Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Gunsmithing => Topic started by: 1961MJS on October 03, 2021, 08:34:25 PM
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Hi
I purchased a pair of Schofields in .45 Colt a couple of years ago. I worked up a load for the first one that came out to be 4.5 grains of Tite Group under a 250 grain Lead bullet. It’s the more accurate of the two. Since the first one shot well, I broke out the second of the pair. After years of shooting bullseye with 1911’s and S&W Model 19’s, I’m dissatisfied with the accuracy of both. I’ve attached pictures of the best two groups at 25 yards from a rest with the second Schofield.
I’d like to eventually have both worked over with the point being better accuracy. A 2-inch group at 25 yards would be great. I’m shooting Schofield brass in these by the way.
Based on the groups shown, am I dreaming or is improved accuracy possible? If I’m not dreaming, who should I send this off to? I DO realize that the Schofield doesn't have a top strap... Since don’t need both at the same time, I’d PREFER to do these one at a time.
Thanks
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The Schofield was built as a 'Minute of Torso' sidearm - 'not' 'Minute of Angle'.
The sights are just fine for the former - but little else, while it's a top-break, and there's movement there.
'If' you get someone to tune one up - he likely won't get the second to match - hell, they can't do that with a Colt of a clone.
I'm not aware of any 'smith doing real work beyond smoothing them - but you may find some brave soul who can, so...
Keep tweaking the load - try the data for the straight .45 S&W round - it'll behave much like a .45ACP round does and that might be the fix.
Scouts Out!
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Depends on the bore condition. If a barrel has very few rounds put thru it or is old and pitted it will benefit from being firelapped and accuracy should improve.
wM1
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:) MJS ;)
Your first stop is/are the Barrels. You need to slug the bore to find what the groove diameter is. Bullet diameter should be one or one and a half thousand over groove diameter. Next is the forcing cone, I would suggest and 11degree forcing cone, you may find you have little if any forcing cone. Next is/are the Cylinder throats, which need be one to one and a half over Groove diameter.
Look at your bullet. I have no idea why you're shooting those big bullets. The Schofield was designed to run a 230Gr bullet (max). The bore needs to stabilize the bullet you're shooting. I would personally suggest you drop to a 200Gr RNFP for your Schofields.
Play Safe Out There
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Are these new guns or original S&W? If new try 45 Colt brass to put the bullet closer to the front of the chamber. I would advise not doing any alterations unless you know something is wrong, it’s hard to back up.
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My Uberti .45 Schofield needed the muzzle crown and forcing cone reworked. Seems several of my Uberti firearms needed a tune up from the factory. They seem to struggle getting a concentric cut.
kw
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If they are repros, check the forcing cone first. One of mine was rough, the other was fine. Mine prefer the bullets at .452 diameter.
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Hi and thanks for the replies
I'll see if I can answer in order:
St. George, I used the .45 S&W load data from the Lyman manual.
Wildman1, both are new guns neither has more than 1000 rounds though them at this point.
I'll check the measurements, but it will be a couple of days. I actually have to go in to work this week dammit. I'm running 250 grain bullets because they shoot to point of aim at 25 yards. I shoot Grand Army of the Frontier, and 25 yard targets are common. In 2020, I shot a Skirmish run with the Schofield, but lost time wise to a broom handle Mauser. I DO really like the Schofields for reloading speed, but couldn't match the broom handle.
Mr. Shootwell, I love the alias. They're both new. I like shooting the .45 S&W brass because we reload on the clock, and the 45 S&W brass has much more rim than .45 Colt. The Star extractor on the Schofield doesn't grab the .45 Colt rims as well as it does the Schofield rims. I may try seating the bullet out longer though. I have .45 Colt brass and may try the longer round also.
I'll check the measurements. I'll also check and see what bullets I'm currently using, they're Missouri Bullet and I have some of Scruffy Skippy's. Both are powder coated although I also have lead. Missouri Bullet sells lead 230 grain round nose bullets for the .45 ACP, and that's what I used here, but they're a kind of short and don't have a lube ring.
In going back through Mike Venturino's book on Shooting SIxguns of the Old West,, I noted that a 2 inch group is about as good as it gets and 3 inch groups are common in his test loads.
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I'm just wagging here, but you mentioned shooting from a rest. What sort? Is the barrel resting on a sandback or something? If so, I wonder if the fact that the barrel is hinged would make any difference even though lockup may feel solid? But like you said, those groups are not terrible.
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I get incredible accuracy from a uberti s&w no 3, definitely try the right cartridge for your gun (.45 colt)