Frankengun Range Report

[sakorick]

I never thought I would be able to use open sights anymore but all that has changed. First, it was obvious that I needed a thicker front blade.....so did the USMC in WWII. The 1st Marine Division landed on Guadalcanal with their 1903 Springfields and quickly found out they were in a night war with the Japanese. The Thick front USMC sight was born.....and I got my hands on one. They are 0.095 thou thick. Then I went on Apertures and More and they had a 0.095 that replaced the 0.040 impossible to see through aperture on my Lyman 48. I sure got excited as I started letting bullets fly. I am trying to replicate WWI ammo by loading up Sierra 150 grain bullets coupled with both anemic loads of IMR4064 and RL15 and Lake City brass. My first two groups were far from spectacular both around 2 1/2 inches. That's when the magic happened. I put my new long range prescription glasses on and gosh, there was the front sight clear as a bell and there was the 100 yard target....it was like magic! Then I shot group 3 with RL15 after adjusting the Lyman and ....drum roll.......MOA! Then I adjusted the Lyman for one last shot which was near perfect. I quit. I am going to resume in the AM when it's cooler. Guess what I'm taking deer hunting this year.....how about a 95 year old Springfield.

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[1911Ron]

Glad you found a solution to seeing better when shooting with irons! Oh and nice shooting!

[sakorick]

Glad you found a solution to seeing better when shooting with irons! Oh and nice shooting!

Thanks, Ron. I see your Garry Owen crest and I get goose bumps! Hal Moore was the bravest-smartest man I ever knew.

[CINDERS]

I would put Plumley in the same vein considering his service career as well they complimented each other;

Service career;

Battles/wars

World War II
Battle of Normandy
Operation Market-Garden
Rhine
Germany
Korean War
Battle of Porkchop Hill
Vietnam War
Ia Drang Valley

Awards 40AD

[sakorick]

I had another great day at my range.....nice having a 400 yard range in your back yard! Anyway, I did some more tweaking and shot another MOA group, then moved the Lyman up 2 clicks and shot the last bullet, #4 right where I want it. I also ran one through the chrony and she is doing 2777'/sec. So I have essentially duplicated the same speed and bullet weight shot in the 20's. The 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunters are a flat base bullets and my Milsurps really seem to like them. I have 50 rounds of brass in the tumbler and next week will trim and reload them. The only change will be that I will also crimp the bullets. I find this gets the bullets started with the same pressure every time as neck tension varies from case to case depending on the number of reloads. For further consistency I re-anneal all my Lake City brass. My confidence is high and my new glasses are sensational so I will be ready for a 250 yard shot if required. From my high stand, most shots are within 160 yards. The first deer I shot in my life was as a 14 year old in Colorado....the rifle was a $14.95 Smith Corona 1903A3 that I hand picked at the Pueblo Army Depot in 1960. Life is good!