Author Topic: Weirdest thing is going on with my .44 SBH (Read 2327 times)

psalm69 · « **on:** August 13, 2004, 12:24:40 PM »

I bought a SBH in .44 with a 7.5" barrel. I went out today to sight it in. I first placed the target at 25 yards. Shooting with a rest I was hitting high. No big deal I'll just drop the rear sight. I did and was rewarded with several 3 inch groups. Now brimming with confidence I took the target out to 50 yards. Again I was shooting from a rest. 12 shots later and I hadn't even hit the paper let alone the frame! I popped one off and nicked the very, tippy edge of the top of the frame. By bottoming out the rear sight and only bringing a small portion of the front site into view I was able to produce one 6 inch group. I'm using the Winchester 240 grain JSP. Anyone got any ideas. Scott

BTW I am using a standard 6 o'clock hold.

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2004, 01:09:17 PM »

Hold on to the grip a bit tighter and don't let it recoil so much. Or you might need a taller front site.

dave hall · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2004, 01:36:47 PM »

I HAVE KIND-OF THE SAME PROBLEM.A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME REM. 240'S TO SHOOT OUT OF MY S/S SBH 45/8 in.barr. AT 25 YDS. OFF THE BAGS THE BEST I COULD DO WAS 4" GROUP.SO I TRIED IT AT 50 YDS I COULDN'T HIT THE PAPER.SO WITH 18 ROUNDS WASTED.I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY IT OFF HAND AT 50 YDS I HIT THE TARGET 2" OFF BULLS EYE.FOR THE LAST 10 YRS I'VE BEEN SHOOTING RUGER HANDGUNS OFF HAND.IF I CAN HIT THE PAPER I CAN HIT A DEER.I'M NEVER WASTING MY TIME ON THE BENCH WITH MY SBH AGAIN.MY ADVICE IS TRY SHOOTING OFF HAND,AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.LET ME KNOW HOW IT GO'S :-)

psalm69 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2004, 01:49:11 PM »

So when you say off hand, do you mean one handed or just off the rest?

dave hall · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2004, 02:16:22 PM »

WHEN I SHOOT OFF HAND I'M STANDING.WITH MY FEET APART SO THAT MY BODY DOESN'T SWAY .WHEN I HOLD MY SBH OUT I GRIP IT WITH BOTH HANDS SOME TIMES WITH GLOVES.MAKE SURE YOU SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER .NEVER PULL HARD ON IT YOU WILL THROW IT ONE WAY ,OR ANOTHER.THIS IS SOMETHING EXTRA THAT I DO WHEN I HOLD ON A TARGET I TAKE A BREATH,AND WHEN I LET IT OUT I SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER.HOPE THIS HELPS :-)
I ALSO US THE 6 O'CLOCK HOLD.HOLDING RIGHT ON THE TARGET WITH THE FRONT SIGHT COVERS IT TO MUCH.

psalm69 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2004, 02:52:30 PM »

I'll try shooting it offhand and see what I get. I wonder if setting the barrel on the rest if it is somehow bouncing or something.

Steve P · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2004, 03:42:44 PM »

I had to contact Ruger to get a taller blade for my sight. My SBH is stainless with a blue blade roll pinned into front sight base. Ruger makes a taller blade the the 45LC and they shipped me one for free. Helped bring my loads down onto the paper.

Steve

psalm69 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:03:10 PM »

Thats what my first inclination was, but it just doesnt make sense that at 25 yards I'm fine and at 50 I'm high. I guess I'll get the new blade and try a different shooting technique. Scott

KN · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:54:53 PM »

The reason is that at 25yds the bullet is still climbing and has not leveled out or started to drop yet. I would have to do a ballistics chart to figure it out a little more accuately. KN

Iowegan · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2004, 05:00:40 PM »

When you bench shoot any handgun, no part of the gun should touch the rest, the bench, or the sand bags. Your arms should be extended and your forearm, just behind your wrists, should be resting on sand bags. This will help absorb recoil and more closely simulate off hand shooting. If the barrel or grip touch anything, recoil will move the gun considerably.

