First time at the range with the Rogers and Spencer

[bradaz11]

just don't set the sights for offhand shooting from the rested position especially if you are filing down the foresight.

why is that Adam? wouldn't you still be lining the sights up the same way rested to standing?

[dromia]

Recoil effect, hold position and follow through are different thus affecting point of impact therefore needing different point of aim.

[bradaz11]

Cheers

thank you

[ovenpaa]

Glad you had fun.

That looks really smokey or is it just the photo?

When I shoot a gun for the first time, especially pistols I always put the first dozen or so shots through it rested.

This gives me a measure of the load and gun as a benchmark for offhand shooting, all load development is done rested just don't set the sights for offhand shooting from the rested position especially if you are filing down the foresight.

Adam, it was quite smoky with the Triple 7. I am loading around 15.5 grains (By weight) from the powder spout with the Wonder Wad in front and I have a feeling I seated the balls too deeply first round. I did not have a suitable rest and was more interested in the process and general operation and it was a learning curve. The only Black I have is coarse so I assume not suitable.

One thing I noticed and was also pointed out by the Viking was just how close to being in line with the chambers my head was whilst loading and I can understand the advantages of using a loading stand at least until I am used to what I am doing. I found loading from the flask a faff mostly because I smashed my right hand many years ago and a couple of fingers do not move as they should do. I had a look at the target this morning and I managed to put three of the shots within a 3" group so it worked for me first time out.

I can see a lot more research is in order and I will see if I can meet up with some of the pistol shooters at the club for some words of wisdom.

[dromia]

Is you head any closer to the chambers than a metallic case when powder checking? And they are primed.

I use a wee funnel for pouring the powder into the chamber, I also usually have pre-measured charges or pour the powder into a measure from the flask and then use that for pouring the powder into the chamber via the funnel.

I find loading revolver chambers from a flask clumsy and it is also not deemed safe practice on some ranges.

What do you mean you seated the balls too deeply?

[ovenpaa]

Is you head any closer to the chambers than a metallic case when powder checking? And they are primed.

Good point well made.

I use a wee funnel for pouring the powder into the chamber, I also usually have pre-measured charges or pour the powder into a measure from the flask and then use that for pouring the powder into the chamber via the funnel.I find loading revolver chambers from a flask clumsy and it is also not deemed safe practice on some ranges.

I agree the combination of myself and flask is clumsy so I can see the advantages of measuring the charges before heading to the range, I have some little plastic phials that are perfect for the job

What do you mean you seated the balls too deeply?

Well... I know Triple Seven does not like being compressed however I am not so sure about the Polenta after the Wonder Wad and it has set me thinking I may have inadvertently over compressed the whole column 777 included. In the good old days of shooting Black I could compress the powder without worries however I am not sure of how much pressure to seat the ball with using the built in lever.

[dromia]

The use of semolina as a filler is total waste of time in my experience.

The theory is that the ball has less distance to travel down the the cylinder before the jump into the forcing cone thus making it more accurate(?)

I have never noticed it making any difference to my groups, then perhaps I am not a good enough shot to take advantage of the "benefit", it just adds another step and measurement requirement to the loading process, we all know the trick to loading and shooting is consistency and this other step complicates that.

However with tripple 7 being so finicky to compression the semolina may have a purpose in helping to absorb inconsistent and over compression and help the damned stuff perform.

Regardless, I would suggest sprinkling the tripple 7 on the garden or pot plants, eat the semolina and get some Swiss 2f or 3f powder.

[FredB]

I mostly agree with Adam, except that, if you are going to grease over the ball when seated, the use of semolina will move it closer to the mouth of the cylinder and reduce greatly the amount of grease and the consequent clean up job.
Fred

[ovenpaa]

Hmm... I did remember the grease however it was not until I got home. Embarrassingly I mostly shot Black in things with long barrels so greasing is a bit alien to me.

[dromia]

With semolina, a wad and a tight fitting ball the grease is over kill surely unless you are have problems keeping the fouling under control.

I rarely use grease unless I have to use particularly dirty powder, I use a good quality felt wad soaked in a beeswax tallow, this along with good quality powder keeps the barrel really clean and lets me shoot many cylinders without my guns fouling up.

A good tight fitting ball is all that is necessary to seal the chamber if flashover is a worry for you.

On Fred's point if I was using grease I would sooner have the extra grease than the faff on with semolina, it mostly goes down range anyway.

On the subject of grease, my favourite is water pump grease. It is great for keeping the fouling soft and stiff enough to stay in place as the gun is discharged, soft greases tend to disappear when the first round is let off.