New Browning 1885 - First trip to the Range - Bullet Drop?

[Scout]

Reporting in on my Browning 1885 45Colt Traditional Hunter

I was asking for opinions here on this rifle a whiles back and went and bought it.   I have not had time to do any loading in a while so I went to the range with some CCI Blazer 200g JHP  1000fps at Muzzle and some PMC 250g factory Cowboy ammo.  

Bottom line this little rifle is nice.  

The Blazer (non reloadable cheap stuff)  repeatedly shot 5/8" radius 3 shot groups at 50 Yds from the bench (using  tang sight).  

With  the rear sight at lowest setting this put me right on at 50 yds.

The PMC Cowboy stuff stunk - "Pattern" at 2+ inches and stringing horizontally (a mess)  The "group" was ~ 4" high at 50 yds with same sight setting as for 200 g .

Why was this slower and heavier bullet grouping higher than the faster lighter one?   A friend says that recoil (tip off at muzzle) causes the slow PMC to group high since it leaves the muzzle later (more tip off) than the faster JHP ... Hmm - What do you all think.  I respect my friends knowledge on this stuff - but it seems that the muzzle tip off would be not as signifcant as the speed and weight of the bullet.

[John Traveler]

hi, Scout!

Congratulations on having a FINE rifle!  I've examined a Traditional Hunter in .454 Casull Magnum, and it's BEAUTIFUL!!!

As for your question on point of impact, your friend is right.

The same principle applies for pistols and light weight carbines.  Higher velocity, lighter-weight bullets (Blazer) will impact LOWER than the lower-velocity, heavier bullet (PMC) ammunition.  The faster, light bullet exits the muzzle in less time than the slower, heavier bullet during the recoil.

This principle can be used to advantage in regulating bullet strike on a fixed-sight gun.  By simply adjusting the powder charge and/or bullet weight, the shooter can almost walk the bullet impact on target at will.

Good shooting to you!

[Lead pot]

It could be a little antcipating a little recoil,you might be stiffening up your shoulder or gripping the grip a little harder before sear release or simply shooting in what I call in the dark.The recoil comes after the bullet leaves the barrel.Just my thought Lp.