Despite the 10F weather, Mike Brooks, Brett Barringer, Randy (aka Snowwolfe) and myself got together this morning for a double rifle shoot. Boy, did we bring out the iron!



From top to bottom:
Remington SPR 30-06, 9.3x72 Guild gun, 9.3x74 Chapuis, 9.3x74 Pedersoli, 9.3x74 Chapuis, 500/450 Hollis, 450N 3.25" JP Saur conversion, 577/500 3 1/8" Alex Henry, 318WR Tolley, 10-bore 2 5/8" Tolley, 8-bore Jeffery Ball and Shot, 8-bore T.Bland, and a 4-bore T. Bland single.


Snowwolfe with the 8 Bland


Brett with a Chapuis


Mike with the 30-06 Remington that shoots amazing groups!


4-8-10 bore ammo supply, much weight of metal (almost 12 pounds of lead)


8 bore off hand at 25yds, 1200gn at 1348fps by Mike.

The only casualty of the day was my chrono, which caught a 1"x1" lubed felt wad at 1350+fps. With the temps the lube was frozen solid and several of these zoomed right on through the targets and backing into the berm. They're about 80 grains before firing, so despite being soft I expect they pack quite a whallop.

We had a blast and will definitely have to do it again. Hopefully with warmer weather we'll get more of AK's DR shooters out for the fun.

Bob

Way cool! Looks like a lot of fun. Quite an assortment of bullet-launchers there....lots of hammer rifles...love it!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Way cool! Looks like a lot of fun. Quite an assortment of bullet-launchers there....lots of hammer rifles...love it!

You had your chance Biebs.. I offered!
Seriously though, a great time was had by all of us. Next go around it'll have to be on a week end so some of the other guys can come out and play.

I had my chance also and blew it.

Actully a perfect storm of unforseen events came up at the last moment and I'm still working through them. Sorry I did'nt make it I hope there will be another chance in the future.

Belive me I was thinking about you guys.

THE BEST double rifle shooting "bench" I have ever seen was at the Anchorage rifle range when I was visiting AKshooter. It was a perfect stand up shooting rest...

The range was run by the AK Fish and Game if I remember correctly. They were friendly folks....

That 4 bore with the stiff load really set me back but I wouldnt of missed it for the world.
Thanks Bob for allowing me to shoot some very unique rifles .
Was very surprised I was able to shoot the double 8 bore only about an inch apart off hand at 25 yards. Would be a hoot to flatten a huge bull moose with it.
Look forward to the next shoot. With luck maybe my Searcy will be ready by then.

That lineup is a beautiful sight. Very classy. If Alaska advertised using photos of that array of doubles, they might get a big influx of new residents.

It was a blast! Here's some more pictures to add fuel to the fire!


Getting ready:




Mike checking out Randy's custom Cooper .22lr:




4 bore load:




4 bore and traget:




Rob loading an 8 bore:




Before shooting the 8 bore:




In recoil of other 8 bore:




Gun Porn:




Randy in full 4 bore recoil!!!!:




Oooops!!! Rob's Chronograph:




Thanks guys!!!!

Brett

Oh Yeah!!! Nice pics - that looks like a great time. Too bad about the Chrony, though. I hope I'll get to make one of these in the future.

Hey Akshooter, which range is Tony talking about?

excellent shoot guys!

ah, someone bagged a chrony .. most of use who have ever shot at.. er over one, will eventually also bag it!

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
Hey Akshooter, which range is Tony talking about?

He's gotta be talking about Potters Marsh. I didn't know they had a standing rest. But I haven't shot there since that grumpy old fart worked there years ago.

Rob, IIRC Chrony gives 10% off if you send in a dead one..

Bobs 4 bore single barrel is actually a double in disguise. If the lead ball doesnt get ya the wad will.

quote:

Bobs 4 bore single barrel is actually a double in disguise. If the lead ball doesnt get ya the wad will.

Yep, on a few of those shots I had to blink because there were two holes in the target! In Brett's picture of my defunct chrony, the wad is seen wedged in the upper right side. Other pieces were scattered about.

Ahh... it lived a good life and gave yeoman service despite being assaulted by innumerable other wads over the years. It isn't the first that has died by my hand and probably won' be the last. Such is life. I usually carry a spare for just this reason but left him home today. I guess he's not on deck any longer!

I had a blast today. Good shooting guys!

Bob

Originally posted by Mike Brooks

quote:

He's gotta be talking about Potters Marsh. I didn't know they had a standing rest. But I haven't shot there since that grumpy old fart worked there years ago.

Yes it's at Rabbit Creek. Really nice for shooting doubles but I think sitting upright with the forearm resting on your hand is about as good for shooting under field conditions when working up regulaton loads.

I sure wish I would have made it I have some new loads I want to try in my 8x57 O/U Merkel.

BTW that old fart was Don Alexander Your really dating yourself Mike he's been gone for nearly 30 years. I used to do work around the range for him when I was a teenager and he let me shoot at the range for free.

Antlers, let us know when you're going to be in town and I imagine we can set something up.

NE450#2/Tony, when you were up this way did you happen to meet "Chubs" in Nome? I moved out of town a few weeks before your hunt but thought he was one of your guides. Great guy, VERY fun town, and a great place to hunt/live. I certainly miss it.

