Well I made it to the range today AND made a decision. Feel free to skip to the bottom if you'd prefer as much of the following detail may be boring but I need to document the results somehow :wink:.
At 50 yards, my first shot with the Hawken was just for kicks (no serious aiming...hey, I've never shot a muzzleloader before :idunno: ) but noticed using a 0.018" patch made for very difficult loading. The next two shots using a 0.015" patch instead (much easier loading) and this time aiming were within 2.5" of each other.
The first two shots with the New Englander were within 0.75" of each other using a 0.015" patch.
All 50 yard shots were with 60 grains of Goex 2f and cleaned between each shot with a rubbing alcohol patch followed by a dry patch. Lots of fouling in the Hawken. Very little in the New Englander.
At 100 yards, both rifles shot below the target with 60 grains of 2f. At 70 grains, I hit the target once with both rifles. At 80 grains, hit again once with both rifles.
Honestly at 100 yards, I'd want to upgrade the sights. It was hard to feel confident about the better "group" when the front sight covers so much of the target. I shoot a peep on my Savage 99 and like it.
A few shortcomings quickly became apparent at the range: 1) A sturdy range rod would be helpful. 2)The ball starter I have fits in the 54 but not in the 50...a smaller unit is on the way :wink:. 3) A nipple pick is a must. I had to remove the nipple a few times as a handful of cap-only fires occurred. Cleaning the nipple and adding a few loose grains of powder below the nipple helped. 4) A proper nipple wrench would make life easier than the open end wrench I had.
So all in all, a good day at the range. Thanks guys for all your responses.
Oh...almost forgot....the decision
. I'm going with the...New Englander. I like the Hawken but the "svelteness" of the New Englander wins me over. Took it a step further and just picked up a used 54 New Englander barrel on Ebay for $99. Figure I'll basically do the same type of comparison with the two barrels as I did with the two guns...that is after I find a peep for the New Englander. Kind of hoping I can get the 54 cal barrel shooting as good if not better than the 50 cal. I'd like the extra insurance of a larger ball given the choice.
At 50 yards, my first shot with the Hawken was just for kicks (no serious aiming...hey, I've never shot a muzzleloader before :idunno: ) but noticed using a 0.018" patch made for very difficult loading. The next two shots using a 0.015" patch instead (much easier loading) and this time aiming were within 2.5" of each other.
The first two shots with the New Englander were within 0.75" of each other using a 0.015" patch.
All 50 yard shots were with 60 grains of Goex 2f and cleaned between each shot with a rubbing alcohol patch followed by a dry patch. Lots of fouling in the Hawken. Very little in the New Englander.
At 100 yards, both rifles shot below the target with 60 grains of 2f. At 70 grains, I hit the target once with both rifles. At 80 grains, hit again once with both rifles.
Honestly at 100 yards, I'd want to upgrade the sights. It was hard to feel confident about the better "group" when the front sight covers so much of the target. I shoot a peep on my Savage 99 and like it.
A few shortcomings quickly became apparent at the range: 1) A sturdy range rod would be helpful. 2)The ball starter I have fits in the 54 but not in the 50...a smaller unit is on the way :wink:. 3) A nipple pick is a must. I had to remove the nipple a few times as a handful of cap-only fires occurred. Cleaning the nipple and adding a few loose grains of powder below the nipple helped. 4) A proper nipple wrench would make life easier than the open end wrench I had.
So all in all, a good day at the range. Thanks guys for all your responses.
Oh...almost forgot....the decision
. I'm going with the...New Englander. I like the Hawken but the "svelteness" of the New Englander wins me over. Took it a step further and just picked up a used 54 New Englander barrel on Ebay for $99. Figure I'll basically do the same type of comparison with the two barrels as I did with the two guns...that is after I find a peep for the New Englander. Kind of hoping I can get the 54 cal barrel shooting as good if not better than the 50 cal. I'd like the extra insurance of a larger ball given the choice.
