estimate around 25 pounds is about the max for comfort. At 1,180 cubic inches it is difficult to stuff that much weight in it. It comes with a 70 oz reservoir that when full does tend to round the back of the pack when it is fully loaded with gear.



The Ranger is my newest pack and so far I am very happy with it too. Its 1831 cubic inches (30 L) is plenty for a day trip and very nice in the winter for extra clothing and food. It is a more traditionally styled pack with a lot of organization features. It is probably the maximum size I would want to wear when riding a mountain bike and then I wouldn't want to load it to its weight capacity. It falls short of being an overnight pack unless you are willing to be very minimalist. The Ranger is a very nice size for long day trips with enough room for multiple meals and peripheral gear like camera equipment. Though bigger it isn't burdensome nor a lot more catchy in thick brush. After a year of use I haven't found the max all day comfort weight limit yet. The pack straps and belt are slightly more substantial than the striker and the internal soft frame improve comfort. The Ranger is also equipped with the larger 100 oz reservoir.


The Commander is the largest of the three hunting packs at 2747 cubic inches (45 L). The straps and belt are upgraded and more supportive than the previous two. It also has a couple of nice pouches - including one with cartridge loops - that are nice and handy for frequently used small items. The down side to this feature is that it interferes with holster wear. The commander is large enough for overnight trips with a moderate amount of gear. My 2 man Cabelas XPG tent and Wiggys overbag fit in the main compartment with a few smaller items stuffed in too. The tent poles need to be tied along the side the pack as they are too long to fit inside the compartment. There is additional room for food, cooking gear, activity gear (minimal: fishing, hunting) and essential items provided they are compact. I have not over-nighted with this bag but I have carried it loaded with my camping gear and some additional iron plate weight, if you can put it in this pack you can carry it comfortably provided you aren't haulng rocks. It too comes with the 100 oz reservoir.

45 Colt on Game Performance

45 Colt is one of my favorite calibers to load, shoot and hunt with. It has been getting the job done for over 130 years now. With modern propellants and projectiles it looks like it has plenty of life left in it. Here are a few posts I've gleaned from the various forums I haunt.

Count Zer0 wrote in the THR 1894 club;

"1894 Big 5 "edition" in 45 Colt. it goes well with my RBH in same caliber, except its chamber is larger than the RBH, so it works the brass more than I'd like.

Undisclosed load gets a 265WFN gas-checked lead bullet to 1450fps from said weapon, which was enough to pass thru about 30" of elk only a 2 weeks ago. My first elk, so you might say I like this rifle. This is one of those 45 Colt loads one should not attempt in Colts or replicas thereof, but it's good for 2" groups on average at 100yds with said bullets ( optics used ). The jacketed fodder will do better, but lever guns are inherently innacurate right? My hunting setup uses a Skinner peep sight, I pulled the glass after load development was done.

Anyway, I can't think of a better "brush gun" right now since mine is still all aglow!

My hunting buddy has the CB in the same caliber and got his elk with his using the same load. No bullets were recovered despite one going through both upper foreleg bones and the ribs twice. Those foreleg bones are the size of a quarter folks. Less meat damage than on the third elk in our party which fell to the classic 180gr 30-06.

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From the Cast Boolits forum:

Stubshaft wrote -"I use the 300 in my Blackhawk w/4 5/8" barrel. I drive it about 750fps and although I have never shot a deer with it, it is death and destruction on hogs. I do try to stalk to within 25yds and have not needed a followup shot to drop one. The biggest hog to date with this bullet was 195lbs dressed."

Leadman wrote: "I shot an elk with the very similar Lee 310gr. RFN, muzzle velocity just over 1,100 fps in the front shoulders. Went all the way thru both shoulders, elk ran maybe 50 yards. Hole was the same size coming out as going in and that was with AC WW. These big heavy for caliber bolits don't need a tremendous amont of velocity. "

Old Vic wrote: "A couple years back I shot a muley doe with a .45 Colt out of a Ruger 4 5/8 barrel. It was a broadside shot at about 50 yards. At the shot, the doe fliinched, then trotted off a few yards before toppling over. The hit was through both lungs, with a thumb size hole going in and coming out. The bullet was a 300 grainer with a moderate meplate. I didn't know what the velocity was at the time of the shot, but when I chrono'ed them later, they were going 730 fps."

