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Olde E and Paper Patch
I don't post often but wanted to share some things I learned at the recent Lodi 1000 yard match and what is working for me, and what isn't.
My son Daniel and I and my friend Don were shooting identical rifles with the same load.
Rifles are Browning BPCR 45-70's with MVA buffalo rear sights and Browning/AMT front sights.
The load is Starline brass, 82 grs Olde E 2f, droptubed, compressed .185 with one .060 veggie wad and one .060 ldpe wad, Federal 150M primer, BACO 520 grain Money bullet @ .446, 16-1 alloy, wrapped with Alvin 55W. I neck size the cases just enough so that the bullet is a snug fit when seating. This same load was good enough to earn me 2nd place in the men's division and 7th overall at the Quigley a few years ago.
I have been using Olde E since 2016 and find it a great powder. There certainly is lot to lot inconsistency but a little experimentation with compression will bring it around. For example I have been using 82 grains since I started with it. The first match load was with very minimal compression, just enough to ensure consistent seating depth with 1 .060 LDPE wad. The next lot is the one I am using now, I buy 50lbs at a time.
Don and I have shot at Lodi in the past but this was the first time we have been there in 6 or 7 years. The first day each of us had a couple of low misses on each relay. I blamed some of that on rusty spotting and simply missing some condition changes as there were a number of other people with dirt diggers that I noticed.
Sometimes I'm a little slow but after my first relay on day two in what I felt were consistent conditions I was looking at my score sheet and another two misses and the light bulb came on. We weren't managing the fouling enough! I have used variations of bore critters for years. The current alliteration is a Brownells nylon bore brush with some bristles removed from the front so that two VFG felt wads can be seated, then dipped in Mpro-7. I was trying some with the delrin plugs with o rings from BACO screwed on the rear and some without. The critters were pushed through with a dry patch behind then chamber swabbed because I have been experiencing brass stretching, the chamber swab eliminated this. When looking at my scores a pattern emerged that I should have noticed earlier. I would have several 10's with the occasional 9 then a low 8 or 7 not to call then one in the dirt. Making sight adjustments brought me back into the 10 ring only to repeat. Light bulb!! I passed this on to my partners and went to the pits, the only low shot that came in while pulling targets was due to a rifle issue my son Daniel was having. When I returned to the firing line for my string of fire I started running a second dry patch and was putting most of my shots in the 10 ring for what looks like was the highest single round score of the weekend of 137. Unfortunately the rain came in while Don was shooting and the match was called before I could shoot my last relay. Once I figured out the fouling control the load was shooting close to 1 minute.
I just wanted to pass along my observations so that any other slow learners might benefit.
The Winnequah Gun Club is a beautiful range and the match is well run by Cliff and Mark. It's a venue that really gives you insight as to how well your load and routine is working...or not! I am really looking forward next springs match.
Todd
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