Gun Powder Turning Bad

I have an 8-pound jug of military surplus powder that is just starting to go bad.  (It's starting to get an ammonia smell; when it smells like Sulfuric Acid, gives off fumes, or turns red, it is past saving.)

Now since it's turning bad, you cannot load up a batch of ammunition and let it sit for months, as it may finish decomposing in the cartridge case.

So last night, I went down and loaded up 30 rounds of ammunition for the 6.5mm Swedish Mauser.

Today, I told the wife that I have no choice, but to go down to the range.  The powder in the cases is going bad, and I have to use it up.

She was skeptical of my story.

Fortunately, I handled my penance of burning up 30 rounds, then cleaning the Mauser well.

Ooh, and I put the rest of the jug in the bottom of the freezer, to keep. I hope that she doesn't move the turkey.   

I suspect she believed it was an excuse for range time haha. 

A fellow cmdr has a friend who has offered to let us shoot on his farm. If it ever stops SNOWING!  Ugh!

Awww, don't let a little snow stop you Dan. It's good to practice in all weather conditions. You don't want to be a "fair weather" marksman do you???   












Says the Southerner that runs home at the first hint of snow so as not to be "stranded" in it!

Yea, run like a yellow bellied rebel haha  

Speaking of Rebels.......

After Church, came home & had a couple of hours before PM Service.

So, I took a model 1858 Enfield .577 Cal Rifled-Musket (that my Brother-in-Law gave) down to the Range.  Our Outpost is going to have a Black Powder Shoot in 2 weeks, and I don't want to be embarrassed by not knowing Point-of-Impact for the Rifle.

So I did a variety of shots using various Powder Charges with Minie'-Ball and Round Balls from 25 to 100 yards.

I actually got a swab stuck down the barrel and had to use a "worm" to get it out.  Took about 15 minutes; that was a real joy.

So how did it shoot?

Phillip Gross wrote:So how did it shoot?

Oh Phillip, you troublemaker.  You had to ask.

Here are my Field Notes:


Model 1858 .577 Cal. Enfield Rifled Musket:

35 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Minie'-Ball
50 Yards:  Off the Paper, >18" High

35 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Minie'-Ball
25 Yards:  7" to the Right, 10" High

35 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Round Ball
25 Yards:  5 1/2" to the Right, 5" High (1 3/4" High with 6:00 Hold)

35 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Minie'-Ball
100 Yards:  (Favored 4" Left).  Miss >18" High

35 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Round Ball
100 Yards:  (Favored 4" Left).  Miss >18" High

40 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Round Ball
50 Yards:  On-Center, 10" High

45 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Minie'-Ball
25 Yards:  On-Center, 10" High

45 Grains FFG (Weighed Charge),  Minie'-Ball
100 Yards:  Miss: >18" High

So it always went high? Why I'd that?

Phillip Gross wrote:So it always went high? Why I'd that?

The Front Sight is too Short.  It needs a taller Front Sight to "Push the Muzzle Down".

Some military rifles (especially European) had a "Battlesight Zero" set so that, if you aimed between an opponent's belt and his rib cage, the round would hit about 10" high at 100 yards, point-of-aim at 200 yards, and in the groin-area at 300 yards.  If you want point-of-aim impact, you must purchase a target front sight.

But the front sight on this rifle is soldered on, so cannot be replaced without gunsmithing.

Also, shooting more than 16" high at 100 yards isn't even "Battlefield Quality".

My Brother-in-Law was a Civil War Reenactor.  It's fine for that purpose, as he never fired a projectile through it.

Otherwise, without a bit of gunsmithing......

....it's a lot like some girls I knew back in college....

...........................looks good on your arm, but not a lot of function, otherwise.

Claymore wrote:
Otherwise, without a bit of gunsmithing......

....it's a lot like some girls I knew back in college....

...........................looks good on your arm, but not a lot of function, otherwise.

    

So basically you just know where it shoots and aim even lower...

Yeah, well.

The boys need to have confidence in the Rifles that they will be using, as they'll be shooting for score from 50 and 100 yards.

Sounds like one of those guns those carnival crooks gave Opie in Andy Griffith Show to make sure he'd miss every shot. Bad sights was the cause of it too.