Accuracy at 100 Yards

Replicating Doc Pardee's

110 yard 4" Groups

By Bryan Austin

8-17-2019

<--Uberti Winchester 1873' with Malcom scope.

<---The 50 Accurate Mold 43-214A cartridges used for the 4" Groups.

Bullets cast by Mark Whyte of Whyte Leatherworks

Background

More than likely you have already seen John Kort's replication from his "My Black Powder Journey". I have been trying to accomplish the same thing for ten years but using modern smokeless powders. On 8-17-2019, I finally achieved that goal. Like John, in order to help accomplish this task I had to revert back to the original type Winchester design bullet. The Lyman 42798 or 427098 is basically a copy of Winchester's improved bullet design. They can be seen in the Bullets/Molds subtitles on the nav bar on the main page of this web sight. A few weeks ago I decided to modify the 427098 to see if I could get batter accuracy with these modern powders, Reloder 7 to be exact. I wanted a heavier bullet so I decided to see if I could get at least 117gr. I accomplished that and more when I designed the 43-214A. I used John's already modified 427098, the 43-215C as my platform. I increased the size of the ogive area, reverted back to the two lube grooves and removed the crimp groove option. Using a basic molten mix, I achieved 217gr. I sent my mold to Mark Whyte and he was able to drop a 220gr cast bullet from his mix. It is the 220gr 43-214A that I used to replicated the Groups that Doc achieved back in 1875....but I also used a scope. I did this to prove the rifle and the cartridge rather than my lack of shooting skills. Groups using my cast bullets did fine but a few shots were outside the 4" desire. Using Mark's castings, I managed to put 30 consecutive shots inside the 4" circle at 100 yards.

The Loads

I loaded up 50 rounds using 25.8gr of Reloder 7. I would have prefered 25.5 but my Lee autodisk drops 25.8 from the double disk combination. In my pressure testings I used 26gr with the 217gr 43-215C. This design produced 10,485psi @ 1,384fps from a 20" MGM, 1 1/4" diameter barrel I used with the Pressuretrace system. This was also accomplished at 35 degrees Fahrenheit. This same load at 95 degrees could be 2,000 to 3,000psi higher, especially from small bores and large diameter bullets. Needless to say, I feel completely comfortable with 13,500psi loads in my Uberti Winchester 73'. SAAMI max loads are documented as being 11,000psi.

The Targets

Target 2

8-17-19-2 Group 1

Shots 1-10

Target 3

8-17-19-3 Group 1

Shots 11-20

First ten shots after scope adjustment from target 2

Target 3

8-17-19-3 Group 1 & 2

Shots 21-30

Target 3

8-17-19-3 Group 1, 2 and 3

Shots 31-40

Putting it all together

“It affords me much pleasure to communicate to you the result of thirty consecutive shots at the distance of 100 yards, with one of the improved Winchester rifles.

The firing was done without wiping, which proves the Winchester steady in her performance and gives assurance to the sportsman that if he only performs his part in manipulation of the piece, he need not fear the California jaguar, or grizzly bear.”

~E. H. P.

(……or protecting buffalo hunters from Indians) ~John Kort

This is a total of 40 consecutive shots, however, the first 10 shots were on a separate target and used to make the first scope adjustment. Represented in the target to the left with black dots. Details below

Otherwise, the target to the left has 30 consecutive shots, replicating Doc's 1873 target.

My amateur testing in 32 degree weather produced 10,500 psi when testing this load, but using John Kort's 43-215C design @ 117gr. Pressures for 80 degrees could increase pressures upwards to 12,000psi.

Uberti Winchester 73'

Macolm Scope

Target 8-17-19-3

40 Consecutive shots, size of each group and over-all group size.

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