Veral Smith has a formula that seems to work in the real world, not just on paper.

He writes: "My displacement velocity formula is: Velocity times meplat width in thousandths of an inch divided by 4. Ideal DV range for big game is 100 to 125, 130 at the very max for fastest kills. At 100, wound diameter will average about 1 inch, at 125 it will be around 1 1/4 inch. If the wound diameter is 1 1/2 inch or larger in diameter the animal will normally run like it's tail is afire for 50 to 150 yards before expiring, though the shot is centered in the vitals. Yes even with a 4 inch diameter exit wound on a deer. Many will drop instantly with large wounds, if nerve shock anchors them, but many will run violently because blood flow is slowed by too large a wound. If wound diameter is 3/4 inch, about 85 DV, kills can be instant if well placed but some run can be expected. With a 70 DV, wounds will be about 1/2 to 5/8 inch. VERY deadly if well placed in the vitals, but some run is quite certain."

In another post he writes:

"First understand that it is NOT a theory. I would have let you call it a concept 15 years ago, but it is now a fact, proven over and over by thousands, and no one who has tried it has questioned it's accuracy since I published it in 1990.

The easy calculation is meplat diameter in thousandths of an inch X Velocity divided by 4.

Ignore the range you'll expect to be shooting at. Just calculate it off muzzle velocity and it will be close out to as far as most can hit with a revolver or rifles which thrive on 'Pumpkin ball' type bullets.

Get the DV up to 80 minimum, for quick kills on deer and larger game, best with 100 to 125. Don't go over that very much or kill speed will go down.

If using a small caliber gun which doesn't have the omph to get the 80 minimum desired DV, you'll get good clean kills at DV's down to 60 if the bullets are placed into good vital areas of the chest. i.e. If they cut major blood vessels, heart, or the thicker parts of the lungs.

Expect approximate wound diameters straight through the muscle and organ parts of game as follows:

60 to 70 DV 1/2 inch diameter
75 to 90 DV 3/4 inch +
100 DV 1 inch +
125 DV 1 1/4 inch +
If wound diameter goes up to 1 3/8 inch or greater kill speed drops off rapidly, which means game runs quite a way before expiring. With a DV of 100 to 125, game up to elk moose and bison almost always fold in their tracks or take a few steps at most."

Good stuff!

Broadening Horizons

I've decided to broaden the scope of this Blog. Rather than limit it to topics concerning only the Marlin Mountie I'm going to include other Marlins, calibers and whatever else strikes my fancy when I feel like writing.

Mountie Range Report

I took the Mountie out to the range today to get some reps for next month's Cowboy silhouette match and test some ammo.

Best of the the four ammo's I tried today was the Federal bulk. Averaged 1234 fps, produced the smallest group and knocked 8 of 10 of the 100 yard rams. It used to be cheap - under $10 for 550 rounds at Wally World - I haven't seen it available for several months though and the last time it was just under $15 with tax. I recovered a few of these from my sand backstop, they roll back in near perfect mushrooms. I'll put my micrometer on them later. I've not recovered on of these from either vermin or Grouse but if they expand like they do in sand it is no wonder they are effective killers.

The next most accurate was the Federal Auto-match ammo. The 40 grain bullet averaged 1215 fps out of the Mountie. I didn't try this at longer ranges but I may give it a go my next trip out. Comparatively out of my 5.5" Ruger Single six it averaged 1029 fps with excellent accuracy.

The Winchester Xpert22 36 grain HP looks like a pretty wicked little bullet. It feeds a little rough in the Mountie but it fed and ejected 100% of the time. It averaged 1237 fps and produced a very good group at 25 yards but had more fliers than the previous listed ammo. Again for comparison the Ruger Single Six shot these very accurately at 1069 fps average velocity.

