Aim small-miss small

[Eric Johanen]

Rick, that is good advise and that ammo was left overs from load development and needed to be used. I think it somewhat depends on the rifle, cartridge and intended uses. With this rifle, it is a dual use project: Hunting and target. I have worked up a very accurate hunting load using the BACO 458/500 round nose bullet with 70 grains of KIK 2 fg and the semi buckhorn sight is set for 100 and 200 yards. I can change out the front sight from target to blade if needed for a hunt. With the target sights I have worked up 2 loads: One uses a BACO Money bullet pp and OE 1.5 fg and a BACO Money bullet greaser with OE 1.5 fg. Both loads shoot very well and can be used on steel, midrange and long range paper. The 50-70 Military rifle uses a BACO 511/500 flat nose with KIK 2 fg and the barrel sights are set for 100 and 200 yards. Shoots just at the top of the front blade at both ranges. For gong matches I have a great load that uses the Accurate 511/465S. With 1.5 OE it shoots just a whisker higher that the FN hunting load at both 100 and 200 yards. I am close to a 500 grain pp load that places them in the same spot at both ranges and I'll have 3 loads for hunting using the same sight setting and 2 loads, paper patch and greaser for steel matches. Shiloh 45-90 can use 3 loads for Creedmoor: BACO 535 grain Money bullet with 1.5 OE or Swiss, BACO 545 grain reduced band Creedmoor and 1.5 Swiss and BACO 535 grain pp Money bullet with 1.5 Swiss. The Money bullet greaser when wiping, the Creedmoor when blow tubing and with a bit more tweaking the BACO Money pp. I do like having the options depending on what powders are on hand and what bullets I have a good supply of. Beyond 200 yards, sight settings/range notes are in my note book and the system is working pretty well.