The lonliness of the long distance Auto Mag |
Post Reply
|
Page 123> |
| Author | |
Stainless Magnum
International Auto Mag
Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Location: New "Old West" Status: Offline Points: 89 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: The lonliness of the long distance Auto MagPosted: 21 Mar 2008 at 2:53am |
|
How many here have fired their Auto Mags at long-for-pistol distances? And what results have you had? The question is posed upon my reminiscing of a shooting day last year. In question is a 10 1/2", .44 AM pistol. I was doing some routine chronographing and cyclability testing, usually a sub 20 round affair, when I noticed the steel practice container in the distance as I was putting the gun away. This container was a remnant of some other shooters, but it measures some 16" in diameter and 24" in height; This steel makeshift gong delivers a kind, reaffirming chime everytime it's hit. It is audible past 500 yards. We've used it in the past to test surplus military rifle sights, and to zero-in scopes. From our postion we have verified it to be 320 yards. Returning to the Auto Mag.....as I was putting it away, and espied the rusty whiner, I thought why not try my last five rounds on the old bucket? Well, being a somewhat devoted Kieth man, using the front sight hold-over method I tried a few shots. The load is a LaserCast .430" 240gr. Semi-Wadcutter over 19.8 grains of H-110. This load does about 1390-1440 f/ps from this barrel. The first round struck the twilight of the metal and the ground. The subsequent two rounds row-called in with their positive ringing tone. I stopped, put away the last two rounds, and scratched my head. I took no credit with the bystanders, and simply decided the gun was inherently hexed in a good way. I have made a practice to shoot pistols at long distances since I started shooting, but always had to tailor loads for this kind of accuracy. I was kindly vexed by the instant precision. Do I have a lucky barrel, did the load just hit the gambler's odds and make a great combo.......or......are Auto Mags just superbly accurate. Your thoughts. I ask modestly, for in all respects I do not wish to factor in to the equation. I do understand Mr. Jurras made common practice of this, and would be hard pressed to deny I didn't feel Jurras'esque as I accomplished this. None the less...........How 'bout them Auto Mags? |
|
|
"Feo, Fuerte, y Formal"
John Wayne, on how he would like to be thought of. Translation: Ugly, strong, and dignified. |
|
![]() |
|
curmudgeon
R.I.P.
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: hagerman,NM Status: Offline Points: 747 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Mar 2008 at 3:10pm |
|
My personal findings are that Most AM's are inherently more accurate at ranges over 100 yds than most revolvers over the same distance. Nowdays with more custom made sixguns being fitted up to tighter specs this is probably not as true. But during the Seventies and eighty's I found this to be so...In ranges up to 500 yards I probably shot an equal number of rounds thru both revolver and Auto's, at ranges out to 1000 yards probably fired more with revolvers..There is no particular magic in shooting at these ranges with the one hand gun. It helps immensley to shoot where one can see the bullet strike tho. I dare say most shooters do not live or shoot in an area where he or she can readily practice at these ranges...Shooting at inatimate targets can be quite rewarding and enlightning. However I shot very few if any cast bullets in the AM. The loads I used primarily in the AM were in the 1700- 2000 fps range which offered a much flatter trajectory out to the 500 yard mark than most of the revolver loads in the 12-1300 fps range, thusly making hits on targets considerably easier...
|
|
![]() |
|
Gerry
R.I.P.
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: MI Status: Offline Points: 1085 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Mar 2008 at 3:21pm |
|
Back in the being of IHMSA, the Automag was the gun of choice. The range for those steel critters was 50,100,150,200 meters.
I spoke with a gunsmith at SSK and he told me he had a tuned 357 AMP that could do 2" at 200 yards from a rest.
Gerry
|
|
![]() |
|
curmudgeon
R.I.P.
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: hagerman,NM Status: Offline Points: 747 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Mar 2008 at 5:35pm |
|
Gerry, if you remember a little history, The Club de Auto Mag Internationale was the sponsor of the first of what was to become the IHMSA. We formed the IHMSA at what was billed as the second Handgun Silhouette match at Ft. Bliss, TX...About 165 miles from me. The T/C and various XP Rems were probably the guns of choice at the time. Remington was about ready to drop the XP from the line, but IHMSA granted it new life. Both as a comp gun as well as new chamberings as a hunting handgun. Personally I've never considered it a handgun, but some new younger chaps, because it falls under certain ATF standards as to what is considered a handgub still call it such...I have built many guns off the XP action, but was always tongue in cheek about calling it a handgun...FWIW dept
|
|
![]() |
|
Gerry
R.I.P.
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: MI Status: Offline Points: 1085 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Mar 2008 at 11:52pm |
|
LEJ
I remember the history. Elgin Gates's book does a nice job of the early years and has a number of sweet pictures of custom Auto Mags along with reloading info. It was through the MI IMHSA that I met J. Moran. Small world!
In my class, I got 4 of 5 pigs with my 44 AMP until I jerked the last shot. switched to the XP in 7 BR: had kid and got lost in time. I took the XP out last summer. Still can outshoot some rifles on the range. I may play with it this year!
Gerry
|
|
![]() |
|
jw4570
Callahan's Auto Mag
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: FL Status: Offline Points: 1334 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 Mar 2008 at 11:47pm |
|
Anyone ever shot their Automag II at 100 yards. It might just suprise you!!! Mine did, shot very well.
JW
|
|
![]() |
|
AUTOMAG
Callahan's Auto Mag
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Beach Status: Offline Points: 1046 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 12:11am |
|
Jason, not an AM ll but my Baby Auto Mag is surprisingly accurate at 100 yards!!!
|
|
|
"This is the 44 Magnum Auto Mag and holds a 300 grain cartridge and if properly used it can remove the fingerprints"!!!
|
|
![]() |
|
jw4570
Callahan's Auto Mag
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: FL Status: Offline Points: 1334 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 1:55am |
|
John,
I haven't tried mine at 100 yards. I've got a 10.5" AMT Lightning too, I bet it'll give a run for the money.
JW
|
|
![]() |
|
AUTOMAG
Callahan's Auto Mag
Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Beach Status: Offline Points: 1046 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 2:03am |
|
Jason, I need to get me an AMT Lightning one day!!! I look at them all the time and the prices are really not that bad!
|
|
|
"This is the 44 Magnum Auto Mag and holds a 300 grain cartridge and if properly used it can remove the fingerprints"!!!
|
|
![]() |
|
Ginsaw
Callahan's Auto Mag
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Location: TN Status: Offline Points: 460 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24 Mar 2008 at 3:33am |
|
Speaking of the Club de Auto Mag, what ever happened with it? How many at most members were there and what did one have to do to join?
|
|
![]() |
|
Post Reply
|
Page 123> |
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions ![]() You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |