Grendel Load Test

 Took the Grendel to the range late this morning. What I consider high temperature and high humidity caused water to condense on the rifle, that is stored in air conditioning. The scope lenses also fogged, so I had to wait to start shooting.

I had 3 loads each with 2 different powders. The groups were inconsistent at best. Seems the Grendel is a bit finnicky about powder charge weights. A 0.3 grain difference can be significant. To make things worse, after getting home, I noticed that the linear compensator had loosened. Now I'll need to redo the experiment.

Oh well, a bad day at the range is better than a good day at work.

- - - - - - Update 7/12

Reran the previous load testing with the linear compensator remaining tight. Three of the loads are worth running again, two with TAC and one with 8308. Both pushing 120 grain Sierra Game Kings. It seems the barrel likes velocity in the 2400-2500 f/s range. Once I determine the best load I'll play with the compensator location to see if I can tighten the groups by changing the the barrel harmonics a bit.

6.5 Grendel

 Made it to the range yesterday with the AR 6.5 Grendel.  I had 8 experimental hand loads using 2 different powders all with the same bullet (120 Gr Sierra). Two of the loads were promising with 3 shot groups of 1" & 1 1/8". I'll be loading more of of those and trying a different powder as well. At some point I'll experiment with different positions of the linear compensator mounted on the barrel. The weight will modify the harmonics of the barrel, frequently resulting in tighter groups.

Swiss K31

 Made it to the range again today for a short session with the Swiss K31. Managed to fire  3, three shot groups in an inch and a five shot group slightly larger. The old rifle is original except for a 2-7x scout scope. Was pushing a Sierra 180SPT at 2530f/s with IMR4350.

So now the Ishapore (308) and the Swiss (7.5x55) are zeroed with minute of angle ammo.

I brought the AR 6.5 Grendel, but forgot about the magazines. Crap, got a lot of ammo testing to do.

Ishapore Ammo

 Took the Ishapore back to the range to adjust zero and double check the load. (IMR4064 and Sierra 165 grain HPBT). After adjusting zero, fired a 5 shot. 1" group at 100 yards. It has a 2-8x scout scope mounted.

Looks like I'll be having issues getting any more powder. IMR4064  seems rare, and N140 with a very similar burn rate was a no-go at 2 on-line sources I checked.  It has a shortened barrel so I probably need to stay with that burn rate and bullet velocity.

Success

Put a linear compensator on the short barreled Ishapore and the extra weight on the end of the barrel had positive results. I tried 3 different loads and all had smaller groups than before. In fact one produced minute of angle. 

I also tried 5 different loads in the Swiss K31. Two loads gave me minute of angle, one with 180 grain bullet and the other 165 grain.

 Both had low power variable scout scopes mounted. If my eldest son was there, the groups would have been smaller. He can outshoot me with a rifle every time.

Next up is trying different 6.5 Grendel loads in the recently modified AR. The small case my make it more challenging.

40 S&W

 Several years ago I received a 40S&W FN HiPower with the brother-in-laws passing. Seems most consider the 40 as the best combination of the 9 and 45, but I disagree. Heavy recoil like the 45 but snappy like the 9. 

I've experimented with different powders behind 180gr coated lead bullets (because they're less expensive) and until yesterday didn't find a combination that made me happy. 3.4grs of Clays and 4.5grs of Tite Group produced 3.5" and 3.0" four shot groups at 25yds. I did have a single flyer each. I was shooting 5 shot groups. As far as I can tell the flyers were me. I plan to run those again.

I've also ordered some 155gr JHPs to try.

K31 Again

 Made it to the range again with the Swiss K31with a partial box of the best performing load from the la last trial. This time I checked all the screws, and tightened a couple. I fired four 3 shot groups  at 100 yards as follows: 1-3/4", 1", 1-1/4", 1" in that order. I suspect that the larger group sizes were due to the person pressing the trigger and not the ammunition I loaded. I'll repeat that test the next time at the range. It has a 2x-7x scope mounted in the scout configuration as the only modification.

I set the bullets deeper than the book said because the rifle's throat was short, measured using a comparator. The powder charge was also reduced. H4350 pushing Sierra 180gr SBT

- - - - - - - - - 

Last Sunday afternoon I spent a few hours at the Boss's church teaching an introduction to handguns. This included safety, types, hand fit, grip and trigger press. When I agreed to do this there were 3 women interested, but about 15 showed up. We'll be meeting again primarily to reinforce grip and trigger press. A couple of the women need extra help, and appeared to be afraid to even touch a gun. We'll also explore methods of carry, and a little bit about home defense.

Swiss K31

Managed to make it to the range with the K31. Had mixed success with a couple of reloads. The best produced a 3 shot 100 yd group of 1 inch. I was satisfied with that until I followed up with 5 more. With a warm barrel the group opened to 4 inches and hit 3 inches higher. I guess that has to due with the banded full length stock.