psalm69 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2004, 05:34:38 PM »

So the recoil is actually affecting the bullets trajectory before it leaves the barrel? :eek: Wow how counter intuitive is that? I would have thought that the bullet was long gone before I felt the muzzle flip or recoil in the grip. Scott

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2004, 06:57:59 PM »

Recoil definitely acts on the gun before the bullet exits the barrel. That is why light bullets often/typically hit lower than heavy bullets. This is becuase the light bullet goes faster and thus leave the barrel before recoil lifts the barrel as much as a slower heavy bullet.

Also, increasing the velocity of a given bullet will serve to lower the point of impact. The bullet leaves the barrel before recoil lifts it up as much.

psalm69 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2004, 04:44:26 AM »

Thanks for the information fellas!

This topic has been a real eye opener. There is lots more to this than I would have thought. Scott

El Hombre · « **Reply #13 on:** September 25, 2004, 01:40:21 AM »

Hello,
I think Iowegan is one the right track here. Resting the barrel on something will, in my experience, ALWAYS make the gun shoot high. go back to the range and shoot in the manner he stated with your arms on the bags, or even offhand and I bet you'll see a difference.

I've known alot of guys that have missed deer at less than 100 yards broadside & couldn't understand why, come to find out they had the rifle barrel resting on a crossbar of their stand, Trust me, you'll shoot high EVERY time compared to offhand or with a proper rest.
Good Luck!

hylander · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2004, 06:24:49 PM »

Howd'y:
Here is how I shoot off sandbags.
I Place a sandbag under my Hand's and a sandbag under the front of the frame so that just the front of the frame rest on the bag.
That makes for a very consistant and steady rest.
As other's said don't rest the barrel on the bags.

Kivaari · « **Reply #15 on:** October 31, 2004, 11:45:50 AM »

..and then you ignite the sandbags...

...may range won't let you use their bags with revolvers

hylander · « **Reply #16 on:** October 31, 2004, 12:55:44 PM »

Houston we have Ignition :roll: :
I found that out the hard way :oops: .
Then I found the bags that have a layer of green duct tape
on each side of the middle of the bag that keeps them from Igniting.
while the frame rest on the uncovered bag.

psalm69 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2004, 04:20:54 AM »

I thought I should bring you guys up to date on my "problem":

I stopped being a lil girl about it and started holding it right; both hands, 6 o'clock hold, resting my forearms only on one bag.

The gun only touches my hands.

I began handloading.

And I practiced.

3" groups at 100 yards with a 240gr Hornaday HP/XTP over 24.5 gr of H110.

I'll be taking it hunting for Mule Deer this week. I have that much confidence in it.

I'll be the first to admit it was my fault and not the gun.

BTW I also use a Lee single stage "o" press and love it. :shock:

hylander · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2004, 12:02:16 PM »

Psalm69:
Sounds like your doing good.
Glad to hear it.
A proper hold can make all the differance.

AntlersDS · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2005, 09:46:38 AM »

I had a similiar thing happen to me too when trying to sight in my SBHH .44 the other day. This was only the 2nd time to shoot it and the 1st time at the range. I started shooting at 10 yards winchester 210 gr silvertip JHP and it shot 7-8 inches low. I started raising the rear sight and finally got it on the bulls eye, but the rear sight was raised up quite a bit. I ran out of ammo and started thinking about it later that evening (scary thought). From what I have read here the bullet is still rising at 10 yards and will be higher at 25 and maybe dead on at about 50. Is that correct. I am going to go shoot again in the next few days so will see if that is how it works. I also was resting the barrel on sandbags which I won't do again too. Just found this site and this is all some great information. Also, the SBHH is a super pistol and has opened up a new world of shooting and hunting. Next time I was going to try some new ammo I bought (hornady 180 gr and 240 gr) just to see what the difference in felt recoil, etc. is too. The winchester 210 grain was easy to shoot as well as Hornady 200 grain I shot the first time I ever shot this pistol.