For the extensive background on this facility if it is unfamiliar to you, please click on the following links:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5619
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... f=1&t=8936
What I am about to report is the full story of recent events at the Friends of Billy Dixon (FoBD) Ultra Long Range Shooting Facility at Stengel Gun Shop near Hotchkiss, CO. As previously reported, in September, 2008, Bill Falin, Mic McPherson, David Torkelson, Bob "Doc Holiday" Hoyle, Alan Ahmen, and Bill Tharp (all Shootists except for Bill Falin who is a former chief ballistician for Accurate Arms and master class rifleman) located and established an 1800-yard FoBD firing line. “Doc” Boyle managed to hit the diamond next to the “Billy Dixon” target (3 Indians on horseback) with David’s 45/70 Peabody at this new firing line. David had put 27 rounds down range, but had been unable to hit the target. He handed his rifle to Doc who managed to hit the target one time within 11 rounds!
Not to be out done, the following month David shot a 5 shot group on the same diamond at 1328 yards with his 22/45T SMc cartridge (see http://www.superiorballistics.com/) that measured 21.4 inches. This was done with a scoped Savage Model 12 rifle that used 75 grain Berger bullets. This establishes an event whereas shooters can now fire with any class of gun on paper targets. David’s group stands as a World-Record for the FoBD 22-caliber, scoped-rifle class.
Of important note, the first 1000 yard NRA sanctioned Bench Rest Competition at Stengel’s Gun Shop will be in January of 2009 weather permitting. Shooters may also shoot at paper from a range of 1328 yards.
By Smalley of Superior Ballistics and a true former “rocket scientist” developed a new bullet for his Remington Rolling Block in 45/70. It is a 362 grain solid brass bullet traveling at 1975 fps with a pointed tip and long boat tail that is also moly coated. Using telescopic sights By was able to hit the FoBD target 4 shots in a row (tying a record set earlier by Torkelson) at 1538 yards. Then Jim Williamson (another Shootist) fired one miss, then hit the target two shots in a row. According to Mic McPherson,
These bullets are available from By Smalley at $2.40 each. Please PM me if you are interested.“the vertical group spread for Smalley's four shots was >12 inches! Conditions good but imperfect -- horizontal spread of about six feet certainly easily attributable to wind changes.”
At the 1800 yard line, Falin hit the FoBD target twice in a row using his 45-70. I will finish with information provided to me by Mic McPherson:
In my opinion, this book will be a must have for any long range BP cartridge shooter. To keep up on current events at the FoBD Ultra Long Range Shooting Facility, please bookmark the following website:“From the FoBD firing line (1538 yards) Falin incessantly hammered the FoBD target and the adjacent diamond target using 40-, 45-, and 50-caliber C-Sharps rifles with conventional long-range peep sights.
At that time, we also demonstrated that the 40-caliber Sharps bullet (400-grain pointed) easily penetrated terminal ballistic media equivalent to about 18-inches of laboratory ballistic gelatin after crossing 1538 yards. Bill is working on pictures of the results of that test.
Bill and I verified data for 40-, 45-, and 50-caliber Sharps bullets fired at two velocities and at various ranges, out to 1800 yards. The FoBD long-range ballistics book is now ready to finish. This book will allow any interested shooter to get close enough to the target to easily see the misses and make the necessary sight corrections without ever firing a shot. It should be available though Superior Ballistics and various other outlets in time for FoBD events in 2009.”
http://www.friendsofbillydixon.org/
Please check back for updates!
-Text by Andy Tuttle with help from Mic McPherson, David Torkelson and Doc Boyle
