Milsurp After Hours

The suspense is worse than being in delivery room at maternity hospital

First Shoot. Friday 6th March 2015. Jonzac
Best laid plans..................Before I set off I tried an empty case in the breech to make sure it was short enough and then fired it to make sure the firing pin was working of. What I SOULD have done is try a loaded case as well. Silly me!
Having set everything up on the 25 mtr range I thought I would try the first round at arms length JUST IN CASE..........Ball too high up the case and would not load fully into the chamber. Tried a few others - same problem. Took the cleaning rod and tapped the ball further down the case and in it went!
Did the same with the other 29 rounds then fired the first one........BANG - SMOKE AND FLAME but still in one piece, excellent result.
Fired the rest at 25 & 50 mtrs as shown below and had a really great afternoon









I can only see the rear sight V if it is set to 300 yds or longer so maybe it's in the wrong place or is the wrong sight, I don't know. It appears to have been repaired at some stage.

With a 300 yard sight to work with at short ranges you shot decent groups it seems to me. It must have been more an exercise in pointing rather then aiming. Great that that the old rifle fired and doesn't seem to have suffered any lapse of strength in holding the explosive charge over the last century and a quarter since it was made.

That range looks pretty safe for the other shooters too. Screens between shooting positions and walls all the way down range to protect against any kind of misadventure.....to others.

Good that you got to scratch the itch and experienced a successful shooting trip with a new addition to your battery. Congratulations.

Looks like it's shooting pretty good groups Duncan. I have enjoyed reading your accounts of getting this old war horse to belch smoke and flame.

Nie work Duncan, and the sun shone for you too.

The first time out has resulted in some very promising and enjoyable shooting for you a little more practice and your groups will all be in the black

Second visit to the range with the Snider. All at 50mtrs.
Still using the .6 lead balls in 24g shotshells but reduced the load to 67 grains of 2f plus a small amount of maize powder filler.
I also added a temporary, higher foresight and was pleased with the consistent results.
Target is a 200mtr Carbine target so that I could see initial fall of shots while assessing the temporary foresight



1st 5 rounds.


2nd 5 rounds.


3rd 5 rounds.


I then went on to try some bullets kindly sent by forum member on the British Militaria Forums site but unfortunately my Snider didn't like them!
10 rounds.



Next move - Brass cases and Minié and a more permanent foresight (after trialling the Minié's!

Like that new front sight Duncan, backroom engineering at it's finest.

Looking good!

This is a great thread.

-ArchFluffy

what an interesting thread , this much info and these great photos have me digging my snyder out of the rack , thank you so much for this