Well if the weather cooperates I'm going to play cowboy Sunday. I got into handgun hunting because of my love of all things old west which is why I prefer single actions. I also have a love for lever guns so it's time to give them a work out. I'll be taking out my own custom 454, 500 Linebaugh, 44spcl, and semi custom Bisley 45 as well as my Reeder 475's. I'll also be taking along my 357 Blackhawk which is the tightest factory Ruger I've ever come across and other than a quick action job I haven't messed with it. I'll also take my Uberti made 1860 Colt Army and 1858 Remington. In lever guns I'm taking my marlin 24" 1895 Cowboy Ltd edition and 1895SS both in 45-70, my Rossi 1892 45LC, Winchester 1894, and my Henry Golden Boy. I'll be playing but also doing some serious bench shooting checking and resetting zeros and chronographing loads. I'll have pics and a range report in the next day or so. I actually shot my 1895SS a couple times the other day and it felt awkward shooting long guns again so I could probably use the range time as much as the guns.

Good Luck! Can't wait for the report. Enjoy!

I just hope you don't see any Indians... LOL


Have fun, good luck, and be safe!!

Better get an early start!

That is a bunch of shooting to do all in one day. I counted about 12-15 guns???

Not to mention the GUN CLEANING!

Go get 'em.

You must have a pickup for all those guns.

Soooo...how did it go today, Rod?

well I got out late but still got to play for a while although I didn't get through all my guns. I also managed to get some chrono info although it was definitely a day for finding bugs. First thing that happened was the batter died in my Leupold range finding bino's, then I had some hiccups with the chrono, next was a feeding problem with the 94, then finally was my stomach thanks to my lunch. I figured I got a day away to myself so I was going to treat myself to either BK or Subway, well I decided BK would be faster but the end result was several trips to the bushes in the middle of my shooting.

This is the truck that hauled the gear and the gravel pit I shoot at in the middle of the mtn's. The use it for fixing the roads for the log trucks so I don't see alot of people around.



This is the Henry Golden Boy, I shot CCI Mini Mags and Federal Premium Bulk. The velocities were identical but what surprised me is the extreme spread was larger on the CCI. Both avg 1250fps and would hold under 2" at 50 with the peep sight.


Marlin 1895 Cowboy Ltd 45-70. This is the most unpleasant rifle I have to shoot. It's pushing 430gr True Shots at 2100fps and if I do my job it will put them under an inch at 50.

Rossi 1892 45LC running 250gr XTPs at 1750, 1"@ 50


Marlin 1895SS with Leupold VXII 2-7X running 350gr Hornady RNSP at 1975fps and it will hold 1.5"@ 100. I used this gun and load on a Roosevelt and performance was impressive.


Winchester 94, I didn't finish getting it zeroed before the feeding problem but it was pushing 170gr Partitions to 1750.



This is my newest addition, Bisley 45 I've done the basics to, Action, throats, base pin and I installed a Hi Viz green front sight. It's running 250gr XTP's to 1275 and off the bags I was holding all 6 in the 2" adhesive dot at 25.

NICE!
Sounds like a day of "Trigger Therapy!"

yep, I did also shoot the 454, 500 and 357 a little. The 454 I just installed my 2X Weaver which just came back from getting the cross hairs straightened out after 10yrs of use and it's running 240gr XTP Mags at 1700, the 500 is pushing 435gr CP's at 1200fps and the 357 125gr JHP to 1800fps although I'm going to load up some 158XTP's to improve accuracy. The 454 and 500 are shooters with those loads but the 357 I still need to do some work to and I think I need to try some different loads.

I hope to be shooting some this week myself

Nice group of guns you got there, Rod. By the way, you were right about those blued Bisley hammers... they have a high nickle content to prevent rusting, and they polish up real nice too. I will post some pics soon. Thanks again.

Rod, whats the peep site on your arlin 1895 45-70? I have the cowboy model straight site octagon barrel and want to put a rear peep on it.

it's a Marble tang sight, I believe both Midway and Brownells have them. They have a couple versions now and one has interchangeable post if your doing long range shooting.

Cool, I need to check them out.

I screwed up fish, I was thinking of the 45, the Marlin CB is wearing a Williams receiver mounted sight with target knobs. Here is the link to the Brownells page, it's the FP-336
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=27350/Product/FOOLPROOF-TK-RECEIVER-SIGHTS

Thanks Rod. Ya I went back and looked at it and was thinking I was going crazy. LOL! What are your thoughts on Lyman sites like the williams? I have heard mixed reviews on the Williams. My Marlin rifle is crazy accurate.

If you stay with the Williams FP sights they are pretty good, I haven't used the Lymans myself but I've shot another Marlin with one on it and from a shooting standpoint there was no difference. I like the target knob versions although you still have 3 locking screws so if you want to be able to adjust while your shooting you have to find a happy medium. The FP/TK models have detents on the adjustment screws so adjustment is easy and it helps keep them from moving during shooting.

Roger that. Thanks!