Long Range Muzzle Loader - Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges

Richard_W._Pearce

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Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.

Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Sep 1^st, 2009 at 1:42am

I have started shooting my new Gibbs this week and have had no problem with very satisfying groups of 2 moa at 100 yards at .27" and 2 moa at 200 yards at .52". I am using 75 gr Goex 2F and match grade 545 gr PP bullets from Joe Hepsworth. My sights are the 1 to 3" standard with the Pedersolli Gibbs. My problem is I cannot find paper on the 300 yard target! I will be taking the powder up to 90 gr but could anyone give me a hint of what they are using as a sight setting for 3, 4, 5 and 600 yards and what powder load?
I don't recall ever enjoying a new gun so much and I'll find the paper in the end but any thoughts would be appreciated.

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longranger

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Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #1 - Sep 1^st, 2009 at 3:18am

Somewhere between .72-.74" theres about 18-20 MOA every 100M out to 500 depending on the load.I shoot 100grs of Swiss 1.5, 540gr Paul Jones GG for all ranges and it is pretty consistent.With what you listed you could be higher.My Sharps 45-70 load is close to what you are shooting and I have 20 MOA between 200M and 300M in yards that's about 18 MOA.Your groups will get tighter with about 85-90 grs up to 100grs.

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Richard_W._Pearce

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Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.

Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #2 - Sep 1^st, 2009 at 12:18pm

Thanks Longranger,
I had come to the same conclusion and added .20" to my .52" and set up at .74"...nothing. I tried a few more rounds and decided to wait until next week when I'll go back to 100 yds at 90 gr of powder and work up from there.
btw Imagine my pleasure when I was taking down my 300 yd target to see, right beside my feet on the target stand two little shallow fresh grooves! 75 gr just weren't doing it! So, I think that around .75" with 90 gr should work; I'll let you know.

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longranger

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Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #3 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 2:49am

I have not shot PP bullets from my Gibbs as the resized Paul Jones Creedmoor bullet is very accurate and I have the mould for two other rifles. I think you will be pleased with the accuracy these rifles can produce.In my experience best accuracy was with 100grs of Swiss 1.5 I think if you go right to 100grs. it will save you alot of time at the shorter ranges. If you know your zero ( I zero all of my rifles @ 200M)That will allow you to be on paper all the way from 100M-300M. If you have access to a silhouette range. It is one the best places to learn wind and mirage. I have knocked down 10 Rams in a row@500M. It is just no big deal and people just cant believe I do it with a M/L.

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Richard_W._Pearce

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Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.

Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #4 - Sep 4^th, 2009 at 8:49pm

It's Friday PM here in Toronto and I was just going down to weigh my 90 gr loads for tomorrow. I think that I'll take your advice and go straight to 100 gr and turn one more item in to a constant! I have not been able to source Swiss 1.5 here in Canada yet so, for the moment I'll stay with Goex 2F. I'm already amazed at the things that people think you can't do with a muzzleloader! Roll Eyes

I have the .452 and .449 sizing dies and a selection of bullets so I'll try them all and cast my own in the fullness of time. I'll report back after tomorrow.

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David

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Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #5 - Sep 5^th, 2009 at 7:33am

There seems to be a band of powder charges that work well. I shoot 90 grains of Swiss #3 (2f) and won a 30 shot 1000 yard match earlier this year. A friend last weekend set a new MLAGB National 900 yard record and he was using 85 grains of Swiss #3 (2f). Others shooting 100 grains of Swiss #4 (1.5F) have won matches.

I found that 85 grains of Swiss #3 and 90 grains of Swiss #4 gave me pretty much the same elevations.

I think you reach a point where there is a trade off between powder charge, bullet weight and recoil that you can shoot accurately/comfortably with.

David

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David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms History, Target Shooting & Volunteer Infantry

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Richard_W._Pearce

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Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.

Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #6 - Sep 8^th, 2009 at 1:51am

Thanks for all your help. My Saturday shoot was the type of shooting day we all live for! I tried some changes and settled on 90 gr Goex 2F and Cunard's PP's. I found my 200yd paper, adjusted and placed the next three sub-minute! 1.7" to be exact. Feeling very happy with that I wound the sight up and put the next one in the 300 yd 10 ring. (all in front of a bunch of club muzzleloader naysayers. Wink

) I quit, went home and had a drink. My Gibbs shoots even better than I had dreamed of! Thanks guys.

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paulbehe Full Member Offline Posts: 104	Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges Reply #7 - Sep 17^th, 2009 at 8:39pm Richard..... I don't know how far away Stouffville, Ont. is from michigan's border, but you are invited to come on across the bridge next year and shoot mid and long range with the Michigan rifle and pistol assn. Paul
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Etienne_Brule

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Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges
Reply #8 - Sep 22^nd, 2009 at 2:21am

Hi Richard,

Congratulations !!

So, I would like to know the way you use to clean the bore, load the powder, kind of wad, kind of grease on the PP bullet, kind of lean ( tin? ), compression on the powder if any.

I also have a Gibbs .451 and also use Hepsworth PP mold.

I am "working" and look for recipes to shoot à 600 yards.

Best regards.

Gerald

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zrifleman New Member Offline Posts: 30	Re: Gibbs tang sight settings at longer ranges Reply #9 - Feb 4^th, 2010 at 2:16am Sight settings for my P. Gibbs with 95 grs Goex Cartridge and a 540 gr PP bullet are 23 moa @ 100 yds and 35 moa @ 200 yds. With 90 grs and a 530 gr PP, I chronographed it at 1202 fps.
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