The load that I had high hopes for fell short in accuracy was the 40 grain RN Aguila Super Extra Standard Velocity. It averaged 1096 fps with the lowest standard deviation - under 11.

All and all a fun day at the range.

An April walk in the woods with my 39

With the snow gone from my property I had the perfect excuse to bug out to my property for a few days and do a little work on my cabin. Of course the 39 joined me on a number of walks and fired a number of magazines worth at various targets - knots on logs, scrap wood, soda cans, Ponderosa Pine cones...



A fella can have a lot of fun with a few tools and some room to be free.

I gave the CCI [b]Small Game Bullet[b] a try on this trip. I like the shape of the bullet - nice flat point. It didn't seem to be as accurate as the Federal Bulk ammo this Mountie seems to favor but I was using field positions and conditions. I'll take it to the range and see what it will do from the bench and over the chronograph and report back.

Across Generations

My Aunt (Grandmother's sister) had a pump action 22 that sat ready behind the kitchen door of their old farm house. The old Winchester's primary duty was pest control in her garden. There is also no doubt that a most of, if not all of the wild and domestic meat that we ate there was produced using that rifle.

For decades her children, dozens of grandchildren, multitudes of great grandchildren plus a bunch of neighborhood kids, nephews and nieces put the rifle to use... No telling how many rounds we all put through it. There was always plenty of enthusiastic volunteers to use it and shooting was always the highlight of my visits. It was the first firearm many of us fired. Nearly everyone has a story or two about some amazing feat they managed with it. Many happy memories using the rifle connect us across several generations.

It was a symbol too. Getting permision to roam the farm with the rifle meant you had demonstrated a level of maturity and could be trusted to act responsibly - an affirmation of being one of the "big kids."

Now almost a half century later I am reminded of that rifle when I walk my own property with my 22. Though mine is a levergun and Marlin, my hair is now gray and the eyes are challenged by the front sight the grin on my face feels the same. The same sense of empowerment, freedom, responsibility and of course the fun, all come flooding back.

She died in the late 1980's, the rifle remains behind the door of what is now her son's home to what has become a family tradition. More generations have added fingerprints and dents to the stock and I hope many more will too.

"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest." -- From the Declaration of the Continental Congress, July 1775.

The Mountie vs. Bolt 22lr

I am blessed to own a few excellent bolt action rimfire rifles. One of which is a CZ 452 American w/ a Leupold 3-9x32 AO scope (EXCELLENT - GREAT VALUE). Very accurate = enlarged hole at 50 yards with quality ammo. GREAT trigger, adult ergonomics, fantastic value... It is capable of breaking a clay into parts so small at 100 yards it is difficult to find the pieces. I love this rifle and will probably never willingly give it up. Good ammo = amazing performance.

Compare now with the Mountie. The CZ is more accurate. The CZ has a (MUCH) better trigger.

BOTH have the feel of adult sized and quality firearms.

Where the Marlin surpasses the CZ is in the field. It is easier to carry. It can be packed inside a backpack (taken down) and the accuracy is more than sufficiant to ethically and cleanly harvest game that can be harvested with 22lr. The Mountie also has the capability of being fired faster and has a greater capacity in the magazine. The Mountie has good iron sights and can easily be fitted with a scope or upgraded iron sights (Skinner).

Both are classic and proven designs but the Mountie is genuinely American.

Only ONE?!!

The question "If you could only own one, what would it be?" comes up in various firearm forums occasionally. It is both interesting and frustrating to consider. What single firearm would you choose if you could only have one? Certainly no single firearm can do everything. Scenarios are easy to imagine in where one type or caliber would be superior as easily as scenarios where that same firearm would be less than the ideal tool for the job.

Imagine a situation where resupply is unlikely, mobility is a priority and the duration of the event is measured in years... What would you choose?

For me it comes down to ammo - without it a firearm has little value. 22lr ammo is plentiful, ubiquitous actually, inexpensive, highly portable, low maintenance, accurate and capable of performing well beyond its common uses.

