Buffalo Match

[Eric Johanen]

Shot yesterday, 500 yard Buffalo reduced to 200 yards. Heart (about the size of a midi clay)/10 close/9, Lung/8 near/7 ( about a standard clay target) and anything on the buff scored a 6. Used my Shiloh 50-70 Military Rifle with the barrel mounted irons and was pleased with my score. Overcast and shot in the rain. 1 hit off hand and 8 sitting. First 2 shots held in the lower third for the heart resulted in misses just below the belly. Changed aim point to the lung area and had some good hits with one center 10. Did not feel that sighter's would be much help so just shot them all for score. Load was OS Dixie brass, CCI BR2 primers, 72 grains of OE 1.5 with a .060 fiber wad. Accurate 51-465 greaser seated to expose the first two lube grooves. This is an accurate load and I was able to shoot all rounds without blow tube or wiping. Just chamber and shoot. Humidity sure helped but this load will shoot dirty for a fair string of shots without any attention. With the Accurate bullet and the BACO 511-500 FN both will shoot dirty unless the humidity is just plain too low. Both good hunting loads. Very nice match and under better conditions I know I could have scored higher. Only ever shot the match with Buffalo Guns. Last year I had Lucrezia my 50-90 out and this year the 50-70. I feel I placed well against the target sighted rifles. Good fun and I look forward to this match every year.

[Eric Johanen]

I made a mistake in my post: The Accurate 51-465 is seated to the bottom of the first band, not the second lube groove. At this length is chambers and shoots well in a dirty barrel. Love that 50-70 Military Rifle!!