1892 AMBERG GEW 88/05 range report......

[tenntex32]

Now that Jouster is up and going again, I thought I'd post this here. (Previously posted on Gunboards, sorry!)

Dale

I had a chance to take the '88/05 out to the range Sunday. It was a little gem I picked up for $125 OTD, a few months ago, at a local pawn shop. I loaded up 20 rounds, Friday night, using Winchester once-fired cases (fired about 10 years ago!), Hornady .323" 170gr RN bullets, Varget and CCI BR-2 primers. The OAL was 2.835", and a 3/4 turn Lee Factory crimp was applied. I loaded them up using 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 grains of Varget, 4 rounds each. This rifle slugged .321". Sierra's max load, with this bullet and powder is 50.5 grains, and with a 24" test barrel, the velocity was published at 2700fps. I kept my loading max at 48gr thinking the 29" barrel should give me the 2700fps approx, with the lower load. I handload on a single stage press, segregating cases and bullets by weight and keeping the powder charge to 1/10th grain accuracy. Slow, yes. Rewarding, very! The shooting conditions were very little wind, sunny, and 70's for temp. I was using a front rest and rear bag while firing at a distance of 100 yards. After firing 2 PMC factory 170gr rounds for fouling, here's what I found:

The 2 Factory PMC foulers were 2244fps and 2211fps, respectively. Accuracy was horrible, but they were the last 2 remaining rounds in the box, and I want to reload the cases!

(Group 1) 44gr Varget/4-shots
AV 2452fps ES 81fps SD 34fps
4-shots into 4" / 3-shots into 2 3/4"
Impacted 9" high

(Group 2) 45gr Varget/4-shots
AV 2529fps ES 39fps SD 15fps
4-shots into 2 1/8"/ 3-shots into 3/4"(barely touching)
Impacted 8" high
Best load of the day, accuracy wise, and easy on brass!

(Group 3) 46gr Varget/4-shots
AV 2614fps ES 35fps SD 14fps
4-shots into 2 7/8"/ 3-shots into 7/8"(small triangle!)
Impacted 7" high
2nd best load of day, 2500-2600fps seems to be
best accuracy range with these load components.

(Group 4) 47gr Varget/4-shots
AV 2669fps ES 21fps SD 10fps
4-shots into 3"/ 3-shots into 1 3/4"
Impacted 7" high
Accuracy starting to taper off, even though
ES's and SD's are still dropping.

(Group 5) 48gr Varget/4-shots
AV 2728fps ES 22fps SD 12fps
4-shots into 3 3/4"/ 3-shots into 2 3/8"
Impacted 6" high
Not much better accuracy than the 44gr load.

As you can see, the target of 2700fps was realized, and it was just luck, more than likely, that it turned out this way, as I've seen advertized velocities be completely different than "actual" velocities. This time the extra barrel length factored in with the lighter load came out as expected. Another point of interest is how the accuracy went from worse to best then to worse again, clearly showing a distict preference for a loading/velocity range. Once again, you don't always get this cut and dry lucky. With Varget I've found it's normal for the ES's and SD's to be smallest with the higher pressures, but once again the smallest ES and SD does not always give the best accuracy. I do feel I got lucky here, a lighter load, that's easier on those pricey cases, gave great indications of being an accurate load. Sometimes you get the best accuracy with the hotter loads and have to decide on accuracy or case life!(especially with Varget) Now I would like to concentrate on a load range of 45 to 46 grains in 3/10th grain increments, to see if 45 grains truly is the keeper load for this combination. A few other observations, the rifle shot dead center, windage wise, with the front sight staking marks lined up. I never moved them. Not too shabby for a rifle that's 117 years old. Also, the trigger was not the usual scratchy long first stage and very stiff second stage. It was a very smoothe long first stage, and a relatively light second stage. Also, the faster the load got, the lower the impact was to center. I've seen this multiple times with different rifles. It's not always hotter/higher. I feel very confident shooting this rifle, and all indications point to possibly being able to consistently get 5-shot groups into under 2", with a little more load tweaking and trigger time. I am pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I'll try to get a few pics of the rifle, tomorrow, when I can get it out in the sunlight, as indoor lighting does it no justice. I am not responsible for anyone duplicating the load data given in this thread.

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[BruceV]

Thank you for a enjoyable post. Your on target results are commendable. As well it would be a pleasure to see some pictures of your rifle. Sincerely. BruceV.

[tenntex32]

......but by the time I could get around to it, the clouds and wind had set in, here, in N. Texas. I'll try to do better tomorrow. It was all my wife's fault. I say that because she's setting here watching me type...........

Dale

[tenntex32]

........it was cloudy this evening! I promise, I do own a 88/05 Commission! Maybe tomorrow, but they are prepping us for colder wetter weather.........

Dale