David Bradshaw Photos - Vol. XV

Lee Martin · Jun 14, 2013

Some damn good shooting here guys so hopefully David will provide more commentary...

Freedom Arms M83 with .45 ACP cylinder, 5-shot 3.9" group @ 100 yards. Unlike the .454 and .45 Colt cylinders, which have tight chamber-to-bore alignment, this factory original .45 ACP cylinder measures .007" chamber/bore offset on all five.

M83 .45 ACP load: Remington Golden Saber 230 JHP; 8.5/Accurate #5; Fed 150 GM; Fed brass. COL=1.240". V=925 fps. Sandbag 100 yds.

M83 4-3/4" .454 Casull with .45 ACP cylinder. 5-shots=2.3", with 4-shots in 1.1-inch. Sandbag, 50 yds.As throats are firm and forcing cone very short, .007-inch chamber offset is not too hard on accuracy.

FA M83 4-3'4" with .45 ACP cylinder, groups fired at 50 & 100 yards

Jim Stroh modified M83 .44 Mag to my specifications, including special tool grade stainless oversize swivel stud to replace front grip frame screw. Load: Sierra 240 JHC; 23.4/H110; Fed 155 GM; Starline brass. COL=1.592"-1.596". V=1580-1600 fps. Redding carbide dies with

FA Casull M83 .44 mag; Shilen 10-inch, 1:16" twist; Leupold 2.5-8x34mm IER scope with dot reticle and target turrets; Leupold rings. 3-shots

Wind from 8 to 10 o'clock forced me to crank 30-clicks left windage. Held dot center of shoulder with vertical crosshair on front leg. Elevation

Wind easily bends a revolver bullet at long range, despite seemingly fast time of flight. Rested revolver on rolled nylon belting. Three shots=5.8

braud357 · Jun 14, 2013

I have personally seen David shoot that 44 Mag - it is a shooter ! (and, so is he !)

David Bradshaw · Jun 14, 2013

Philip Braud.... you need to next time personally shoot this revolver. And let me shoot your bullpipe Ruger.

My deep appreciation for Lee Martin's dedication to advancing serious handgunning, and for his patience in posting my primitive submissions...

Top 4 photos
50 & 100 yards:
Freedom Arms M83 4-3/4" .454 Casull with .45 ACP cylinder, and sandbag groups at 50 yds (2011) and 100 yds (2012). Load, .45 ACP
Remington Golden Saber 230 JHP
8.5/Accurate #5
Federal 150
Win Brass
COL 1.240"
Velocity (Oehler 35P) 925 fps

Bottom 4 photos
300 yards:
Freedom Arms M83 .44 mag, rebarreled by Jim Stroh with Shilen stainless 1.25"x10" barrel, button rifled with .429" groove, with 1:16" twist. Absolute minimum depth 11-degree forcing cone. 11-degree no-polish crown. Sling swivel studs crafted by Stroh from tool grade stainless, with oversize shank stud acting as front trigger guard screw.

The early Casull revolver is factory retrofitted with replaceable firing pin assembly. Drilled hammer. I did the trigger.

Cardboard deer shot yesterday in a crosswind from 300 yards. After taking two shots at 100 yards to dope drift, I cranked 30-clicks LEFT windage on the Leupold scope, and came UP 60-clicks to cover the drop between 100 and 300 yards. Fired three 3-shot groups at 300 yards, two of which are shown. Groups measured 5.8, 5.5, and 5.8-inches.

Ammunition
Sierra 240 Jacketed Hollow Cavity (JHC)
23.4 gr./H110
Federal 155 Gold Match
Starline brass
COL 1.592-1.596"
Velocity (Oehler 35P) 1580-1600 fps

Dies
Redding carbide sizer set with Redding Competition seater. Charges thrown from RCBS Uniflo measure on RCBS Piggyback or RCBS Pro 2000 progressive press.

Rest
Rolled up industrial woven nylon belting, covered with an old T-shirt.

Observation
A reasonably heavy bullet which pushes Center-of-Gravity apart from Center-of-Form, propelled by a cooperating powder/charge, tracks consistently in wind. Revolver bullets are the turtles of small arms ballistics. Nevertheless, it behooves us to study them, fore they have a habit of forgiveness.

Scope
Leupold 2.5-8x34mm Long Eye Relief, with dot on crosshair, and Leupold 1/4"-click target knobs. Leupold quick detach rings clamped to JD Jones SSK base.
David Bradsahw