David Bradshaw Photos Vol. XCI Safari Silhouette Pt. 1
Jun 1, 2016 21:29:46 GMT -5
keano44, awp101, and 5 more like this
Post by Lee Martin on Jun 1, 2016 21:29:46 GMT -5
Steel poised for SAFARI SILHOUETTE SHOOT at Fusilier Complex in Arnaudville, Louisiana. Two banks of targets at 50, 100, and 200 yards. White targets provide better visibility----at this range----under changing light throughout the day. White also appears larger than black, which may aid sighting; or, inspire a miss through overconfidence.
From left: Philip Braud, Charlie Braud, Steve Bernard, and Neal “Foot” McDonald gather to shoot steel.
Philip Braud with custom Remington XP-100 chambered in .300x.221 Fireball. Philip’s load: Sierra .308 180 grain Spitzer flat base over 13.5/Win 296 in reformed .223 brass, kicked by CCI 400 Small Rifle Primer. Velocity 1625 fps.
XP-100 of Philip Braud: Lilja stainless 1:8-inch twist barrel, chambered for .300x.221 Remington Fireball. The .300x.221 predates the .300 Whisper of JD Jones, which, in turn, predates the .300 Blackout. Handgun scope is Leupold 2.5-8x33mm with target turrets. According to Philip Braud, the Leopold 2.5-8x ranks as the preferred glass for optics shooting in handgun silhouette, to include the corps of sharpshooters who ply the 500 meter rifle game with their handguns.
Fiberthane stock with aluminum bedding block by H-S Precision. Bradshaw touted the H-S center-grip stock with aluminum bedding block as the ticket for drop-in accuracy and light weight, winning some fierce sudden-death shootoffs with his (XP 7mm IHMSA). Despite evidence from the firing line, some rifle builders dismissed Bradshaw’s reports as bull roar. Fact is, harmonics favor the short barrel. Barrels for the Unlimited pistol are limited to 15-inches.
Charlie Braud with Dan Wesson Arms Model 15-2 VH8 (Vent Heavy 8-inch) .357 Magnum. Charlie Braud meticulously casts bullets for all his silhouette handguns. This M15 wears DWA .100” front blade and rear sight made by Bo Clerke (probably with notch width of .080” or thereabouts).
Dan Wesson M15 is a sideplate revolver, with access to lockwork on the left side (same as Colt Python, with clockwise rotation). Note Charleie Braud’s handloads, with cast RCBS 210 grain rifle bullets, powdered by Win 296. To seat and crimp in crimp groove, bullet would exceed cylinder length. Thus, Charlie DEEP SEATS to crimp on ogive. CCI 550 mag small pistol primer lights fuel.
DWA M15 standing breech showing detent ball which locates cylinder ratchet. Note thumb latch on yoke (crane).
Muzzle end of DWA M15 Vent Heavy barrel shroud. Front sight is secured by a screw, since copied by other makers and smiths. Muzzle nut screws onto barrel, acting the stretch, or tension, barrel. Superb accuracy of Dan Wesson revolvers gave rise to theory that the tensioned barrel quells vibration. Fact is, DWA’s tend to fine tolerances in the accuracy department——firm groove diameter with uniform bore, firm chamber exits, close chamber-to-bore alignment, and a very short forcing cone. No amount of tension saves a bad barrel.
Neal McDonald sights in Claude the Bull Rider’s Merrill tip-open single shot chambered for the .30 Merrill, basically an improved .30-30.
Manufacture of Rex Merrill’s single shot was taken over by a crusty, hard corps sharpshooter name of Jim Rock.Production resumed under RPM——Rock Pistol Manufacturing. Senior citizen be damned, Jim Rock shot offhand with the best. The striker-fired Merrill pistol lends itself to an exceedingly clean, light break. Against that, the lockwork is touchy. A thumb safety must be depressed before the trigger is squeezed, a most counter-intuitive maneuver. The grip is high, close to bore axis, encouraging a well-muscled cartridge to thump straight into your hand.
Neal “Foot" McDonald touches off the RPM in .30 Merrill from standing, or what Foot calls “freehand
-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"
From left: Philip Braud, Charlie Braud, Steve Bernard, and Neal “Foot” McDonald gather to shoot steel.
Philip Braud with custom Remington XP-100 chambered in .300x.221 Fireball. Philip’s load: Sierra .308 180 grain Spitzer flat base over 13.5/Win 296 in reformed .223 brass, kicked by CCI 400 Small Rifle Primer. Velocity 1625 fps.
XP-100 of Philip Braud: Lilja stainless 1:8-inch twist barrel, chambered for .300x.221 Remington Fireball. The .300x.221 predates the .300 Whisper of JD Jones, which, in turn, predates the .300 Blackout. Handgun scope is Leupold 2.5-8x33mm with target turrets. According to Philip Braud, the Leopold 2.5-8x ranks as the preferred glass for optics shooting in handgun silhouette, to include the corps of sharpshooters who ply the 500 meter rifle game with their handguns.
Fiberthane stock with aluminum bedding block by H-S Precision. Bradshaw touted the H-S center-grip stock with aluminum bedding block as the ticket for drop-in accuracy and light weight, winning some fierce sudden-death shootoffs with his (XP 7mm IHMSA). Despite evidence from the firing line, some rifle builders dismissed Bradshaw’s reports as bull roar. Fact is, harmonics favor the short barrel. Barrels for the Unlimited pistol are limited to 15-inches.
Charlie Braud with Dan Wesson Arms Model 15-2 VH8 (Vent Heavy 8-inch) .357 Magnum. Charlie Braud meticulously casts bullets for all his silhouette handguns. This M15 wears DWA .100” front blade and rear sight made by Bo Clerke (probably with notch width of .080” or thereabouts).
Dan Wesson M15 is a sideplate revolver, with access to lockwork on the left side (same as Colt Python, with clockwise rotation). Note Charleie Braud’s handloads, with cast RCBS 210 grain rifle bullets, powdered by Win 296. To seat and crimp in crimp groove, bullet would exceed cylinder length. Thus, Charlie DEEP SEATS to crimp on ogive. CCI 550 mag small pistol primer lights fuel.
DWA M15 standing breech showing detent ball which locates cylinder ratchet. Note thumb latch on yoke (crane).
Muzzle end of DWA M15 Vent Heavy barrel shroud. Front sight is secured by a screw, since copied by other makers and smiths. Muzzle nut screws onto barrel, acting the stretch, or tension, barrel. Superb accuracy of Dan Wesson revolvers gave rise to theory that the tensioned barrel quells vibration. Fact is, DWA’s tend to fine tolerances in the accuracy department——firm groove diameter with uniform bore, firm chamber exits, close chamber-to-bore alignment, and a very short forcing cone. No amount of tension saves a bad barrel.
Neal McDonald sights in Claude the Bull Rider’s Merrill tip-open single shot chambered for the .30 Merrill, basically an improved .30-30.
Manufacture of Rex Merrill’s single shot was taken over by a crusty, hard corps sharpshooter name of Jim Rock.Production resumed under RPM——Rock Pistol Manufacturing. Senior citizen be damned, Jim Rock shot offhand with the best. The striker-fired Merrill pistol lends itself to an exceedingly clean, light break. Against that, the lockwork is touchy. A thumb safety must be depressed before the trigger is squeezed, a most counter-intuitive maneuver. The grip is high, close to bore axis, encouraging a well-muscled cartridge to thump straight into your hand.
Neal “Foot" McDonald touches off the RPM in .30 Merrill from standing, or what Foot calls “freehand
-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"
the Merrill pistol has peaked my interest.... have never seen one before.