There are many excellent platforms and variations to shoot it in. For a long term scenario with limited ammo accuracy would be a priority. A repeater would mitigate the lack of power. The ability to fire a variety of ammo - shorts, longs, subsonic, hi-velocity, etc...- without having to single load would enhance the versatility.

Posed with question, after some consideration, I'm choosing the Marlin 39A Mountie.

The Appleseed Project

There is a project underway to preserve and promote the traditions of the American Riflemen. It is called the Appleseed Project.

http://appleseedproject.blogspot.com/

I am intrigued by the idea and believe it is an excellent way to introduce new shooters to the sport and improve the skills of those who own rifles. It appears to be catching on and I hope to attend and find out how I too can contribute to their efforts.

Cooper Quote

"A good shot must necessarily be a good man since the essence of good marksmanship is self-control and self-control is the essential quality of a good man." – Colonel Jeff Cooper

Grouse

"There are two times to hunt ruffed grouse: ordinary times, and the second week of October." -Aldo Leopold

Grouse - Tasty, abundant and fun to hunt. They are hunting's equivalent to Bluegill fishing.

2008 - a good year for the Mountie

2008 saw several days afield with the 39A Mounties. Scouting, rimfire cowboy silhouette, hunting, plinking, targets ... Sometimes just going for a walk. Many happy memories were made. It was an excellent year for me.

Add some Spice / Comparison

I recently acquired a Ruger 10/22 compact - Laminated stock, 16" barrel. Nice little carbine. Shoots pretty well with its preferred ammo - Federal Champion, 40 gr LRN. I'm not an auto-loading enthusiast by any stretch but I will admit that these are fun little rifles.

After a few days of getting familiar with the Ruger I decided to do a little side by side comparison with my Marlin 39A Mountie.

Ergonomics: The Ruger is youth sized so using the factory sights comfortably is a bit of a challenge. The Mountie is better proportioned to an adult. Operation of the Safety and magazine release on the Ruger is easy and intuitive. Less intuitive is the Bolt Lock, it required me to actually to read the manual to understand how to operate it.

Firing: One thing about auto-loaders is that once a shot is fired there is another ready to go right behind it. With the Levergun I can fire a shot and then manually lever one in once I am ready. I found that I needed to consciously slow myself down to get good groups with the 10-22. A little pause and a few breaths relaxes and sharpens the eyes and keeps the Heart Rate down.

Despite using the 10-22's preferred ammo I was unable to match the performance of the Marlin using the inexpensive Federal Bulk ammo. I suspect that the diminutive size, heavier trigger and familiarty played a part in that. Still, the Marlin impressed me and reinforced my appreciation for this fine firearm platform more than 110 years old.

Other notes: The Ruger weighs in at 4 lb. 9 oz. vs. the Marlin at 5 lb. 14 oz. The 20" barrelled Marlin gets over 70 fps faster out of the Federal Bulk ammo, 25+ fps more out of the Federal Champion ammo and the CCI Mini Mags.

The Yonderosa

We were blessed in 2008 to find "The Yonderosa." It is a great place to walk around with a Marlin and there are many nearby recreational opportunities for outdoors minded folk. The place is truly beautiful and we feel blessed for every moment we've been able to stay there.

We've started building a little retreat there. You can follow the progress at

http://s448.photobucket.com/albums/qq202/Yonderosa_photos/?albumview=slideshow

Cowboy Silhouette

There probably isn't a more enjoyable form of shooting competition than Cowboy Silhouette. Shooting leverguns, offhand at reactive targets at various ranges is great fun. It is quite challenging too. Hitting a 'Ram' that is about as big as a sheet of paper isn't easy at 100 yards - but is sure is satisfying.

I'm no expert at this game by a long stretch - I manage a little more than half per round. The physical part is easier to master than the mental. I find that pacing is key for me - pausing between shots, resting the eyes for a few seconds, taking a few breaths before raising the rifle, aiming and squeezing off another shot.

