Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

Bryan Austin

Well I was not expecting this at only 50 yards this morning. Nothing abnormal about anything but the groups. I stopped at shot #6, came home and cleaned the barrel. Maybe next time!!! 44-40 (of course) and my typical load 1st shot was high left, I can eat that one....but then shots 5 & 6 went fa...

Bryan Austin

Hmmm... I wonder which would be more in keeping with the spirit of the match, vs. strict adherence to its parameter: using my AWA Lightning rifle in .44-40; or, using my Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle in 45 Colt? LOL, 44-40 vs everything else....it's like... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsmJdqKYJVg

Bryan Austin

I'm a little confused (and that's easy to do). Is the target shot offhand or off the bench? Shasta Whatever tickles your fancy....you are your own competitor! However, that is something that can be added to the notes section...anything to remind you in the future of what you did. My results when us...

Bryan Austin

I guess they didn't have alibi's those days for rounds that don't fire. Is that what you meant by a misfire, a round that never went off? And really that would not be unusual to not allow alibi's, as there are matches that don't allow a refire for a squib or dud, I'm just thinking of the last match...

Bryan Austin

ywaltzucanrknrl wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 12:48 pm Wondering about the 2 misses on the T Stuart target? The rest of the shots sure were centered.

I thought I saw somewhere that they were two misfires...and he was the better shot

Bryan Austin

Since I have nothing better to do, I have decided to play with a new hobby.....no, I do not have that special rifle......just came up with a fun name for some 44-40 postal match targets. The Stuart Brother's 500 yard Winchester 73' 1 of 1,000 rifle targets from 1876 got me to thinking what could I d...

Bryan Austin

That's good news Bill. I just got a hold of a 5lb jug myself!

Bryan Austin

Second attempt at double targets, ZERO wind

1st Impact, 50 yard zero
2nd Impact, 100 yards

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Bryan Austin

Today I shot both a 50 yard and 100 yard target with the same shots. The 100 yard POA was set, but is not perfect since I was alone. The 50 yard target was then placed in front. The shot placements were marked after each shot, on both targets. Aside from trajectory, both targets are to show the grou...

Bryan Austin

Made a few more targets. Nothing special, just more of the same...with some slight insight. Target 2025-3-26 showed signs of opening up a bit with higher gusty winds. The part I like is the velocity at 41 yards ;-) 485618335_2917861801707541_136761010739798646_n.jpg Target 2025-4-3-2showed signs of ...

Bryan Austin

When the land owner is happy, I am happy

Bryan Austin

February 100 yard target. Is it a flier or not? First shot, cold shot, hit high left while the other 9 grouped nice at 2.3" at 100 yards. With all ten shots, 5.4". After the tenth shot, windage was corrected for the March next month! However, on my way out I picked off a groundhog at 98 ya...

Bryan Austin

Back in 1876, bothers Thomas Stuart and Granville Stuart both used 1873' Winchester One of One Thousand rifles in competitions. Believing Thomas was the better shot, thus says the target, he lost to his brother due to two of his cartridges failing to go boom! Thomas scoring 60 and Granville scoring ...

Bryan Austin

February is not being vary friendly this year

Bryan Austin

exactly!!!

Bryan Austin

Since I have not had time to shoot February's 100 yard target yet, here are 6 targets from yesteryear. 3 from 200 yards and 3 from 300 yards. 8 MOA sucks by today's standards, and yesteryears' for that matter, but how are your loads working for you at these longer distances? The velocities are impre...

Bryan Austin

So I gather that these loads should NOT be used in a Colt? Asking for a friend! :D According to my pressure test results, I will use this 25.5gr/217gr 43-214A load in my revolvers. But I can not say anyone else can. What folks do not like about Reloder 7 is that it is a rifle powder....it leaves po...

Bryan Austin

Yes sir Bill!!

JimT,
yeap, the older I get I less cold and less heat. I am really beginning to hate the wind as well, regardless of the temp...LOL

Bryan Austin

Okay, just for kicks....this was actually my best ever 10 shot 100 yard group.

Shots 1-10 of the 40 shot group back in 2019

1.582" Group
1.511 MOA
-0.23 Elevation Offset
+1.26 Windage Offset
Score = 368
Mean Radius - .047"

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Yes, with the Uberti Winchester 73' and 6x Scope

Bryan Austin

Today's 10 shot group was a bit better. I was a bit more relaxed than the last time I shot. Although I did shoot a buck in 2022 at -4 degrees with this load...I am calling 28ish degrees as my extreme temp. I really have no plans to shoot in temps much less than the 20's. The 10 shot group tightened ...

Bryan Austin

Was a nice morning to shoot!

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Bryan Austin

I did want to comment on the 43-214A bullet weights as cast in this last batch. Not being too particular, they weight anywhere from 215gr to 217gr....but mostly 217gr. Thanks for posting this info. You are making 'me' feel a little better about my 'new to me' NEI final bullet weights. They will be ...

Bryan Austin

The three-point stability is superb! Easy to keep stable, even at an angle...and the sandbag keeps everything else upright for a smooth clean shot Shooting off of the tailgate of my truck the other week. Note the left front is not perfectly level. 471513890_2065934790494426_3132669202900700591_n.jpg

Bryan Austin

I was sure hoping to shoot again today...maybe tomorrow! Just around the curve to the right is the barn where I shoot. 471963945_2499166203621873_1430405692595548214_n.jpg Just around the curve to the left is the pond where the first photo was taken! 470051636_455562550958698_2483933658418690637_n.j...

Bryan Austin

Looks great! Only thing I'd personally change is a way to adjust the front rest via a screw thread to be able to adjust small amounts easily. Maybe a threaded insert in the block and all thread with a wingnut on it so you could loosen the clamping bolts, adjust it up or down, then tighten the wingn...

