i'm having a little trouble believing this

[OH Osthaus]

but i checked my math - twice

took the 2 5/8 10 out to try the restoration of the metal work.

the load was 29 gr SR7625 under a SP10 with 1 1/4 lead, a very small bamboo curl from the rod bench as a filler.

pattern paper was at a measured 40 yard from my foot line

the first shot went high so i did not count the hits, still need to get the stock bent to fit.

but

the next two rights totaled 171 and 168 in a 40 inch circle

the three lefts were 165, 172 and 169 in 40 inches

the patterns tended to favor the upper half over the lower at about 60/40

i cut a shell open and counted 176 #4 pellets in that one

And just for Charlie - although most of the shot went low into the wood block, it still put three pellets in a 12 oz pop can at a measured 70 yards

(i didn't have a can, but some kind soul driving by yesterday donated one out his window into my front yard)

so I need to load up some more and see if this is repeatable plus wait for the nice shot to arrive. but this might be a shooter.