J.R.20112
Bearcat
I have broken in a good number of firearms in my 71 years but never have I had one that had me concerned about its accuracy like my new Black Hawk. I won this one at GB as a "NIB Ruger Black Hawk .30 carbine" for the posted $499.99. Never thought I'd win it with just 6 hours to go and a limited budget of just $525 to work with. 8 hours later I get an e-mail that I had won it. Now to my concerns.
I am enclosing pics I took at the range after a both disappointing, and a little happy, outing. I fired some where between 100-150 rounds and won't go into all the details of each string. Cleaning after each 50 rounds. I shot at 20+/- yards, didn't want to wade through water to get to the 25 yard berm.
First shots were a load of 14.4 gn. of 296, with a Hornady 110 JRN. It was loaded for my carbines. As I shot I was adjusting for a 6 o'clock hold. The best group was about 4 1/2" -5". After shooting those 50 rds. switched to a load I for from a friends manual FOR the 7 1/2" .30 carbine BH. 14.9 grains of 296 same Hornady bullet and CCI primer. Again, all over the paper. Some shots out of the black.
With 5 rounds left, everything else the same, I fired a quarter size group!!
My question to you guys is ... is this normal for the BH in general or BH .30 carbine?
First pic is the 6 targets used. The second is the center two with an arrow showing the last 5 shots and the quarter size group. Do you think NOW its broken in??? And why did it take this many shots to do so?
I only own 3 Rugers, a 10/22, .22/45 and the new BH. None of the other two, or the ones I have owned over the years took this long to start producing nice groups. Thanks for any input, including loads. I have tons of carbine commercial rounds but thought I'd rather load my own for this one.
I am enclosing pics I took at the range after a both disappointing, and a little happy, outing. I fired some where between 100-150 rounds and won't go into all the details of each string. Cleaning after each 50 rounds. I shot at 20+/- yards, didn't want to wade through water to get to the 25 yard berm.
First shots were a load of 14.4 gn. of 296, with a Hornady 110 JRN. It was loaded for my carbines. As I shot I was adjusting for a 6 o'clock hold. The best group was about 4 1/2" -5". After shooting those 50 rds. switched to a load I for from a friends manual FOR the 7 1/2" .30 carbine BH. 14.9 grains of 296 same Hornady bullet and CCI primer. Again, all over the paper. Some shots out of the black.
With 5 rounds left, everything else the same, I fired a quarter size group!!
My question to you guys is ... is this normal for the BH in general or BH .30 carbine?
First pic is the 6 targets used. The second is the center two with an arrow showing the last 5 shots and the quarter size group. Do you think NOW its broken in??? And why did it take this many shots to do so?
I only own 3 Rugers, a 10/22, .22/45 and the new BH. None of the other two, or the ones I have owned over the years took this long to start producing nice groups. Thanks for any input, including loads. I have tons of carbine commercial rounds but thought I'd rather load my own for this one.