Bryan Austin

Looks great! Only thing I'd personally change is a way to adjust the front rest via a screw thread to be able to adjust small amounts easily. Maybe a threaded insert in the block and all thread with a wingnut on it so you could loosen the clamping bolts, adjust it up or down, then tighten the wingn...

Bryan Austin

For those that enjoy Dennis's videos, you may have already seen his rifle rest. This is were I got the idea to make my own. I used his pattern. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2p0wLgZ34k&t=1340s It is my all time favorite rest. I recently added a cartridge block holder.....I just snap it right ...

Bryan Austin

I decided to buy a subscription to Ballistic-X. It is actually kind of nice.

It takes your shots and places them on their own target.

Here is a PDF of the complete tool kit on the target

BallisticX-Report_2025-01-07.pdf

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Bryan Austin

I did want to comment on the 43-214A bullet weights as cast in this last batch. Not being too particular, they weight anywhere from 215gr to 217gr....but mostly 217gr.

Bryan Austin

That is a great explanation!

Bryan Austin

What I mean is, is that the old "black powder pistol sized cartridges" can be a bit different than modern high powered stuff. Another thing is indeed the scope. I feel if most shooters removed their scopes from their high powered rifles....those groups too might open up a tad. Sometimes we...

Bryan Austin

I only use three shots for my 30-06. The 10 shots is just for the 44-40. If ya can't get tight groups in the 06' with three shots, chunk it in the trash...LOL

Bryan Austin

Here is the 100 yard target. This is the first 100 yard target with the scope dialed for 50 yard zero (2025-1-5-1). 470051636_455562550958698_2483933658418690637_n (1).jpg An obvious 1" inch correction is needed to lower, and center the group to the bullseye area. Target 2025-1-5-2, shots 1 thr...

Bryan Austin

Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2025 3:02 pm , their Ubertis are 1:36 with .424 lands and .432 grooves (.004 deep rifling).

wow, never herd of an Uberti being that big. All my 44-40 bores are 429, 1/36.
1889 Marlin made in 1892, Marlin 1894CB and the Uberti Winchester 73', imported by Cabelas.

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Bryan Austin

Bryan, thanks for those load details. Have you shot the Accurate 214-A with black powder? Do the smaller lube grooves hold enough lube to keep fouling under control? I am a bit surprised you are sizing to .428 in a .429 bore, which seems opposite the traditional wisdom, but cannot argue with your r...

Bryan Austin

The 44-40 W.H.V. was manufactured from 1903 until WWII, some 40 years, so it had to be good. Using original Sharpshooter powder from dissected cartridges, the only 10 HV loads I could test grouped 3.2" at 50 yards @ 1,568fps (original Winchester .4255" JSP bullets from a .429" bore). ...

Bryan Austin

Can't wait to try the new truck bed bench...
sorry about all the background packrat stuff...

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Bryan Austin

My experience with killing deer with the 44-40 is, double lung shots, track up to 100 yards.

Poop out the butt, blood out the lungs at 85 yards...dead is dead

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Bryan Austin

yes the fifth line down reads to me a 95% chance of a slug landing on your body at 800 paces if they have the range known. I dont want to be facing that. That is correct, and the whole point of the fact that the 44 slug at 300 yards is nothing to smirk at. It by no means performed like the .30 cal ...

Bryan Austin

Thanks guys!! That's an interesting shooting rest you made. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would be interested in the details. Great shooting! :D Picked up the idea from Dennis Pritchard, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2p0wLgZ34k Bryan, Nice shooting and final results. But, I have have a few q...

Bryan Austin

The new year brings on a new chapter for the 44-40 paper punching game. I was able to shoot three targets, 5 shots each from 50 yards. 471592862_1104057647870276_6896256095823361542_n.jpg 471513890_2065934790494426_3132669202900700591_n.jpg 470052940_1642699896627513_298966967211685885_n.jpg Nothing...

Bryan Austin

The day being when it first came out. What was the average fella using his 1873 on back then, regards four legged targets. What was the general feeling around the calibre at the time. Its just a great new repeater, a big game option? Winchester's 1875 catalog has close to 80 published testimonials....

Bryan Austin

I found one, not the same but it works

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Bryan Austin

can you list the items and where to buy them? Looks promising.

I see the Pinty laser, but what mount is that...can't find one

Bryan Austin

The best Caliber would be the .44" followed by the .45"

Bryan Austin

Just did a quick zero check today. 100yds and 200yds. One reload and one factory load. Just one round each. Four shots. The ammo is old Winchester 50gn sp. Any ideas how old it is? I can get it at half current prices here. IMG_20240114_084325.jpg The ammo box is post-1961 (white "Child-Warning...

Bryan Austin

ywaltzucanrknrl wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 4:48 pm Bryan, I would be very happy with that 20 shot group at 100 yards. I'm curious, what rifle and sights and how were you holding the rifle?

Marlin 1894CB...44-40...scoped

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Bryan Austin

For $599, they can choke on it

Bryan Austin

what are your groups at 125 to 135 yards? I run the same in my Marlin 1894CB for the 44-40. About 4". Okay but want to get a little better with 240xtp handloads. Great report! This is the best multiple shot group at 100 yards that I have been able to produce with a 240gr lead bullet in the 44-...

Bryan Austin

I only own 2 centrefires, a 223 wby vanguard and a Rossi 92 in 44 mag which does the most work. For subsonics I run 200gn gold dots, they are about the the lowest velocity expanding bullet around, down to 800's fps impact. Also have my 'SMG load' for around the homestead which equates to original 4...

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