Ranger 45 Help
Well it’s been raining for two weeks around here and the first chance I got to shoot my Ranger was Saturday. I had some 370 gr. bullets cast with WW sized .452 so I gave them a try. First one out the 28″ tube at 4500 psi (yeah I like to start at the top and work my way down 😆 ) clocked 814 fps over my oehler sky screens at 12 ft. Quite depressing as I was hoping for 850 based on RC’s luck with his 408+ weights. I shot about six and they grouped about 3 inches at 100 yds which added to my depression, not to mention after waiting over 2 1/2 yrs for this rifle my damned shoebox decides it needs a rebuild. 👿
I have some of these cast 40:1 at 375 grs. dropping at .453-.454 and will try them without sizing. I hope they shoot better and hopefully get a little more velocity. I’ll try these with a 4300 fill. Maybe I’m getting some valve lock at 4500. BTW, of course I was using the high cocking position.
Any input appreciated,
JD
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Oh, RC,
Did you do any bedding with your stock? I just got mine inletted and put together and went to the bench and sighted in.
JD
RC,
You’ve thinned that baby down. Looks good. I don’t like thumbhole stocks (I’m old) and would have preferred the sporter, but decided on a thumbhole because of the limited sporters he had on hand.
You know..I didn’t mention it, but I was shooting off my bench using a Harris bipod with a rear pinch bag. I later thought this rifle may not like a bipod and that I might need to try a front bull bag. I noticed this gun had some pretty good twisting torque when fired and may need to be held firmly which I was not doing.
What pressure and alloy are you using and do you think the 370-375 weights are to light for the high cock position? A heavier bullet may be more efficient. It may be too much air for the 370’s. BTW, I just shot the WW for shits and giggles when sighting in. They were some I had cast for fire lapping I had laying around.
I know this is old to you..but damn I just got the thing.
Thanks for the input. I’m sure I will have more questions,
JD
JD,
My rifle likes to be held very firmly. I also think that WW are a poor choice for air gun alloy. I wish my valve would open at 4500 efficiently.
BTW JD, this is the latest version of my Ranger stock
Regards,
Roachcreek
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JD,
I bed my PCP’s on the air tube only, sort of like a bull barrel 10-22 where you leave the action floating.
I think 370 would be an ideal weight and have seriously considered HP’ing my 408 grain mold to make it lighter and of course to be just like Bob Vogel.
My Ranger does not like the bipod.
JD these big bore air rifles have different firing and pulse characteristics than what most of us are used to, you have probably noticed already that slow push backwards instead of a jolt you would get on a 45/70. My advise is to start at 50 yard, in untethered 2 shot groups and learn what the rifle needs to shoot accurately.
I say this for two reasons, one is that two shots is all your getting in the field and 50 yards is a more practical and more forgiving distance to start with. Once you have mastered the two shot 50 yard groups then try for 100 yard tethered bragging groups. And that is really what they are for in the field you not going to have that tank tethered.
Having said that, 3 inches at 100 yards is a damn good start, I can’t begin to tell you how may groups I have shot at 100 yards that were 3 inches or better.
But don’t spread that around. 😆
RC