38 WCF rings the gong

[Catpop]

I was cutting some steel stock the other day and came upon a piece of 3/8" thick that had GONG written all over it. I trimmed out a 6" circle, dug out Fido's old dog chain (he only chases ghost wabbits nowadays- hint, he's dead) and rigged it up to hang between 2 post 7' apart.
I carried it to the range today and strung it up at 50 yards. My buddy and I had a ball slapping it around with 38-40 and 45 colt lead slugs from our 1873 Winchesters.
Note: I was testing some 38-40 reloads (7.0, 7.5, 8.0 Unique) and my 1900s +/- 1873 never missed the gong in 20+ shots with my reloads or Remington, Blackhills, or Ultramax ammo.
100 yard targets gave 2 1/2 to 4 inch groups. I love the way these old 73s lob the lead down the range! Lob, well yes, as the slugs sighted in at 50 yards dead on dropped 6 to 12" (rem 6", Blackhills and Ultramax 12") at 100 yards.
Later

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Sounds like fun.

I ordered a Cimmaron Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle in .44 WCF today, so threads like this aren't making my wait any easier.

 

[horsemen61]

Pics would be nice

 

[murf]

pics of the guns, too.

murf

 

[joem1945]

Once in a while I'll shoot my S&W 10 at steel gongs set up at 150 yds. I shoot light loads about 600 FPS. Kind of neat to hit at that range.

 

[Catpop]

1873s: My buddy was shooting a new Cimmeron 45 long colt and I, a 1905 Winchester 38-40. I'll try to get a picture of homemade gong and both rifles.
Note: This is not same rifle in a previous thread "1873 Winchester 38-40 basket case" last year.

 

[Don McDowell]

Those 38wcf's are a hoot.
I cut some swingers in the shape of a buffalo.

 

[Catpop]

Don, thats a great job you did there! Love that buffalo! Do you have any loads you would like to share. So far it looks like 7.0, 7.5 or 8.0 Unique under Missouri 180 gr rnfp 12 br .401 shows most promise for me. However I'm not a good enough shot to get a clear winner yet! I do love the way it just lobs the old lead slug down range at such slow speeds!
Tried to upload pics, but would not go through. Will try again later.

 

[Don McDowell]

Mostly been shooting 12 grs. of bludot, or 35 hrs of Olde Eynsford 2f, and using the ribs 180 gr bullet cast from 16-1. I came into quite a batch of 231 that was given to me, and I have been loading with that.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Don, thats a great job you did there! Love that buffalo! Do you have any loads you would like to share. So far it looks like 7.0, 7.5 or 8.0 Unique under Missouri 180 gr rnfp 12 br .401 shows most promise for me. However I'm not a good enough shot to get a clear winner yet! I do love the way it just lobs the old lead slug down range at such slow speeds!
Tried to upload pics, but would not go through. Will try again later.

I thought you had the picture thing figured out?

 

[Catpop]

Jim, i had until now. For some reason they come back upload failed.
I'm going to send one to you to see if you have any problems.
Your student, catpop

 

[Catpop]

Well I finally got the pic of my 1873 (1905) rifle uploaded, but the gong is still a no go. I'll take another pic of gong tomorrow and try to send it out.

 

[Catpop]

picture

I never could get the real life picture to upload. I was able to get this one against a plain wall uploaded.
All for now

 

[Don McDowell]

Looks like somebody been having to much fun.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I felt bad about Fido

But good shooting!!