First of all, this is the first time I ever shot from a bench rest. I bought some birdseed sacks today coincidently, and they were still in the truck box. So took one of them, set it up on the bench and took all shots from it. I wanted to remove as many variables as possible to see what was really going on.
At home I took 1/8" off with a file. Then off to the range.
25 yards.
Shooting 55 grains of Triple 7, .490 patched lead ball, the first 3 shots are the lower 3 below the target. Better than before I took the 1/8 off, they would have been a couple inches lower. Then took a little more off with the file. Moved up to the next lowest group. A little more at a time. Better and better. Finished with a full 1/4" filed off, and the elevation is near perfect, just the wind I had to contend with which is the near level horizontal ones with the center shots. Those are now with the top of the blade in the buckhorn notch. The one at 12 o'clock is me using a different sight picture, B on the chart below. Thinking that may be my 50 yd sight pic. Anyhow, pretty happy I took the time to actually assess the sights properly, most of the time I can't be bothered and just shoot. I took 2 quick passes over it with the file when I got home just to give me incrementally more height on the target, dressed it with a very fine file and emery paper, and it's slick as can be now.
From now on, whatever I level this rifle at; it's going down.
Shoot safe...RR
Maybe shoot tomorrow and round out a full week of range time

