looks like my Chaparral 1876 is a keeper!!

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:25 pm

Bought it in April (28" bbl, 45-75 cal.) and started out with shotgun size groups, as many of you may recall. Glad to say I now have a few loads that average 2 or so inches (3 shots at 100 yards, bench). Below are some loads that show even more promise but I don't have enough data yet to know for sure. The testing continues!! Thanks to all who helped me.

Top left is lee bullet , pure linotype, with 55 grains VE (volume equivalent ie: bp measure at 55 gn volume) of 777, group size is 1.3"
Top right is Lee bullet, 70% linotype 30% lead, 65 gn VE pyrodex RS, group size 1.5"
bottom left is Lyman 457122, pure linotype, 65 gn VE RS, group size 0.5" (!)
Bottom right is Lyman bullet, 80% linotype, 20% lead, 65 gn VE RS, group size 1.5"
I reuse targets thus the target pasters all over the place. One of these days I will get a "keeper" target the first time I use it and thus won't have patched holes everywhere!

[/img]

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:12 am

I'll say! More and more I'm thinking I need to be squirrelling away some money for a new `76.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:25 am

It is definately coming along!

Please refresh my memory, what is bullet weight and approximate velocity with those loads?

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:04 am

I need to get casting and get to the range. I've got th brass question licked, I think. So, what are the mold numbers and what are the powder charges?

win40-82 · Post by **win40-82** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:23 am

1/2" group at a 100yds? hey, you already found your load. most scoped hunting rifles won't do that. good shooting and good post.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:36 am

Fantastic!!!

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:38 am

Those loads can't possibly work.. Why every school boy knows you have to use 30-1 or 20-1 lead/ tin with BP & the Subs!! Nice shooting!!

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 8:03 pm

Nice!

Hope you have a big supply of Lino!

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:17 pm

That 1/2" group was only 1 group.....my wiggles probably compensated for my wobbles!!! I need to shoot more groups with that load before I get a meaningful average. I hope that load will average around 1 1/2" or so when all is done. Tycer, no, my lino supply is limited, that is why i have been trying diluted alloys to stretch it (the 70% and 80% lino loads). I also have heard that pure lino is more brittle than other alloys, but then again I heard that at these velocities it does not matter so who knows. Ben, I tried 20:1 as I have a lot of that alloy as I use it in my trapdoors, where it shoots good. With this 1876 though it and the pure lead I tried were terrible. I am guessing the velocities I am currently getting are around 1400 fps. The pure linotype Lee bullet weighs 311 gns, the Lyman weighs 314 gns. Lee mould number is 457340, solid nose. Lyman is 457122 and is a hollowpoint design which makes for s...l...o...w.. casting. Made a plug at work for this mould so I could try it as a solid and this boosts the weight to 330 gns with pure linotype. The key I think was the use of a 0.030" LDPE wad. Every single bullet/alloy combo I tried shot better with the wad. I am using reformed .348 brass and I am somewhat afraid that all the data I have collected with this gun so far will not correlate to jamison 45/75 brass. I really want properly headstamped brass when it becomes available. Hobie, I have the loads listed under the photo I posted. I use VE as an abbreviation for volume equivalent (ie: bp measure set at this number) so no one tries actually weighing out these charges.
PS: Should also mention the tang sight from Jeffs Outfitters helps immensely. You can see it at the extreme edge of the photo.

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:48 am

Missed the charges...

I don't see why you won't need to do just a bit of tweaking on the Jamison brass if/when it returns to the market. I'll tell you if there are differences between the .348 and .50 AK/.50-90 brass and performance. With BP and Pyrodex I would not expect much if any difference as long as the volume of the case is filled.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:51 am

Very nice shooting - keep that one.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:51 pm

coyote nose.. I was joking you about the hardness of those bullets..Toungue in cheek...
I figure if I get a good bullet fit, alloy hardness won't make much difference as long as I don't exceed the velocity limitations of it..I've permanently altered my 457122 mold to defeat that pesky HP feature.. Well ballanced & much more accurate bullet now ...

John Boy · Post by **John Boy** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:51 am

Here's some groups that got with mine ...
http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78395&hl

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:44 pm

Which tang sight did you put on the 1876 from Jeff's outfitters, the general long range tang?