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Traditions Hawken 50 Caliber "Iron sight picture" issue help??

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You could try the highest possible front sight that will fit - will allow you to raise the rear sight.

Best solution, if within your skill set, would be to lower the comb height on the stock to allow you to lower your anchor point (requires refinishing of the entire stock). Many modern manufactured muzzleloaders, say TC for example, particularly their Hawkens, are difficult for some, marginal for me, to get a good good sight picture. CVAs on the other hand, have a rear sight in my opinion that leaves a lot to be desired. With their high comb, designed more for scope users, the sights just don’t cut it, at least for me. Here is a typical CVA factory rear sight photograph on an unfired exampl that I own. Late 80s manufacture, pre bankruptcy pot metal painted sight. No good words or excuses for it. Wonder why they went bankrupt? Plan is to replace the rear sight and lower the comb, some day...... Upside, once you replace the sights, lower the comb, and figure out how to work with the breech design (different topic), the barrels can be quite accurate.
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Pyrodex P is like fff. In the right load it's low fouling.
Pyrodex and most modern synthetic powders have less particulate fouling than true black powder. Nonetheless it is fouling and must be dealt with during the shooting session. Tmh did not say what he used to lubricate the bullets. The fouling will react with your bullet lubricant and build up when you repeatedly fire a string of rounds. The synthetics do leave fouling which must be diligently cleaned as all fouling is corrosive and must be cleaned. There is less of a need for wiping between shots when using Pyrodex. You should be using hotter caps (CCI Magnum or RWS 1075) or a Hot Shot or Spitfire nipple to get more heat to the charge.

Full disclosure: I much prefer real black powder and patched round balls.
 
So I went to the range this weekend to work up some loads with Pyrodex Select and 225gr Hornady SST bullets. I had do adjust the back sight up 8 clicks to get the gun to shoot 1" high at 50yds. It made the sight picture bearable, but still taking a bit to get used to...
This particular rifle seems to like 70 grains of powder. I started with 60, shooting 3 rounds at each load, and only made it to 90 grains before I got 6 misfires in a row. My plan was to get to 100 grains. I ran a lubed and clean patch after each shot but no matter how much "nipple picking" I did, It wouldn't fire. I took it home, pulled the bullet and powder and cleaned everything... I'm going to load a bunch of 70 grains and see if the groupings were a fluke or not. (of the 3 rounds @ 70, the holes were touching each other at 50yds.

Any thoughts are appreciated!!
 
When I am target shooting for accuracy, between shots I swab the barrel, once down and up with a cleaning patch dampened with “moose milk”.
Then a dry patch, once down and up, and then, before loading again, I snap a cap to dry the nipple and flash chamber of any moisture the dry patch couldn’t reach.
I have never had a failure to fire with this process!
 
Thanks "DAKurth1"! I'll give your process a try the next time.

Grenadier1758: I used Thompsons' 17 lubricated patches (i think that's what they're called). They're a blueish colored patch down the barrel after each shot. I used no lubricant for the Hornady 250gr SST 45 Caliber with sabot.
 
Thanks "DAKurth1"! I'll give your process a try the next time.

Grenadier1758: I used Thompsons' 17 lubricated patches (i think that's what they're called). They're a blueish colored patch down the barrel after each shot. I used no lubricant for the Hornady 250gr SST 45 Caliber with sabot.

Not a fan of store bought pre-lubricated patches.

Full disclosure: I much prefer real black powder and patched round balls.

That makes 2 of us.
 
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