Improving the Accuracy of a pair of Schofields

[1961MJS]

Hi

I purchased a pair of Schofields in .45 Colt a couple of years ago.  I worked up a load for the first one that came out to be 4.5 grains of Tite Group under a 250 grain Lead bullet.  It's the more accurate of the two.  Since the first one shot well, I broke out the second of the pair.  After years of shooting bullseye with 1911's and S&W Model 19's, I'm dissatisfied with the accuracy of both.  I've attached pictures of the best two groups at 25 yards from a rest with the second Schofield.

I'd like to eventually have both worked over with the point being better accuracy.  A 2-inch group at 25 yards would be great.  I'm shooting Schofield brass in these by the way.

Based on the groups shown, am I dreaming or is improved accuracy possible?  If I'm not dreaming, who should I send this off to?  I DO realize that the Schofield doesn't have a top strap...  Since don't need both at the same time, I'd PREFER to do these one at a time.

Thanks

[St. George]

The Schofield was built as a 'Minute of Torso' sidearm - 'not' 'Minute of Angle'.

The sights are just fine for the former - but little else, while it's a top-break, and there's movement there.

'If' you get someone to tune one up - he likely won't get the second to match - hell, they can't do that with a Colt of a clone.

I'm not aware of any 'smith doing real work beyond smoothing them - but you may find some brave soul who can, so...

Keep tweaking the load - try the data for the straight .45 S&W round - it'll behave much like a .45ACP round does and that might be the fix.

Scouts Out!

[wildman1]

Depends on the bore condition. If a barrel has very few rounds put thru it or is old and pitted it will benefit from being firelapped and accuracy should improve.
wM1

[Coffinmaker]

  MJS   

Your first stop is/are the Barrels.  You need to slug the bore to find what the groove diameter is.  Bullet diameter should be one or one and a half thousand over groove diameter.  Next is the forcing cone, I would suggest and 11degree forcing cone, you may find you have little if any forcing cone.  Next is/are the Cylinder throats, which need be one to one and a half over Groove diameter.

Look at your bullet.  I have no idea why you're shooting those big bullets.  The Schofield was designed to run a 230Gr bullet (max).  The bore needs to stabilize the bullet you're shooting.  I would personally suggest you drop to a 200Gr RNFP for your Schofields.

Play Safe Out There

[Kent Shootwell]

Are these new guns or original S&W? If new try 45 Colt brass to put the bullet closer to the front of the chamber. I would advise not doing any alterations unless you know something is wrong, it's hard to back up.

[kwilliams1876]

My Uberti .45 Schofield needed the muzzle crown and forcing cone reworked. Seems several of my Uberti firearms needed a tune up from the factory. They seem to struggle getting a concentric cut.
kw

[DeaconKC]

If they are repros, check the forcing cone first. One of mine was rough, the other was fine. Mine prefer the bullets at .452 diameter.

[1961MJS]

Hi and thanks for the replies

I'll see if I can answer in order:

St. George, I used the .45 S&W load data from the Lyman manual.

Wildman1, both are new guns neither has more than 1000 rounds though them at this point.

I'll check the measurements, but it will be a couple of days.  I actually have to go in to work this week dammit.  I'm running 250 grain bullets because they shoot to point of aim at 25 yards.  I shoot Grand Army of the Frontier, and 25 yard targets are common.  In 2020, I shot a Skirmish run with the Schofield, but lost time wise to a broom handle Mauser.  I DO really like the Schofields for reloading speed, but couldn't match the broom handle.

Mr. Shootwell, I love the alias.  They're both new.  I like shooting the .45 S&W brass because we reload on the clock, and the 45 S&W brass has much more rim than .45 Colt.  The Star extractor on the Schofield doesn't grab the .45 Colt rims as well as it does the Schofield rims.  I may try seating the bullet out longer though.  I have .45 Colt brass and may try the longer round also.

I'll check the measurements.  I'll also check and see what bullets I'm currently using, they're Missouri Bullet and I have some of Scruffy Skippy's.  Both are powder coated although I also have lead.  Missouri Bullet sells lead 230 grain round nose bullets for the .45 ACP, and that's what I used here, but they're a kind of short and don't have a lube ring.

In going back through Mike Venturino's book on Shooting SIxguns of the Old West,, I noted that a 2 inch group is about as good as it gets and 3 inch groups are common in his test loads. 

[Abilene]

I'm just wagging here, but you mentioned shooting from a rest.  What sort?  Is the barrel resting on a sandback or something?  If so, I wonder if the fact that the barrel is hinged would make any difference even though lockup may feel solid?  But like you said, those groups are not terrible. 

[FriscoCountyWolfy]

I get incredible accuracy from a uberti s&w no 3, definitely try the right cartridge for your gun (.45 colt)