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I've had my Goldmann double rifle in 11.15 X 60R for....close to 25 years. It took me forever to work up an accurate load that regulated and I was happy with it. However, being the inveterate experimenter, occasionally I have to try something different, like when Old Eyensford black powder came out. Took me a few years to get a couple pounds but it's been setting on the shelf begging to be tried in the double.
I had 6 empty cases and quite a few bullets cast, deer season opens next Saturday so I thought what the heck, no time like the present to see what it will do without using a duplexed load. So I calculated the powder charge weight without the usual 5 grs. of SR-4759 and it came out to 72 grs. Ok, drop tube the charge into the cases, lube the bullets and seat them then take the short walk to the range. I'd always heard OE was hotter than the normal run of black powders but I didn't expect what I got.
1st shot from the right barrel printed to the left of center. Hmmm...must be me or the sun shining on the front bead. 1st shot from the left barrel printed to the right of center. Must be me...you will shoot away from the glare. Ok, normally the first shots from a clean barrel print high but I decided to keep the 6 O'clock hold. Son-of-a-gun if the 2nd shot from the right barrel didn't print with the 1st shot. Left barrel did the same as did the subsequent two shots. Now I'm out of that load but they're crossing....and I can remedy that. I was.....surprised....perplexed. I'd never had a straight BP load cross from this rifle, they were always too slow. Now I have a straight BP load that's crossing. Next time I try some I'll drop off 5 grs. and see where that puts the rifle. Interesting, to me....in an odd sort of way. Target below.
![P1010004.JPG]()
As deer season is so close I decided to check my usual load for this rifle; 5 grs. of SR-4759 on the last ones I loaded with 68 grs. of the old GOEX Cartridge. I have a little over a pound of it and they haven't made it in 20 or more years. I ran a wet patch then two dry patches through the bores so they'd be mostly clean. 6 O'clock hold again, 1st shot from the right barrel a little high and ever so slightly left of center but eminently usable. 1st shot from the left barrel about 2 inches left of the first shot. Not as close as I'd like but this rifle is almost 150 years old and has a little pitting in both bores. I decided to try two more. This is where it got real interesting. 2nd shot from the right barrel went in at about 1 O'clock and in the center. 2nd shot from the left barrel printed 1/2 inch from the first and a little high. Man that is CLOSE for a brand new double rifle, let alone one this old with pitted bores.
A couple observations. Those who have shot much BP know that often, if not always, a fouling shot will season the bore and is usually not in the group. This should be prima facie evidence of that. Secondly, I never change up things a little with this rifle that it doesn't teach me another lesson in double rifle shooting and loading.
Sooo...with deer season just around the corner, when I take this rifle opening morning I can either foul the barrels the night before and hold 6 o"clock or, use them after wiping the bore and still hold 6 O'clock and just a week bit to the right. Once the season is over I'm going to pursue some more of this GOEX Cartridge load and see if it will continue to hold that grouping. It should, if I do my part. Duplexed loads shoot incredibly clean for black powder. Last target below.
All shooting was done at 50 yards, benched with me holding the rifle in my hand, across the rest. If you rest a double rifle on the forearm weird crap starts happening with the groups. Sort of a long story but basically it has to do with the recoil impulses.
![P1010003.JPG]()
I had 6 empty cases and quite a few bullets cast, deer season opens next Saturday so I thought what the heck, no time like the present to see what it will do without using a duplexed load. So I calculated the powder charge weight without the usual 5 grs. of SR-4759 and it came out to 72 grs. Ok, drop tube the charge into the cases, lube the bullets and seat them then take the short walk to the range. I'd always heard OE was hotter than the normal run of black powders but I didn't expect what I got.
1st shot from the right barrel printed to the left of center. Hmmm...must be me or the sun shining on the front bead. 1st shot from the left barrel printed to the right of center. Must be me...you will shoot away from the glare. Ok, normally the first shots from a clean barrel print high but I decided to keep the 6 O'clock hold. Son-of-a-gun if the 2nd shot from the right barrel didn't print with the 1st shot. Left barrel did the same as did the subsequent two shots. Now I'm out of that load but they're crossing....and I can remedy that. I was.....surprised....perplexed. I'd never had a straight BP load cross from this rifle, they were always too slow. Now I have a straight BP load that's crossing. Next time I try some I'll drop off 5 grs. and see where that puts the rifle. Interesting, to me....in an odd sort of way. Target below.
As deer season is so close I decided to check my usual load for this rifle; 5 grs. of SR-4759 on the last ones I loaded with 68 grs. of the old GOEX Cartridge. I have a little over a pound of it and they haven't made it in 20 or more years. I ran a wet patch then two dry patches through the bores so they'd be mostly clean. 6 O'clock hold again, 1st shot from the right barrel a little high and ever so slightly left of center but eminently usable. 1st shot from the left barrel about 2 inches left of the first shot. Not as close as I'd like but this rifle is almost 150 years old and has a little pitting in both bores. I decided to try two more. This is where it got real interesting. 2nd shot from the right barrel went in at about 1 O'clock and in the center. 2nd shot from the left barrel printed 1/2 inch from the first and a little high. Man that is CLOSE for a brand new double rifle, let alone one this old with pitted bores.
A couple observations. Those who have shot much BP know that often, if not always, a fouling shot will season the bore and is usually not in the group. This should be prima facie evidence of that. Secondly, I never change up things a little with this rifle that it doesn't teach me another lesson in double rifle shooting and loading.
Sooo...with deer season just around the corner, when I take this rifle opening morning I can either foul the barrels the night before and hold 6 o"clock or, use them after wiping the bore and still hold 6 O'clock and just a week bit to the right. Once the season is over I'm going to pursue some more of this GOEX Cartridge load and see if it will continue to hold that grouping. It should, if I do my part. Duplexed loads shoot incredibly clean for black powder. Last target below.
All shooting was done at 50 yards, benched with me holding the rifle in my hand, across the rest. If you rest a double rifle on the forearm weird crap starts happening with the groups. Sort of a long story but basically it has to do with the recoil impulses.
