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Offline JGREG

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Some questions??
« on: December 30, 2007, 06:44:07 AM »
I shot Buffalo bullets 375 gram  for years with quite a few deer killed.  New place I hunt can only use round ball and patch I am using 90 grains ffg with round ball and patch. I am older now and cannot see with iron sights very good and have not shot irons sights in years.  I tried to sight in thompson center hawken approx 20-25 years old (great condition)  It is shooting 5 inches high and 4 inches left @50 yards. I am afraid to adjust elevation for fear of/in case of wanting to shoot a big deer at no further than 100 yards. Does anyone know what the ball may be doing at 100 yards with their experience.  (Dumb Question#2 )   Which way do you move the rear sight to make it shoot to the right. I only have 8 balls, no access to more before season is over I only need one or 2  maybe 3 to hunt with because I will only shoot a big deer does not legal anyway.  By the way it is 50 caliber and I beleive the balls are speer.
deer.
All replies appreciated in advance

Jim
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Offline crow_feather

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2007, 07:55:30 AM »
move the rear sight in the direction that you want the bullet to go - to move the bullet to the right - move the rear sight to the right
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Offline Idaho Ron

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2007, 10:24:14 AM »
If your gun is 5" high at 50 it will probably be almost 8" high at 100 yards. This is if your speed is about 1998 at the barrel.
When you move your rear sight you move it the direction you want the bullets to hit. If you want it to shoot lower move the sight down. If you want it to hit more right move it right. To be honest with only 8 balls I woulds be afraid to go on the Hunt. That wouldn't even give you a practice shot. The animal deserves better than that. I would see if any of your friends would loan you some round balls. You need to shoot some practice shots.  Ron
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Offline JGREG

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2007, 11:48:03 AM »
I shoot a fair amount  sight in a fair amount of guns/scoped only.  I got to different web sites for ballistics for particular bullets (all factory loads) Now owning a 45 cal ml  Contender and being on this website a good while, it really excites me to start possibly casting round balls and reloading for my super red hawk in 44 mag. and model 70 300wsm.   I have shot my 300wsm more than any gun I own.   The wsm performs well. I do not have a chrono to know what the muzzle velocity is but being high at 50 yards and not shooting further I wil not compromise good huntic ethics that I value.   So Idaho Ron you feel the round ball is still rising from 50yds to 100yds?

Thanks keep em coming

Jim  :)
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Offline Idaho Ron

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2007, 01:58:51 PM »
The bullet is actually not rising, it starts falling as soon as it comes out of the barrel.  The way you have your sights set makes it look like the bullet rises. I am using a 177 gr 50 cal bullet, at 1998 FPS for this data. In this case the gun would be dead on at 170 yards. 5" high at 50, 7.8" high at 100 yards.  You will have 516 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards.  Shooting a ML and a scoped rifle are two different games.  You will enjoy reloading and making your own bullets. it is a great way to "get away from it all" and never leave home. I poured about 300 bullets this weekend.  Ron
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Offline JGREG

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2007, 02:59:52 PM »
Making your own bullets assuming powder $20.00 per lb. free lead to cast,  patches cheap 90grains powder.  Or, your setup cost etc.  What would the cost be? Just a guestimate?

Thanks
Jim 
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Offline captchee

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2007, 03:31:49 AM »
 I would agree with ron here , once you know what your rifle will do , 8 balls is more then enough  but you need a lot more to learn how you barrel throws the ball .
Ballistic charts and formulas are great for getting an idea of what  you projectile may be doing . However they don’t take the place of actual  shooting time .
Myself I don’t consider the Rb to be a beginners  best choice for hunting . don’t get me wrong here , I think they are a great  projectile and will do the job without a second thought . However  they need proper shot placement and a person needs to be proficient with their weapon  to get that  at longer ranges  even under 100 yards which IMO it the limit for the round ball 
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Offline Snowshoe

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2007, 04:45:41 AM »
I would adjust the sight down to 1" to 1 1/2" high at 50 yards, then shoot a couple at 100 yards to see where they hit. I am not much of a believer in ballistic charts, because velocity can vary a lot between rifles, and even powder lots vary.
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Offline simonkenton

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2007, 04:47:37 AM »
Ron is right. You don't want to go hunting when you are 5 inches high at 50. Hell that is not even good for a 50 yard shot. If you fail to compensate, and you pull the shot 2 inches high, you will be 7 inches high, bad deal.
The round ball is a great deer killer. Put that bad boy in the lungs and the deer will die. I have killed 7 deer and 6 wild boar with the .490 patched round ball and the TC Hawken and none of them made it more than 50 yards. Great blood trail, not that you need it on a 35 yard tracking job.
Farthest shot I made with black powder was 80 yards, I would not take a shot at over 100, the round ball loses energy fast.

