David Bradshaw Photos - Vol. XV

[bradshaw]

Cmillard.... providing the revolver is accurate, barrel length matters less than hold. Long barrel boosts velocity, while reducing felt recoil, and factors a lower angle of dispersion for a given amount of sight misalignment. With some sights a short sight radius provides better sight alignment by narrowing light to either side of the front sight. Excellent accuracy touted for the BFR suggests you go for it.

The eye does not obsess on the whole sight. The eye enforces the plane defined by the top of the front and rear sights. That is where the eye rests----specifically honing the plane of the front sight----and to hold the eye and prevent distraction the rear sight notch should be at least as deep as it is wide. Most factory sights ignore this necessity.

To shoot long range by elevating the blade, instantly glue the sight picture in your skull, to facilitate repeat shot, or adjust, as necessary. An elevated blade requires enforcement of the rear sight, same as a flat sight picture.
David Bradshaw

[cmillard]

I did take my .500 jrh out to 340 yards, once I found out where to hold on the berm so that I could see my bullet strikes, I now have a general hold and will set up target to see what I can do out that far. I put an ultradot on it, this is the first time I have ever shot any type of optic on a handgun, it is fun an am still trying to get used to it. I am shooting 440 grain Leadheads with 29.0 grains of h-110 and have some other loads to try as well. this BFR has the factory 5.5" barrel and am undecided if I am going to put on a longer one. I may reserve that for a ruger BH bisley in .45 colt.

[bradshaw]

One thing about cannon shells, they're easier to spot at long range. This is true of handguns and rifles. And big holes are easier to see through a spotting scope. A Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt should be excellent for studying trajectory and wind drift. A Bisley BH or Bisley Hunter should get you enrolled. Possible the MRI custom shop would build you a long barrel BFR with .45 Colt cylinder. When I shot silhouette in the wind, I doped drift on the pigs at 100 meters. That is to say, I shot the first one or two pigs with zero adjustment. The drift gave me the dope in inches to multiply for 150 and 200 meters. People who think they can hold windage over a string of fire lose. Two or three shots is a fraction of twenty. The mind starts to play games. Kentucky windage works for a string of fire when you engage the same target. Moving from target to target with a different sight picture for each shot----no common reference----can only be done with some consistency when you index on the corner, or edge, of your sight. In a blustery wind, try to shoot the same, or nearly same, condition.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

Posting for IHMSA All-American and Iron Man Eric King, who plays the 500 meter game with revolver.

300 yards
Notes indicate 30-clicks LEFT WINDAGE cranked on Leupold 2.5-8x32mm LER (Leupold Target Turrets). Left windage adjustment for 9 o’clock wind made prior to first shot.
David Bradshaw

[squawberryman]

Mr. Bradshaw if you could please explain the appearance of the "can" look on the barrel, I'd appreciate it as well as the others who are wondering but not asking sir.

[bradshaw]

Jun 24, 2019 20:07:03 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

Mr. Bradshaw if you could please explain the appearance of the "can" look on the barrel, I'd appreciate it as well as the others who are wondering but not asking sir.

*****

Jim Stroh’s work incorporates a few ideas I wanted to try. The Shilen .429-inch groove has a 1:16-inch twist. The barrel is turned to match factory barrel taper to the end of the ejector housing. The unaltered Freedom Arms ejector housing has the factory taper to keep the rod parallel to the chamber. The front of the housing indexes a small shoulder Stroh turned in the barrel to prevent movement under recoil. Forward half of 10-inch barrel is lathe-cleaned, otherwise full Shilen diameter of 1.25-inch. The crown is lathed 11-degrees, without chamfer at rifling.

Purpose of the bull barrel is to reduce shock to wrists & elbows under Rocks & Dynamite recoil. It so happens that I have not pushed powder charges beyond established maximum. I asked Stroh to fashion a front grip frame screw which would double as a swivel stud. Jim made the part from tool grade stainless. Its compliment resides under the barrel just behind the muzzle. This allows the stud to clear a forward sandbag. In keeping with experiments from sandbag, the rear swivel stud is not on the butt.

I now regard the grip frame screw & stud as an act of vanity, as I know how to rest the butt of a revolver.

I think a lot about protecting my hands and joints when swinging an axe, maul, or sledgehammer, running a chainsaw, riding mountain bike, skiing, swimming, wrenching on tractors, grinding & welding, and trying to milk the goods from a rifle or handgun. Gloves are Big Time among my safety gear, LEATHER gloves, always treated with one or another oil. Leather plain and leather insulated, but not synthetic.

It is hard work, leastwise for me, to shoot a revolver tight over long distances. Accuracy is built on consistency and consistency is built on keeping all the simple-minded ducks in a row.
David Bradshaw

[bradshaw]

Greg..... a note on why the Stroh-barreled M-83 has no muzzle brake. Jim Stroh suggested he make me a removable brake with dummy cap. I declined, partly in deference to Conservation of Hearing, and otherwise on aesthetic grounds. the pure, simple look of a round mass of steel. During the years of voluminous competition in IHMSA silhouette, muzzle brakes were legal, yet very few appeared at matches. I was grateful. A T/C Contender in .30-30, loaded with BL-C2 and fired from bull 10” Production barrel, shot under a covered firing line is bad enough. Now, throw a muzzle brake on it.

Of course, had I gone along with Stroh’s suggestion, I would have an exceedingly accurate revolver with which to compare the accuracy of a load BRAKED and UNBRAKED.

Bob Hayden of Sierra Bullets told me years ago that I (and I think he really meant all serious silhouetters) demand a higher degree of accuracy than Sierra tests for in the lab. The same may be said for various bullets from Hornady, Speer, and Nosler. Fact is, nobody tests the accuracy of their bullets a football field & end zone away, let alone two football fields & two end zones distant.
David Bradshaw