Range report 45/70 Marlin Leverevolution

[Gutpile]

Went out for a shoot yesterday to play with most of my rifles and pattern my SxS for turkeys this spring.

I've not shot my 45/70 very much. Mostly just targets and what not kneeling, offhand etc. I've shot pretty well with it but wanted to try it off of the Lead Sled to really see where I was hitting at 100 yards with Hornady's Leverevolution. Shot once at the target and saw that I hit through the spotting scope. Did 4 more shots and I only hit 1 more time out of 4. I was a bit pissed but walked out to the target and this is what I found.



This is a 5 shot group with open peep sights at 100 yards off of a lead sled. Needless to say I'm pretty happy. Almost tempted to throw a scope on now.

The first shot is the lone hole, so maybe it's off because of oil? maybe I jerked, maybe this group is a fluke?? The big hole is 4 shots. I may get called out, and thats fine but this is a 100 yard open site 5 shot group at 100 yards.

[MHWASH]

Nice shootin Tex! You need to try that thing out on coyotes.

[Gutpile]

Man!!! I was very surprised. I may bring it. You think it's fur friendly???

[MHWASH]

I doubt that bullet is fur friendly. Does that plastic tip make them open faster? But at this time of year it doesn't really matter.

[Gutpile]

Will you lug around the Lead sled and the shot bags so I can hit one then?? 

[MHWASH]

The best I can do for you is a fence post.

 Nice groups with the AR btw. I need to do some more load developement with mine.

[Gutpile]

Thanks. I've had some good loads but were erratic. Just never could get the confidence up. But this is pretty decent. Now if I could only find primers.   

[deaddog]

Very nice Gutpile, I just tried the lever evo rounds in the 45-70 I bought from Mo, I was around 1 1/2 - 2" groups, but with ghost ring sights, I also put a scope on and they tightend up some, I need to get out again and shoot a little more with it and see what it can realy do. That thing aint real fun to shoot of the bench after 20 rounds. Realy very nice shooting, I think your first shot was just a fouler, most shoot better after that first round fouls the barrel a small amount.

[Gutpile]

In all seriousness I'd be very surprised to ever pull that off again. I hate to just plink with that Leverevoltion ammo. It's just to spendy. I may have to go out and try again though. That is the only group I shot with that rifle yesterday, in hindsite I should have done another. I just wanted to see what kind of groups I could get with open sites at 100 yards. Feel pretty confident I can hit a deer with it now though.

[MHWASH]

I believe you can now get the Leverevolution bullets as componets now.

[jdb]

you could always load up some cheap cast bullets to plink with and save the lever evolution for hunting.