Had a great time with my new .50 flinter yesterday. There's definitely a learning curve over percussion shooting. First few pans full were nothing but a flash and I could feel a knot in my stomach growing. I tried banking away, banking toward, and just leaving it level. Nothing seemed to matter. What did work, quite well I add, was poking a couple grains into the vent...I finally got it hear it roar. Wow, so very satisfying. I think, having read quite a bit on the forum, that the factory vent liner is just too tiny. I checked when I got home and it won't even pass a 1/16" drill. I wanted to do drill it to .07, but with what I had on hand I ended up drilling to 5/64" and coning the inside. Hopefully that works on the next outing.
On to the good news. This rifle is soooo comfortable and accurate! After shooting it a while I put a few down range with my Trade Rifle... The Trade rifle now feels like I'm shouldering a 4X4. Talk about chunky! I was shooting 3F graf's in the GPR. A .495 ball with olive oil and pillow ticking. My biggest 50 yard group was less than 3", and that included the fouling shot. Am I ever pleased! I shot 60, 70 and 80 grains, and all did remarkably well. I am hoping that a good knapped flint and better vent arrangement will only make a great thing better.
I am hooked.
Though it feels incredibly clunky now, I shot great with my 54 Trade Rifle too. I can't wait to slim the stock down now...but even as clunky as it is, I was KILLING it at 50 yards offhand. It's been so long since I've shot competitively, it felt pretty darn good.
My wife has got her Deerstalker down to a science now too....and I am very certain there's not a safe deer in the woods with her flinging .530 balls downrange.
On to the good news. This rifle is soooo comfortable and accurate! After shooting it a while I put a few down range with my Trade Rifle... The Trade rifle now feels like I'm shouldering a 4X4. Talk about chunky! I was shooting 3F graf's in the GPR. A .495 ball with olive oil and pillow ticking. My biggest 50 yard group was less than 3", and that included the fouling shot. Am I ever pleased! I shot 60, 70 and 80 grains, and all did remarkably well. I am hoping that a good knapped flint and better vent arrangement will only make a great thing better.
I am hooked.
Though it feels incredibly clunky now, I shot great with my 54 Trade Rifle too. I can't wait to slim the stock down now...but even as clunky as it is, I was KILLING it at 50 yards offhand. It's been so long since I've shot competitively, it felt pretty darn good.
My wife has got her Deerstalker down to a science now too....and I am very certain there's not a safe deer in the woods with her flinging .530 balls downrange.