If it were feasible I would overnight ship you a dozen .490 round balls, but since it is New Years Eve that is not feasible considering your tight schedule. You might be able to sight that thing in with 5 shots, go ahead and give it a try. This is one great thing about the TC Hawken is those great adjustable sights. Go ahead and give it a few clicks in each direction and try a few new shots.  I only take three shots into the woods with me anyway.
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Offline Idaho Ron

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2007, 11:24:17 AM »
Cost depends on a lot of things.  You need a heat source, a turkey fryer and a old pot will work. Also a colman stove and a coffee can will also work. I use a Lee bottom pour furnace it is great. The next thing you will need is a mould. Lee sells them for about 20.00 for a lot of different kinds.  I have 15 moulds right now.
Finding free lead is not easy. If you have lots of SOFT lead then you are lucky.  Last is lube, I use Hornady great plains lube. I also paper patch so that is a little more cost.
Making your own bullets is easy and for me it is fun. I enjoy it a bunch. I can be as picky as I want to be about my bullets. If i want 385 gr bullet I will keep only those that are +- .3 grains. That is tight but what the heck. I want perfect bullets so I go for it. Some times I don't get that picky.
Safety is the big thing with pouring your own bullets. it is dangerous when water hits lead. Also the fumes are not good.
If you are doing something that you enjoy how can you put a value on that. My last group I shot with my 45 was .697" at 100 yards. For me it is the quest for the perfect load that helps keep me sane in a insane world. I can get totally lost for a little while and to me that is worth a LOT.  Ron
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Offline JGREG

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2007, 03:40:51 PM »
Simonkenton thanks for the offering of the balls it was a good thought and well appreciated.
IdahoRon another dumb question 1 mold equals 15 balls?



Thanks you all

Happy New Year
Jim
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Offline Idaho Ron

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2007, 05:40:30 PM »
I am not sure what you mean. But 1 mould will make 1000's of balls ;D
I think what you are asking is how many balls will one pound of lead make? is that your question? if you pour 177 gr .490 dia balls you can get 39.5 balls per pound.  Ron
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Offline JGREG

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2007, 07:25:08 PM »
I know what I want to ask but not explaining very well.  Let me try again. If I own one mould only and if I pour 1 mold how many balls will I have. 
Still not sure if I am coming across correctly.
Thanks for your patience with my questions.
Happy New Year
Jim

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Offline captchee

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2008, 03:27:46 AM »
well if your mould is a single ball mould then you will get one ball . If it’s a double cavity then you will get two balls..

  What you do is melt enough lead to cast however many  balls  you think you want .. .
  Get your mould warm . This can be done by casting a few balls and dropping  them back in the melt  OR simply setting the mould by the pot , on the pot or next to the fire .
 Pour the holt lead into the mould . Give it a second to cool , drop the ball out and pour the next . Some moulds like the lee and Lyman moulds have a spur / spru  cutter  that you tap across  cutting  it off even with the ball . Others you have to take the balls once cool and cut the spurs off .
 You will find that you will start getting picky about your casts . Maybe weighing them or even casting them back into the melt if the don’t appear just so


 Myself I bet I have a couple dozen moulds . 2  lee pots  and a  and forged ladle that  I pack with me on over night  camps . I find it fun to cast   around the camp fire .
 I also have a few friends that take advantage of my pots and normally a couple times a year we all get together and   spend an afternoon casting  hundreds of balls  to replenish their supplies . Its great fun , relaxing  and very enjoyable IMO
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Offline forest2

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2008, 04:44:32 PM »
Quote from: captchee on January 01, 2008, 03:27:46 AM
Myself I bet I have a couple dozen moulds . 2  lee pots  and a  hand forged ladle that  I pack with me on over night  camps .

Whoa! that must get a bit heavy! well to each his own. I just carry a few extra ball and some powder,,and a can of pork-n-beans just in case
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Offline captchee

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Re: Some questions??
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2008, 03:44:15 AM »

;D ;)
 na not really , i just carry a couple  finger ingots in my day pack  and the  ladle which is made do as you cut a stick for the handle .
 i also carry a small bag mould for the rifle im carrying
 
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