Today was going to be an "IFFY" day for shooting but the next two days the predictions were even worse - SOoooo I picked up the Whitetail and headed for the pit. When I left here it was just starting dribble a little bit - I was headed east so I was hoping to outrun the moisture...
Got to the Pit got everything set-up for the first part of the shoot. Placed 9 birds, I started down there with 10 but dropped one on the basalt pit run rock and well you know, so I got the remaining 9 set-up for the first round of the planned shoot.
By the time I walked back to the truck - it started - not real bad at first - but it was only working it's way to what was coming. I was committed now so I got the rifle out and decided to make the most of the shoot - which meant shot after shot. Popped my ritual 3 caps and loaded the first shot - I am always a bit concerned about that first shot because I do not clear the bore other than the fouling caps. But it was raining so the first shot was going to be shot seeking a target - no sweat!
I have not shot this gun in ages... so there was some concern there also. I have never shot these new Lehigh's from this rifle and I was a bit concerned about that for two reasons. The high BC of these bullets (.330) might lead to them being higher at 100 yards than I might expect. And the Whitetail only has a 22" barrel - 1/20 twist - but it stabilize the long brass bullet. I decided to take a figure 8+ hold on the birds. In that I mean I set the bird on top of the crosshair + a bit lower. This hold proved to be very good for the entire shoot. A couple of the birds were tucked in behind a small piece of basalt rock - so I really needed to hit near the center or slightly higher on the bird. Again the hold accomplished the need and shatter the birds.
I normally shoot 110 grains in any of my percussion inlines - but again a bit worried or least thought about would I burn than in a 22" barrel. Because of the weight of the bullet and the fit of the sabot+ bullet in the barrel I thought the fast burning T7-3F would get the job done. It seemed to work fine - I know the WHOP!!! at the end of the shot sounded awful powerful + I could see I was breaking rock...
During the shoot I ended up putting a plastic zip lock bag over the muzzle to keep it dry while I prepared for the next shot. Seemed to work very well - no problems with wet powder.
I think I should add - every time I shoot a White I am really impressed with their ability to shoot... I know Doc built these rifle as big concical shooters - but I am telling you he was ahead of his time with the twist rates he was using + the fact that they shoot sabots extremely well.
Here a couple of pics of the shoot... by the time I left things were pretty wet and getting wetter...
White Whitetail .451
Shoot Pics...
