My new Pedersoli Kentucky .45 . . . I think I'll keep her

[Gregory Mitchell]

After dialing in the front sight -- filing it down and re-bluing it, and drifting it for proper windage -- I managed this 8-shot offhand group at 60+ yds. with 50 gns. Triple 7 and PRB. (Note, shot way off to the right was not part of my group).

 

[ohio ramrod]

not bad for a start!

 

[Gregory Mitchell]

" . . . for a start . . ."? Me being pretty new to the long gun BP addiction, I'm curious what would be considered a good offhand score at 60+ yards, with 80-8X being a "possible"? My target in the photo is a 75-2X on a supposedly standard 100 yard muzzleloader target (rested) or 50 yard offhand target. I know many ML rifle matches are scored using the string method, but I'm from a bullseye pistol background and score targets by the numbers. I'm not being snarky, but am genuinely curious what is considered "good offhand shooting" at 50 or 60 yards?

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

The way I figure good off hand shooting is I ask myself... would I want to be downrange from you, and have you shooting at me... ?
Excellent target.

 

[Zonie]

Gregory: Bear in mind, some people like making understatements like, "Not bad." when they mean excellent. I can't say that ohio ramrod was making one but it's a good idea to take what people say on a web site with a grain of salt. Especially when they are commenting on something others have done.

 

[Britsmoothy]

For a new barrel that's quite good. Offhand too.
Standard trigger?

B.

 

[Gregory Mitchell]

Thanks all -- yes this rifle is just as it came from the box (other than the front sight shortening and windage drifting). Standard trigger. I don't have a trigger scale, but I'd put the pull weight at a crisp 4+ lbs. I've got a couple of Pedersoli Hawken .50s, including a Rocky Mountain, but this Kentucky is just so perfectly balanced for offhand shooting, I can see how the American longrifle got its legendary reputation. It begs to be shot offhand!

 

[flinter1977]

That is good shooting ,you should be proud.

 

[Cattman]

i never ever shoot off hand. no test for a rifle, just the man. i leaned on something when i hunted. even if it was sitting on the ground. to test a guns accuracy and your load you need to do a rest test. the only off hand i do is handgun. but to test my hand guns i do a rest. at 50 yards properly loaded you should keep one hole ragged.

 

[Gregory Mitchell]

I never attempt any offhand shooting until I've tested the RIFLE at the bench! Until I'm satisfied with the groups from whatever load seems best, from a solid bench rest with forend properly placed on the leather bag, I don't even attempt unsupported shooting. But if the rifle is a good one, and well-balanced like this Kentucky, offhand shooting can be a very satisfying challenge.

 

[deermanok]

Any of those shots would be bad news for any deer.

 

[Crow-Feather]

After dialing in the front sight -- filing it down and re-bluing it, and drifting it for proper windage -- I managed this 8-shot offhand group at 60+ yds. with 50 gns. Triple 7 and PRB. (Note, shot way off to the right was not part of my group).
View attachment 36791

Nice

 

[Notchy Bob]

That target shows some good shooting. Well done!

Notchy Bob

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

" . . . for a start . . ."? Me being pretty new to the long gun BP addiction, I'm curious what would be considered a good offhand score at 60+ yards, with 80-8X being a "possible"? My target in the photo is a 75-2X on a supposedly standard 100 yard muzzleloader target (rested) or 50 yard offhand target. I know many ML rifle matches are scored using the string method, but I'm from a bullseye pistol background and score targets by the numbers. I'm not being snarky, but am genuinely curious what is considered "good offhand shooting" at 50 or 60 yards?

Your target is a very good target in my opinion! A group is usually 3 or 5 shots. You have added to the norm and almost doubled the shots. That is a good off hand target for 50 yards, let alone 60. I know guys that can't do that off a bench.
Good job
PS.... I do think you should give me the rifle, cuz if gave you that 8.
Flintlocklar

 

[Boomerang]

That's pretty good off-hand! Try it from a bench and see what it will do.

 

[Gregory Mitchell]

Oh yeah I fired it about 100 shots from the bench, testing its potential and getting the front sight dialed in. That was before I even attempted the offhand shots.

Now if I could only have this kind of luck with my 3-band Enfield (also Pedersoli). I'm casting my own minis for it and it is a . . . ahem . . . work in progress.

 

[rdlowe]

Nice shooting

 

[Newtire]

Gregory: Bear in mind, some people like making understatements like, "Not bad." when they mean excellent. I can't say that ohio ramrod was making one but it's a good idea to take what people say on a web site with a grain of salt. Especially when they are commenting on something others have done.

Midwesterners aren't particularly known for throwing out compliments to folks, not even when talking about their own selves. Not half bad is about as good as it gets. Illinois native here.

 

[mushka]

You and that rifle are a good combination. I have found that not all my guns are a good combination with me, but a couple of them are.

 

[Glock21user]

As seen from a newer shoot of BP and learning the details and intricacies of this passion I say GREAT JOB.
Work and time went into that group and it shows