Howdy fellow black powder enthusiasts.
Had a really great, uplifting day at the range yesterday. We shoot an informal NRA Cowboy Silhouette match at my club the 2nd Saturday of the month from May thru October. For part of the .22 match I used some b.p. .22 l.r. cartridges and were they ever fun to shoot at the steel targets! I shot up 20 or so during practice and when the sights were right, those b.p. launched 38 gr. and 46 gr. cast bullets found steel!
It was pretty neat to hear the miniature boom, and see the smoke produced by 5 grs. of b.p. followed by the sound of the impact of the bullet hitting steel.
During the match I used the remaining 10 b.p. .22 l.r. cartridges to shoot a 4x5 on chickens @ 40 meters and a 4x5 on the rams @ 100 meters. Great fun!!
I have been working with black powder in the .22 Long Rifle cartridge in a 20 Marlin 39A Centennial rifle, off and on for the past year or so, and more recently in a 24 barreled Marlin 39A which was made in 1948.
Up to this point, I had been testing for groups on paper and have found that .22 l.r. cartridges loaded with 5 grs. of Swiss 4F continue to shoot accurately for 30 + rounds with no cleaning or blow tubing. The reason I say 30+ is because 30 shots is the most I have fired in a row to date and the 30th round is still right in the group.
Current bullets I am using are a 38 gr. 20/1 bullet made from a discontinued Lyman mold # 225107 and a 46 gr. Bullet from an NEI mold. Lube is SPG. Unfortunately, I dont have the #225107 mold but a shooting acquaintance of mine has it and has graciously supplied bullets for me to shoot. I am on the hunt for this mold and hopefully, will find one someday. If not, NEI has a bullet that is similar in design.
In previous tests earlier this year, 5 grs. of Swiss 4F with 40 gr. .22 l.r. bullets pulled from .22 cases went 1,095 f.p.s. from the 20 barrel and 1,128 f.p.s. in the 24 barrel. The 46 gr bullet exited the 20 barrel at 1,074 f.p.s. I have not had a chance to test it in the 24 tube but hope to before the snow flies.
Shooting b.p. .22 l.r. cartridges is like stepping back 100 years. It sure is neat!
w30wcf