Scout Rifles

 Got the scout scoped K31 to the range again. Managed to duplicate the best of my last best loads by putting 4 rounds in 1-1/8" at 100 yards. Last time it was 3 rounds in 1-1/4". I'll be taking it back out with slight variations of the powder charge. This time I'll have a cheek riser attached to the stock.

Finally got the modified Ishapore ready for load testing. The scout scope is now aligned with the barrel and I have attached an adjustable cheek riser to the stock.  Unfortunately the Burris rings that fit the picatinny rail that I used to align the scope bring the scope up higher than I like. 

Also loaded a couple more ammo tests for the FN Hi -Power 40 S&W. So far I've never been very happy with the accuracy using Universal powder.

Ishapore Scout

 As I've posted in the past I've been messing around with turning a hacked up Ishapore Enfield into a scout rifle. The last was getting the barrel threaded and a brake installed. I want to be able to tune the barrel harmonics. After that I purchased a scope mount specifically made to replace the rear sight assembly. Using a laser bore sighter I found the scope to be at a significate angle to the barrel. So I bought a set of rings with inserts designed to correct this issue. Using the maximum offset, front and rear, the problem seems to be corrected. Only a range session, or several will tell if all is well.

The rings use polymer inserts, some with offset bores, and that can rotate to eliminate torque on the scope tube. The local gunsmith recommended them. This allows the cross hairs to be centered in the tube to improve visuals and eliminate having extreme cross hair movement.

Swiss K31

 Took the Swiss K31 with the Hi-Lux LER scout scope to the range. I loaded 3 bullet weights as a first determination as to what weight I should do additional testing. I have 150, 165 and 180 grain bullets, I arbitrarily picked IMR 4350 for the 180, and 4064 for the other two. Three shot groups at 100 yards with the 150 and 180 grainers were about 1-1/2 inches. That was about as I expected. for an old military bolt action. The 165 grainers were quite a pleasant surprise, with a group of about 5/8 inch and 2 in the same hole.

I will repeat the test, but I expect similar results. If that happens it'll be the easiest and quickest load determination I have ever experienced.

Ishapore Continued

 So after a lot of looking I found and ordered a scout mount made to fit Enfield No1 MkIII which is the same as my Ishapore but with a different chambering. I thought this would be the solution to my scout scope mounting issue. But I was wrong. The new mount would not fit down between the ears because one side of the ears was not parallel. Using a rotary tool I ground away the inside of one side until the new mount would fit. Every thing is now good? Nope.

As it turns out a mounted scope is at an angle to the barrel. At just 25 feet there's barely enough cross hair adjustment to align with a laser bore sighter. The thickness of a business card on opposite sides of the mounting rings fixes that issue. This is only a temporary way to measure the angle that needs correcting. Back to the gunsmith it goes.

- - - - - - 

On the bright side, the same company makes a scout mount for my Swiss K31. It's a very solid mount and fit very well. I mounted a Hi-Lux LER scope, and found the combination very satisfactory. I'll be working on hand loads now.

Ishapor Scout

 Several years ago I acquired an Ishapore Enfield that had been chopped up. The barrel was shortened and the wood poorly modified. I couldn't hit squat with it due to the shortened sight radius and old eyes. I had a gunsmith make a scout scope mount, and attached a Nikon long eye relief scope. The best I could get was 1-1/4" group at 100 yards with handloads or factory ammunition.

Not satisfied I recently took it to a different gunsmith to have the barrel threaded for a muzzle device. The idea is to choose the best grouping ammunition, and tune the barrel harmonics, by the position of the device to improve consistency. So far I've not been able to test this out.

The rifle was disassembled to thread the barrel, as was the scope base. As it turns out, the base was not well made. It uses the pin in the original rear sight and can move horizontally at least 0.015 side to side. It can move far enough to be beyond scope zero adjustment. A redesign is in order. 

I probably could buy a scout rifle for less money than this will eventually cost. But I'm enjoying the project.

Swiss K31

 That old Swiss K31 is near the top of my list of favorite old military rifles. I put an aperture rear sight on it years ago, but never shot it much because of aging eyes. Recently I installed a scope base where the rear iron sight was, and then attached an old Tasco 1.25-4X pistol scope. The eye relief of that pistol scope is a bit too long with it mounted centered over the iron sight location. So I bought an extra low cantilever ring set to move the scope towards the muzzle, that will not fit the base in the position I need. Also, outside to outside distance of the rings is too long for the scope. So I need to modify the base, the ring set or buy a different scope. I ordered a different scope with a shorter eye relief, but may still need to modify one or both of the other two.

