TalonDor 257-3rd outting-So far, so good!
With this gun being NEWLY revived, i get the itch to shoot it everyday like i used to. Hell, like i do with any new airgun. 😆 And the weathers temp was just right at about 85 degrees but breezy!
On this outting, I was looking to see if the gun held POA (point of aim) since the 2nd time i was out with it. I actually went for the gusto and decided to start my shooting session off at 100 yards instead of 50-60 yards. If the gun held its last settings, at 100 yards, i should be either dead on center or just a tad bit high. I say a tad bit high because i’m still getting used to the trajectory of the 257 slug fired through the AirForce setup.
After setting up my swinging/swaying 8×8″ stainless steel plate at 100 yards, i was very surprised to see the very first shot of the day “DEAD CENTER” and just about 1″ high 😯 . It was exactly what i was expecting or should i say, “HOPING FOR”…lol! The 2nd shot landed just near the 1st shot and surprisingly AGAIN, the 3rd shot landed within 1″ of the 1st. This gun has shot another 1” (no calipers with me to measure the ctc) 100 yard group! Next time i’m out with her, i will print a group on paper.
I then set up numerous other reactive targets and started plinking away. Plinking with amazing results. But to say that i’m happy with the gun in its new guise would be an understatement. The one thing i have to keep reminding myself of about shooting this gun is too keep a very light hold on her. But i also have to admit, i’m having great success and i’m getting very used to the light hold. It definitely makes the gun seem like it kicks harder though. 😆
I also managed to take a Ground Squirrel at 80 yards with the TD257. It’s her first kill:
The other thing that i’ve for sure learned is that the barrel LOVES/PREFERS pure lead cast bullets over hard ones or anything close to hard or of medium hardness. I’ve casted up plenty of them and on my next outting, i will get some more 100+ yard groups.
Since my last outting with her, i have also added 2 more mods. 1st is a WOKBUTT and the 2nd is a Spacer under the top hat for more consistency or, the most consistency should i say (Chrony #’s to come).
ADAM (WOK)-thanx very much for the very nicely made WOK parts. The perform and work very well.
Doug-Can’t thank you enough for all your time and education on not only AIRFORCE guns but an intro into the world of machining. Oh yeah, and for letting me video tape all your secrets…..:lol:
I think that’s it……………i think!
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But one thing about me though is that i’m wise enough to know and accept that NO 2 BARRELS or GUNS ARE THE SAME and what works for 5 outta your 6 guns, DON’T work for the 6th one. If that makes any sense.
So yeah, it’s weird but again……..NOT REALLY! I sat there on the back of my truck and shot 3 hard cast vs 3 pure lead bullets using the same consistent hold and it was apples to oranges. Maybe its the way Doug machined the lead in. Maybe its this or maybe its that. I don’t know
What size are you sizing to and how much weight variance are you allowing ? Marvin
Well Marvin, outta my haley and my Corsair, i too don’t really notice the differences. But i’m always testing and shooting so i’m gonna cast for the Corsair 1 more time in pure lead using my 119 gr FP Lee mold. I recently got my hand on some TRUE PURE LEAD. It’s like chewing gum…lol!
But one thing about me though is that i’m wise enough to know and accept that NO 2 BARRELS or GUNS ARE THE SAME and what works for 5 outta your 6 guns, DON’T work for the 6th one. If that makes any sense.
So yeah, it’s weird but again……..NOT REALLY! I sat there on the back of my truck and shot 3 hard cast vs 3 pure lead bullets using the same consistent hold and it was apples to oranges. Maybe its the way Doug machined the lead in. Maybe its this or maybe its that. I don’t know
U dont see the difference cause u dont shoot over 30yds
Your right, i was surprised. I actually had some PURE LEAD and some of my harder cast lead bullets cast from the lyman 65 gr mold and even the 87 gr versions from RCBS and Hunters Supply and the PURE LEAD consistently out shot the hard stuff by a good margin. THe barrels are made to shoot hard lead which they do but, our power plants are weak compared to a PB. And i’m sure the difference lies there. A PB is much faster and exerts more force on the bullet as it travels down the bore.
I’m also contemplating casting some PURE LEAD for the 308 and doing another side by side comparison between the two bullet type
WOK,
Damn good idea man. Any suggestions on the name brand of plastic dip.
When I cast , and size out of the same mold with tested bhn levels . Of sorted and weighed bullets. I have found no difference in accuracy in any of my rifles except the LW choked barrel and the Korean rifles with there wide land narrow shallow grooves . As long as I do not go over 1000 fps . Then there is sometimes a accuracy gain with the harder alloy . Marvin
Marvin,
Your right, i was surprised. I actually had some PURE LEAD and some of my harder cast lead bullets cast from the lyman 65 gr mold and even the 87 gr versions from RCBS and Hunters Supply and the PURE LEAD consistently out shot the hard stuff by a good margin. THe barrels are made to shoot hard lead which they do but, our power plants are weak compared to a PB. And i’m sure the difference lies there. A PB is much faster and exerts more force on the bullet as it travels down the bore.
I’m also contemplating casting some PURE LEAD for the 308 and doing another side by side comparison between the two bullet type
WOK,
Damn good idea man. Any suggestions on the name brand of plastic dip.
Your welcome Tofaz,
One thing you might consider is putting some Plastic Dip on the part of the Wokbutt that touches the ground when setting your gun down.
Your findings on pure lead are some what of a surprise . When you look at the specs as well as knowing the barrel was made to shoot alloy lead . Marvin
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Tof,
I like pure lead when I have a slightly oversize mold, or in the case of the 257420 mold and the .255 barrel, I want the bullet to be slightly smaller than a alloyed casting would normally be to avoid excess sizing for the bore I using.
As far as 3 shot groups.
I have learned the hard way that three shots don’t really tell you anything with a AF rilfe, just like shooting steel at 100 yards really does not tell you how consistant or how accurate your rifle truely is.
But it sure is fun as hell isn’t it?
I shot close to 90 shots the other day at 150 yards to get a handle on hold pressure and various hold techniques and bidpods.
I came so close to spending another $250.00 on my AF rifle today, I had the Maddog Excaliber in the RLAirguns basket, was in paypal and I just could not bringmy self to spend more money on the Talon SSS and did not push the buy button.
I’m going to wait and see how the Haley shoots.
RC