Thicker patch gives better groups

With the mallet at the ready, today's single card was shot using a .354 ball with a 0.010 oiled patch and 9 grains of Krank's FFFg. After each shot was loaded, the sight picture was checked and the feet moved to compensate for any errors. The pistol was then fully cocked and the trigger set. The result was a new personal best with consistant shots and a tighter group.

 

 

Only one V-bull but lots in the 9 ring. Using usual scoring the worst three shots are dropped. That meant two of the 7's, plus a very low shot at 6 o'clock in the 3 ring [thanks to a 'visitor' deciding to stand behind me and starting talking, just as I squeezed the trigger - the duty RO 'had a word']. The tally of 1 x 7, 1 x 8, 7 x 9 and 1 x 10 gives a PB of 88 !!!

 

Lesson 1 - on the short starter I am going to use some emery cloth to take a few thou off the diameter off the short aluminium rod. This combined with the mallet should make ball starting a whole lot easier.

 

Lesson 2 - the Ox-Yoke 0.010 oiled patches are very oily! Keep a clean dry cloth on the shooting bench to dry the fingers before picking up and loading the ball.

 

Stats

 

Detail score = 88

Current average = 76.5

Personal best = 88.1

Barrel count = 77