Will just have to see how it works out.,

Scopes & More

Received the scout mount for the Swiss and the 2x Burris for the 454 revolver. Mounted the Burris on the big revolver and bore sighted it with a laser.

Using the new scout base, mounted the Tasco 1.25-4x pistol scope on the Swiss K31 and bore sighted it with a laser.

When the weather clears, I'll take them to the range for adjusting.

Several years ago I acquired a 30 Cal carbine. That thing has been a lot of fun over the years shooting what ever ammo I could get. Recently I decided to start reloading ammo for that little carbine. When resizing the brass, material was being smeared toward the base. As it turns out the transition up into the die was not smooth. There was a slight ridge that a local gun smith corrected.  I'll be loading some trial ammo for the next range trip.

Pistol Scope

Found an old Tasco 1.25-4x pistol scope. Don't know where it came from, but appears like new. Thinking about putting it on a Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull. Have a Bushnell 2-6x on it now that is still functional but a little beat up. 

Have inquired about the Tasco ruggedness. Regardless of the reply, if any, I may go with a Burris 2x due to the high recoil. Fixed power should be tougher, and I seldom cranked the Bushnell above 2x anyway.

In any case I'll be putting a scope on a straight pull Swiss 7.5x55 in the scout configuration.  Either the Tasco or the Bushnell.

- - - - - 1/1/25

Pulled the Bushnell off the 454 today. It's still functional but beat up to hell and back. The magnification ring is lose, and the housing material has been smeared by the rings. Ordered a fixed 2x Burris to replace it. 

Decided to not trust the Tasco with that kind of recoil. I'll put it on the Swiss.

44 Speecial

Decades ago I acquired a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44Mag. By acquired I mean it was basically free. Since I had a 44Mag I used that as a reason to get a 44 Special. The big 44 went away because it was not at all comfortable in my hand. I have no problem with the cartridge or recoil, after all I have fun shooting a Ruger Super Redhawk in 454Casull.

The 44Mag went away but I still have a Charter Arms 5 shot 44Special. It's time I worked up a light recoiling load for that revolver using the 240JHP left over from the magnum. Any load approaching 44special capability is painful in that very light weight revolver.

 - - - - 12/8/24

When I got the "free" 44Mag it came with some bullets. Forgot there were some cast lead bullets in the mix. I'll start experimenting with different powders and charges behind the 240 and 215 grain LSWCs. 

Unique now TiteGroup

 For decades I've been loading my own 45acp ammo using 125gr Hornady XTP bullets and Unique powder. I've found this combination to be of good and consistent velocity. As of late that powder has been very difficult to find. Yesterday, at the range, I compared loads using TiteGroup and W231. For the most part they were comparable, except that I would get the occasional flyer with W231 and not TiteGroup. Since I was alternating the 2 loads, I'm fairly certain it wasn't me. I'll run at least 50 more with TiteGroup, and if the results are the same, It'll be my powder in the future.

 - - - - - 11/27

The Hornady XTP is actually 185 grains. Major brain dead moment there. I don't shoot 125 grain bullets in anything. 

The load I've been using was determined decades ago for my first 45, a used Llama. When I bought a new Kimber, it naturally shot tighter groups with the same load, so no need to change, until now.

Celebration

 Most everyone in my little part of the country is very happy that Trump won, (the Boss actually jumped up and down with joy) that GOP will control the Senate and maybe the House. This puts a bump in the road, slowing the slip into just another socialist/communist country.

I don't under stand why anyone would vote for a candidate in the Dem/socialist/communist party.

I celebrated today by spending a couple hours launching lead 25 yards down range. Hi-Power 9mm, Hi-Power 40S&W, and 1911 45acp. Even fired a few at 50 yards. Marksmanship wasn't too bad considering it's been over a month.

Also ran 25 through the lever action 454 at 75 yards off hand. Not bad at all with the red dot sight.

An elderly man told me that the 50 yard bank is actually 75 yards. Now I'm curious. I'll bring my laser range finder next time.

Threw Some Lead

One of the firearms I received when the sister-in-law's husband passed (brother-in-law) was a FN Hi-Power in 40 S&W. I never did and still don't have a need for a 40. To me it's a solution looking for problem. Any way, the first thing was to eliminate the magazine disconnect, and then have a fiber optic front sight installed. The metal frame of the front sight failed, so it's back with the 'smith getting a set of Heinie sights installed. I have the same brand and style on a 30 year old Hi-Power 9mm and a Kimber 1911 45. 

The most available bullet for the 40 is 180 grains. I've been loading 185 or 200 grain bullets in the 45. The velocities are close to the same and therefore the felt recoil is about the same.

Another pistol given is a 45 colt single action revolver. Until recently I haven't shot it. I ran about 40 rounds through it and thought it was ok, but won't shoot it very often.  I just don't like the grip style or angle. I suppose that's because I've shot 1911s so much.