I'm sure we'll have another shoot before long and will be sure to post dates/location to ensure all are welcome to partake in the fun.

bob

So Rob brought the 4 bore last week for some "plinking". Last week he had some delightful loads that shot like a 12 gauge. He had some 85 grain Blue Dot loads. They produced 106ft/lbs of recoil at 20fps. The coupe de gra was 8 dram black powder loads. Mind you 8 drams is a drop in the bucket to the original 14 dram full power load. The 8 dram load generated 154ft/lbs of recoil at 24fps!!!!! .........So this week he brought the 10 dram (273 grain) black powder loads! If you look at the picture of Randy shooting the 4 in full recoil you will see the results! The recoil of the 10 dram black powder load is 178ft/lbs of recoil at 26fps!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! Holly crap! Next time I want the 12 dram load Rob! I'm working towards the 14dram.....ONCE!

Brett

You made my day, wonderful post - Thank you.



A matching pair of Thomas Bland doubles 8 and 4 bore! You don't see that every day, heck every decade...

What are the specs on the 4 bore? Weight, bbl length, rifled bbl or smooth - for bullet or ball, regulated bullet weight?

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:
BTW that old fart was Don Alexander Your really dating yourself Mike he's been gone for nearly 30 years. I used to do work around the range for him when I was a teenager and he let me shoot at the range for free.

Aww it hasn't been that long ago! Bad memories must last longer when it comes to that guy..


If we can schedule the next one on a week end I'm sure we can get another couple of guys to show up.
Until then I'm going to try to build an armored shell to hold my chrony... (Just in case) I have a piece of 1 1/2" plate for the deflecting face of it. But I might need a bigger tripod!
Bob, I sent you a link of a design for it.

fourbore, here a link to NitroExpress with some details of the 4-bore single. I know now due to its proof marks it was made between 1885 and 1887.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com...404&page=1&fpart=all
http://forums.nitroexpress.com...=0&page=3#Post104006

Brett, I'll gladly accommodate, but be careful what you wish for! My shoulder has a slight yellow tinge this morning and I can certainly feel it.

Bob

This thread is enough to remind me I still haven't gotten a double rifle.

Looks like a good time was had!

Mabye it'll be the push I need to finish my 500 Jeffrey, it may only have a single barrel, but 600gr @ 2400 fps is a moving experience.

Great line up and photos!

No wonder there are no more Mastodons left in Alaska

4 guys with 13 "girls" - that is not gun porn. It was wild orgy! I wish I was there.

Great stuff & thanks for sharing.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
4 guys with 13 "girls" - that is not gun porn. It was wild orgy! I wish I was there.

Great stuff & thanks for sharing.

now that is funny

Bob we did have a second Guide go out with us for a few days But I do not recall his name as Chubs.

I will have to look in my notes from the hunt.

I do know that he had a heck of an Air Boat at his house.

He was a good guy.

Thanks for posting the pictures. It's been five years since I moved South. Is this on the Rabbit Creek Pistol Range?

I lived about a mile or so from the range above Potters Marsh. I have spent countless hours there on the rifle range. Started going there in 1977 when the "grumpy old fart" ran it. At age 20 he was quite memorable......

No Cliff this was at the Birchwood Range. (Issac Walton Range)

Next time there will be alot more ladies at the orgy! Stay tuned!

Looks like a great time was had by all. WOW what a fine collection of big boomers. Too bad Alaska is so far away for a lot of us.

Thanks for sharing your guy play day with us! All those hammer guns!

Nice pictures! Glad for you guys!

Just an update;

We're going to have another get together on Sat. the 20th right at the crack of noon. Everyone that's got twin tubes is invited.

Be forewarned:

If you show up and don't already have a double, the temptation will be hard to resist! You might be starting down the slippery slope to a very expensive (and very fun) habit.

In all seriousness, if you're thinking of getting one, this would be a chance to handle a bunch and see what strikes you, but don't say you weren't warned.

I have a boy scout camp out I'm helping with. I won't be there at noon, but I'll try to make it a little late.

Brett

quote:

You made my day, wonderful post - Thank you.

++++1 !!!

+2 P.S. I love the mammoth ivory pic as well!

WOW!!!

Thanks for posting. Have any of the real big bores done any killing??

I would love to see the pictures from the resulto of that 4 bore on a Buff or a moose.

Thanks again for the great pictures.

Honkey, the 4-bore single killed an elephant in Zim in 2008, and supposedly killed 6 elephant and 2 rhino in Ray Mayer's hands in the previous 40 years. I don't know prior to that. The Bland 8 also supposedly killed 6 elephant and 3 rhino (based on a magazine article), but I don't know any more about when. Snowwolfe killed his last 2 Alaska moose with his pictured 9.3x74 Chapuis and I'm going to take my Tolley 10 for moose this year.




I loaded a bunch of ammo today for this weekend's shoot, 25 rounds of 4-bore, 24 8-bore, 26 10-bore, and 20 rds of 577 for the howdah in case of tiger problems. It will be a blast, literally!

Bob

I don't know the history of mine other than two of the 9.3's have taken deer and bear so far. I'm sure that somewhere lost in history the others have also.

Looks like you blokes had a great time. Too bloody cold for this Aussie though. Thanks for sharing.