6 gun accuracy

[The Shooters Apprentice]

We often talk about shooting being a diminishing skill, and to stay a good shot you have to shoot.

I’m not a great shot. I’m decent at best but I can usually reach my accuracy expectations I set for myself.

Last week I acquired a few new 6 guns and was getting very, VERY frustrated with the accuracy results I was getting at 25 yards. I switched over to a known gun and load and still couldn’t shoot worth a hoot, and even went as for as having my eyes checked and got reading glasses to see if it helped me see the sights better (it didn’t)

It finally occurred to me that maybe I just haven’t shot a six gun enough lately, so I grabbed a 1911 and proceeded to shoot several 2” groups at 25 yards.

That one hurt a bit, so today after I got done with my chores I grabbed my Ruger Blackhawk 45 colt and several boxes of 45 colt handloads and headed to the range. I started at 7 yards and basically very deliberately forced my self to do all the right things, and once I got a group I was happy with I stepped back and started again.

The final two groups at 25 yards I was happy with. The card on the left was shot offhand with both hands, and the card on the right was shot single handed. if you notice, I actually only have 5 hits on the right card, but oh well.

Guess I’m gonna be spending some more time with six shooters in the coming days.

My best group ever is with my Ruger Security Six (although, back in the day I could limit out on squirrels with my Super Single Six 9 1/2”)



50 feet (17 yards indoor range) Five shots.

But I don’t think my eyes or my hand is up to that any more. Also, I’m out of those bullets and I’m not sure Sierra still makes them.

[The Shooters Apprentice]

My best ever, and the only one I have hanging on the wall in my gun room is this 12 shot group at 50 yards when I first got my Super Blackhawk back from having the cylinder throats and forcing cone done. I’ve never come close to shooting another group like that. This was off of a bench with sandbags

I picked up a Blackhawk for a song about 20 years ago. It had a bulged barrel from shooting after a squib and really sprayed the bullets. I replaced the barrel with a take off I got on gunbroker and it still shot like hell. I set it aside for a good long while and then decided I needed to work out the problem. I found by shooting groups from only a single chamber that each chamber had decent accuracy but each chamber grouped to a different place on the target. I am not sure if the cylinder was just made horribly or if the squib problem caused the issue. I replaced the cylinder pin and that did not help. I am pretty sure I can get out of it what I put into it, the barrel was only $35 including shipping and doesn't seem to be the problem as the separate chamber accuracy is not an issue. I may have to get rid of it someday as I just don't feel like tinkering with it any more.