What a pleasant day yesterday was!!!! Unseasonably warm here, 70 degrees but, the wind was....stiff to say the least. I tried three loads, 15 rounds, in "Old Thang" with the new Lee, 238 gr. bullet. No joy there. Evidently they do not see eye to eye. As it was so nice and it's only 30 or so yards from my back door to my bench I pilfered around in the toy box looking to shoot some rifles or handguns I hadn't fondled in a while. The Jeffrey Rook rifle relined to 25-20 WCF was looking a little forlorn and I had about half a box, 25 rounds, that needed burned up as I'd left the filler out, on purpose and to no avail. Grabbed the rifle and ammo and back to the bench. By raising the muzzle and tapping the side of the rifle to settle the powder the rifle put 10 rounds into less than an inch, centered at 25 yards...squirrels beware come Memorial Day weekend!!!! The rifle has that sterling Jeffrey Express sight so I raised the first blade and commenced to ring steel at 100 yards with that rifle and load, emptying the box.
What next...oh my...the bargain basement price Mod. 96 Husqvarna in 9.3 X 57 was begging to be used. A cartridge tremendously underrated and under appreciated except in Scandinavia, where it receives its due. Target was moved to 50 yards and the rifle once more showed why it is such a delight. 4 rounds in less than an inch, centered with the first shot from a cold, clean barrel just barely out of the group. Time to pound the 100 yard, steel buffalo target only this time with a 270 gr. bullet rather than the 70 grs. from the little Rook rifle. The resulting "thwack" from the heavier bullet was pleasing to the ear and that heavy target actually swung on its mounts....imagine that!
I love the 45 Colt cartridge....in anything but a '73 clone because it was never chambered in that rifle originally and is just wrong. My Freedom Arms Mod. 97 in 45 Colt was next and....well....I don't shoot a lot of handgun these days and at 50 yards the target made that manifest. I'd need to practice to take it deer hunting. It ain't the load or the revolver, it's the nut pulling the trigger. Embarrassing is the word that comes to mind.
If anyone thinks they have a smooth bolt action rifle they need to try an early Mannlicher/Schoenauer before making any broad statements. My 1908 in 8 X 56 M/S cartridge was next on the list. As with the Husky it once more showed why it remains among my many favorites. 3 rounds under an inch at 50 yards, centered. I don't shoot 5 round groups with it because the short barrel with the full stock will eventually warm and walk. I don't recall ever shooting 3 times at big game and only once, maybe twice, firing more than one shot so 3 is more than adequate.
All told, maybe 100 rounds were fired yesterday. considering the rifles, and revolver, they were fired from and the cartridges for which they are chambered I could not possibly have had any more pleasant day if I'd fired 1,000 from anything else....except maybe a hand operated Gatling gun.
No, 50 yards isn't far but it's more than enough for 99% of the hunting I'll ever do....and most of what I've done! That and none of the rifles have telescopic sights. All shooting was done with open sights and all the rifles mentioned have a bead and U notch rear sights...in addition to my almost 65 year old eyes.