Hi all, today I shot my new Ballard #4 Perfection, .40-65 with 30-1 cast bullets (RCBS mould - 40-PP). I was virtually amazed at the results!! With just looking down the bore and adjusting the sights to that picture, I was on paper with the 1st shot. Adjusted the sights accordingly, and was in the black. With a little further adjustment I had 1 three shot group that measured 9//16" center to center, and the second where all three shots went into a single hole smaller than a dime!!!!!!!!! This was with my first trial load.
A friend gave me a 1#can of Dragon FFG (chinese BP) and thought I would give it a try on this first firing so as to save my GOEX and Swiss for later load developement. I used the RCBS 430.5 (all were weighed) bullet patched with .0010 100% cotton paper from Buffalo Arms, Fed Lg Rifle primers, new Starline cases, 54.5 grains of the Dragon 2fg, and seated the bullet out to 3..44". The lands marked the paper patch on seating about 1/8". I used a milk carton wad with a lube disk between the wad and bullet. This bullet has a cup base, and wrapped the patch so the bottom could be easily tucked into the cup.
Needless to say, I am very pleased with the results. I also fire some Lyman Snover bullets (grease groove) using the same lube. Oh BTW I lightly rubbed the patch with the same lube used over the wad.
The Snover performed ok, about 2" groups at 100 yds, but were not in the same ballpark as the PP.
Will be going out again tomorrow if weather and wife permits. The wind today in Seattle where I was shooting was gusting between 8 and 12 miles per hour.