Next year I plan to equip one of the Mounties with a Skinner Peep Sight for this competition. My half century old eyes are challenged by the factory open sights. I'm hoping the Skinners will get my score up into the thirties.

Long overdue update

This blog format wasn't user friendly enough for me so this blog went neglected. I'll give it another go and see what happens.

The Mounties have a good bit more mileage on them now - hunting, scouting and rimfire cowboy silhouette. I am very pleased with their performance, reliability and precision. I will elaborate as I can in this entry and in subsequent posts.

Hunting/Scouting- During the Fall 2007 Grouse and Deer seasons my most recent Mountie accompanied me on a number of excursions. Rather than using a sling I found the Kifaru "Gun Bearer" works very well with the Marlin Mountie while carrying a pack. The carbine is held securely and easily removed when the opportunity for a shot presents itself. Carried this way my hands are free to use maps, GPS, compass, binoculars, calls and steady myself when footing is trecherous or steep. The short barrel of the Mountie does not overly obstruct my field of view nor does the forward position get hung up in branches or brush.

Our game laws allow for the use of rimfires to harvest Grouse and the Mountie is more than up to the task. Base of the neck and head shots are easily accomplished at the Grouse stalking range. Even a center mass shot does less damage to the meat than shot from a shotgun blast.

Grouse hunting tactics are simple - Forested areas with openings near water often contain Grouse. Walk slowly, observe and listen for movement. More often than not I will hear them or flush them before seeing them. They don't often fly a great distance once alarmed. Pay close attention to the direction and you will likely be able to find them again. It is common for one or two to flush and more to remain nearby in cover so don't abandon the area and chase the flushed Grouse until observing the area they flushed from. Glass with your binoculars. If you are unable to locate them walk slowly though the area and then move in the direction they've retreated. You may hear or see them running along the ground or you may flush them again. They will typically hold still believing they are invisible (and they sometimes are) and not move until they feel threatened again. If in a tree they are more likely to hold. On the ground they are more likely to run if they sense you are stalking them. Stalk into easy range and shoot them at the base of the neck This preserves the delicious meat and makes a quick clean kill. The feathers make excellent fly tying materials and are quite beautiful.

Though not as sporting as a wing-shot with a shotgun it is challenging and will test your riflemanship. I would also like to note that careful consideration should be given to what is behind as the bullet will not stop even if it hits the grouse perfectly. I've passed on many more shots than I've taken on Grouse because they were 'skylined' or I didn't want to risk a richochette.

Grouse season usually opens several weeks in advance of Deer and Elk Season. Hunting Grouse affords you the opporunity to scout Deer and Elk hunting areas which is as close to multi-tasking as I am capable of.

The New One

The "new" one arrived the other week. 1964 vintage. Some blems and the stock finish is sub par. The wood is in good shape and the action tight. The original sight was switched out and the new version of the Semi-Buckhorn installed. The old sight arrived with the rifle in a plastic bag. The front sight had the bead filed off leaving a crude post. The hammer spring was also shortened, lightening the trigger pull but also causing light hammer strikes and FTFs.

My first trip to the range showed promise but the sights challenged my eyes. I ordered a new front sight (along with a new hammer spring) from Brownells and that greatly improved the sight picture. The preliminary results at the range improved as well. I believe this could be a more accurate rifle than the other.

Chronograph results (56*F)
Aguila SE Subsonic averaged 989 fps (vs. 994 in the 1965 Mountie). Very good accuracy.

Federal Bulk Ammo averaged 1166 fps and also show very good accuracy potential. The suprise was that it was nearly 100 fps slower than the 1965 Mountie which spit them out at 1054 fps last year using the same ammo brand but different lot #.

To know if it is the rifle or the ammo I will have to bring both Mounties out together and shoot some strings from the same ammo Lot.

Another Mountie

As if one was not enough, I have just agreed to another trade for another Mountie...

Gone is my 39A and a Mountie will be on its way this week.

Two Mounties! How great is that?