My first and only traditional-style muzzleloader is a T/C Renegade 54 percussion. Since I have sent all my unmentionables packing, it is my only muzzleloader.
The problem is, I only want to shoot round balls, but I can't seem to get it to group worth a darn at anything past 60 yards, regardless of load, patch, or ball. Conicals are another story, but I don't care to be punished when I simply want to enjoy shooting. Plus, they are expensive to buy, and use too much of my valuable lead when I cast them.
Custom guns and the better gun kits are out for various personal reasons I won't bore anyone with right now. I would like to step down to 45 or 50 caliber for reasons of cost to shoot and recoil. I would like to get into a flintlock, but I know a good flintlocks cost money, and am willing to stick with percussion for the time being if necessary. I am not terribly interested in historical accuracy right now, I just want a good, reliable field rifle for shooting paper, vermin/pests, and deer. I am looking for minute-of-deer accuracy up to 100 yards on days when the nut behind the trigger is up to it as well.
I am also not interested in mail order, as I want to inspect before I buy, and don't want to deal with shipping back and forth if I don't like what I get.
So, I apologize for the long prelude, and submit the options I am currently considering:
1) Rebarrel my Renegade with a Colerain barrel and new breech plug. I am comfortable with cutting dovetails for sights, etc. Only problem is that the Renegade, with a 1" barrel, is heavy enough as-is. I certainly would not want to go to a smaller bore due to weight.
2) I found an older Cabela's Traditional Hawken in 54 percussion with a 15/16 barrel for a great price. If the barrel is in great shape, it may shoot well, and I'll just deal with the 54 cal. If not, I can rebarrel it, but at least it shouldn't weigh more than the Renegade if I go to 50 cal. I have not met with the owner for an inspection as of yet.
3) I also found a nice, unfired Pedersoli Blue Ridge flintlock in 50 cal, but the rifling appeared to be a bit shallow for round ball. I didn't feel right asking the owner if I could stick calipers in the bore for a rough measurement. From reading here, the locks on Pedersoli flintlocks seem to be hit or miss.
4) The local Cabelas has their Pedersoli Traditional Hawken rifles in 50 cal in flint and percussion. These are light, slim, and feel great - but on all I inspected, the muzzles are crowned off-center. Plus, they are at the very fringe edge of my budget.
Locally, finding traditional muzzleloaders for a reasonable price is difficult. When they do pop up, they are usually like all the other guns: the owners think what they have is made of gold, and refuse to negotiate price. The older Hawken and the Blue Ridge above are the only used ones I have seen locally for less than new prices in the past few months and appear to have been cared for properly.
The problem is, I only want to shoot round balls, but I can't seem to get it to group worth a darn at anything past 60 yards, regardless of load, patch, or ball. Conicals are another story, but I don't care to be punished when I simply want to enjoy shooting. Plus, they are expensive to buy, and use too much of my valuable lead when I cast them.
Custom guns and the better gun kits are out for various personal reasons I won't bore anyone with right now. I would like to step down to 45 or 50 caliber for reasons of cost to shoot and recoil. I would like to get into a flintlock, but I know a good flintlocks cost money, and am willing to stick with percussion for the time being if necessary. I am not terribly interested in historical accuracy right now, I just want a good, reliable field rifle for shooting paper, vermin/pests, and deer. I am looking for minute-of-deer accuracy up to 100 yards on days when the nut behind the trigger is up to it as well.
I am also not interested in mail order, as I want to inspect before I buy, and don't want to deal with shipping back and forth if I don't like what I get.
So, I apologize for the long prelude, and submit the options I am currently considering:
1) Rebarrel my Renegade with a Colerain barrel and new breech plug. I am comfortable with cutting dovetails for sights, etc. Only problem is that the Renegade, with a 1" barrel, is heavy enough as-is. I certainly would not want to go to a smaller bore due to weight.
2) I found an older Cabela's Traditional Hawken in 54 percussion with a 15/16 barrel for a great price. If the barrel is in great shape, it may shoot well, and I'll just deal with the 54 cal. If not, I can rebarrel it, but at least it shouldn't weigh more than the Renegade if I go to 50 cal. I have not met with the owner for an inspection as of yet.
3) I also found a nice, unfired Pedersoli Blue Ridge flintlock in 50 cal, but the rifling appeared to be a bit shallow for round ball. I didn't feel right asking the owner if I could stick calipers in the bore for a rough measurement. From reading here, the locks on Pedersoli flintlocks seem to be hit or miss.
4) The local Cabelas has their Pedersoli Traditional Hawken rifles in 50 cal in flint and percussion. These are light, slim, and feel great - but on all I inspected, the muzzles are crowned off-center. Plus, they are at the very fringe edge of my budget.
Locally, finding traditional muzzleloaders for a reasonable price is difficult. When they do pop up, they are usually like all the other guns: the owners think what they have is made of gold, and refuse to negotiate price. The older Hawken and the Blue Ridge above are the only used ones I have seen locally for less than new prices in the past few months and appear to have been cared for properly.
