First five shots.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I thought I would get an experiment going this morning and record the results of my first five shots with a number of sixguns just to test myself more than anything.

12 yards on a Wilson Combat plate. These old guns are all from the same era.

[Scott Tschirhart]

The Rugers went first.

[Scott Tschirhart]

But the winner is pretty clear.

[AJMD429]

.
One of my projects over the next couple years if my son moves home as planned is that we want to shoot all of my firearms and develop a load for the fun or accurate ones and probably sell the ones that we don't care for.

Such a test as yours might be a good first step.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Part of this may be long familiarity.

I’ve carried this gun a great deal and put a great quantity of ammunition through it

[Drawdown]

That's good shooting and I love them SA Ruger's. I did about same thing other day with an old Rossi 38 revolver that I hadn't shot in probably 15 years. I've decided to start packing it in woods instead of my 45 because of the size. It's not the weight of the 45, but bulk, that when I'm hunting, especially bowhunting, I've got so much gear, the 45 constantly in way! I've got a good leather conceal holster, that now I actually wear in rear, slightly right side, and I can hardly tell it's there! But I shot a cylinder full single action then a cylinder full double action and it's 3" barrel is pretty accurate!

[Ray Newman]

"Part of this may be long familiarity.

"I’ve carried this gun a great deal and put a great quantity of ammunition through it."

--Scott T.

BINGO! I think that is the key to good shooting.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I am thinking that the old .44 flattop Ruger might do better with about 10 gr of Unique under a 250 gr Keith. Full .44 mag loads are simply not fun.

[Old Savage]

Ok, with a Mod 24 and a New Frontier. I found a couple of New Frontiers in 44 and 45 particularly accurate.

[Old Savage]

The new Ruger Flat top, just moved the sight picture left after the first shot.

[Old Savage]

Only 7 1/2 yds just to see where it hit but still interesting.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m carrying on this experiment every trip to the ranch because I think it best represents how well I really shoot when it counts. (Minus extreme stress that may occur in some instances that I hope never occur).

[Paladin]

Excellent suggestion and results. I haven't done that with my single actions for a while and will give it a try on the new range where I have been checking the zero on most of my rifles (rifle rest at 125 yards).

Range 2 May.jpg

[samsi]

I am thinking that the old .44 flattop Ruger might do better with about 10 gr of Unique under a 250 gr Keith. Full .44 mag loads are simply not fun.

Not a Flattop, but my '80's Bisley likes that load well enough. I've probably used that Unique/Keith bullet load 10:1 over full tilt magnums over the years. Before Alliant powders got scarce I was also using 8.5 Power Pistol and the Keith bullet deep seated to 44 Special OAL, it was a bit slower but nearly identical in POI from the same gun.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thanks for the tip!

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve been living with this old gun for a few years now. Not sure I shoot anything better.

First five today.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Not a Flattop, but my '80's Bisley likes that load well enough. I've probably used that Unique/Keith bullet load 10:1 over full tilt magnums over the years. Before Alliant powders got scarce I was also using 8.5 Power Pistol and the Keith bullet deep seated to 44 Special OAL, it was a bit slower but nearly identical in POI from the same gun.

Looks like 10 gr of Unique may be the seat load for this flattop. It’s definitely more than a .44 Special but not punishing to shoot. Cases come out clean and fall from the chambers by their own weight.

[samsi]

Not a Flattop, but my '80's Bisley likes that load well enough. I've probably used that Unique/Keith bullet load 10:1 over full tilt magnums over the years. Before Alliant powders got scarce I was also using 8.5 Power Pistol and the Keith bullet deep seated to 44 Special OAL, it was a bit slower but nearly identical in POI from the same gun.

Looks like 10 gr of Unique may be the seat load for this flattop. It’s definitely more than a .44 Special but not punishing to shoot. Cases come out clean and fall from the chambers by their own weight.

It definitely hits a sweet spot and shoots well in most guns. My old shorty 4" Vaquero was regulated specifically for it after finding that a short, round-butted SA wasn't very magnum friendly.

IIRC, Sixgun Lore gives credit to Hal Swigget for coming up with it.