45-90 and OE 1&1/2 FG

[Eric Johanen]

Just back from a range outing with the Shiloh 45-90. Verifying my load for Lodi Creedmoor next weekend. Using 81 grains of OE 1&1/2 FG with a BACO 535 grain "money bullet" Seated with 1 grease groove exposed. I did have to use my seating tool on a few rounds. I got the alloy a bit on the hard side and did not get the percentage of shrinkage as I had on the last two batches. Should not have problems with nose slump. I am going to test again tomorrow seating the bullets so only half of the grease groove exposed. This should allow thumb pressure seating without getting to tiresome. The load shot very well! We will see how it does at long range.

[Kurt]

Eric, don't forget to pack your rain coat

[Eric Johanen]

Yes Kurt, I always bring one along. Latest weather reports say nice on Saturday and rain should hold off until late afternoon so we may get lucky and finish up before the deluge! Looking forward to the match and dueling with the X rings!!

[Kurt]

It looks like the lowered the chances to 70% for Sat and 60% for Sunday. Wont be the first time I got wet there.

[Eric Johanen]

Great day today so I got out on the rifle range again. Did not have a chance to load ammo with 1/2 grease groove exposed so I shot up the rest of those loaded with the first groove exposed. I did use the Sagebrush cheater to seat them into the rifling and did they ever shoot well! Grouped in the lower left quadrant of the X and 10 rings. 3 inches vertical and 2&3/4 inches horizontal. About as good as I could hold today. 10 shots just off the X ring went 1/2 inch vertical by 3/4 inch horizontal. Used 1 damp and 1 dry patch to keep the bore clean. With the 1st lube groove exposed I am not getting any trace of leading and accuracy with the bore diameter band engraved by the rifling is really working so I may just load at that length and use the cheater to seat the cartridges that last final bit. Nice lube star at the muzzle and light, soft fouling which cleaned nicely. Hope they fly right next weekend! Young guy shooting his AR was interested in what I was doing. I asked him if he wanted to give it a go and he said yes. Coached him on the trigger and sight picture and his first shot @ 200 was a 9 at 7 O'clock. 2'nd a 8 at 3:30. He said he pulled it off when he broke the trigger. Said it was really great and not as much recoil as he expected. I think he enjoyed the experience!

[Kurt]

I usually take two rifles to the range. One a light caliber. There is always some one that will come and want to talk and ask questions when I shoot and I seldom get turned down when I ask, you want to shoot a couple?

If I have some serious load testing I want to do I do it on bad days like rain or calling for rain when no one else shows up. I don't go on weekends.

[Eric Johanen]

I too like to test loads when the traffic is not too heavy, promotes my concentration. Shooting in less than ideal conditions also make one a better shooter. Today was testing a match load and emptying brass to load for the match. I made an error in the original post and the small group contained 5 shots. Forgot that I made the last five prone practicing position shooting. Still, this load seems to work very well. and I will shoot it in the Creedmoor match next weekend.

[Kurt]

Eric is that Creedmoor match at Lodi Wis your going to?

[Eric Johanen]

Yes Kurt, I'll be shooting the Lodi match. Gave the rifle a good cleaning, checked all the screws on the rifle and the sights and I'll be loading tomorrow and Tuesday. Noticed that the forend screws were just slightly loose from all the shooting I've been doing lately. Snugged down now. Hope the bullets fly true and we don't get too wet! I really enjoy your posts and have learned a lot from you and others especially Kenny, Brent, Don and the rest of the bunch the work with these rifles and loads. Great fun!!!

[Kurt]

I saw your name on the list tonight. See you in a few days. Be glad to shake your hand and say HI.