BPCR at the range (W/O the blackpowder, so far!) 32-20 Hepburn

[villiers]

Now that IS impressive! The short barrel Werder´s never going to be that accurate. I blow through the barrel after every round (but don´t think it makes much difference ... maybe the beer fumes clean it a bit). The Werder carbine´s supposed to get 2.5 grammes (38.58 grains) of BP but I can´t get that in together with the grease. The max. load was NOT accurate at 50 metres, so I started again with 25 grains. Am now at 34 grains and trying it out at 300 metres (100 metres was OK). I found that it´s a lot better with bullets that I weigh and only keep the ones within limits. And it does seem to need a cork washer in between the base of the bullet and the grease.

[jmoore]

Well, the deed is done, whether the price noted previously was good or no...Now to see if I can duplicate or better the 30 year old factory Winchester ammo in accuracy.

Cast another batch of bullets (~200) using the Ideal mould, but the weight was almost exactly two grains less than the first batch. More consistant, though: well over 100(probably 140 or so) were within one tenth of a grain of 113.0gr. None under 112gr. Not something that is for the impatient! Probably 2 1/2 hours to do that many, and that doesn't include weighing or lubing!

Wonder why the weight difference? Digital scale. The pot was charged using the same materials. Pot and outdoor temps very close both sessions. The mould had been cleaned in between lots, though.

[jmoore]

Hands down the worst quality control I've ever seen for commercial ammunition.

Found a not quite current box of 32-20 W-W ammo and bought it to see if it could match the performance of the 1970s production which is now sadly all gone. Had fired a few without really looking at the stuff with less than stellar results when a case was ejected that had part of the case mouth pulled away! Eh??? Peered at some of the unfired rounds and was, ummm,... disappointed. Stunned. Actually...

Here's a sample:





All of this mess is from the same box.

Crimped so fiercely that the brass failed in some and not crimped at all in others! Have never before seen a crimp that sprang the mouth back out in a flare forward of the impressed ring.

After range time was over, we checked new W-W mfg. rounds at a local shop: pretty much the same. Hideous! And near on US$1 per round for this trash.

Fortunately, there's a new lubrisizer at home and 20 sticks of SPG black powder lube freshly purchased along with 100 pieces of new Starline brass.