I bought this rifle off of an auction site in 2011 for $180 thinking I could use the parts if nothing else. The seller said that his father had built it and had won many matches with it. After receiving it I thought what an ugly gun. It is a 50 caliber with a coned muzzle and a 1:48 twist barrel with an excellent bore. It shot very well though. I have no idea who the barrel maker is, not a mark anywhere and it appears to be double breeched. The lock has a fly although only a single trigger and no marks either.
After posting about this gun hitting clay birds on the berm at 120 yards, on another thread, I got to thinking that I had not shot it since. I couldn’t remember what load was used and for the life of me I can’t find my notes (note to self make up a spreadsheet for all of my muzzleloaders).
Yesterday I started working up a load again. It still shoots better than I can and I’ve decided to keep it like it is. If for no other reason than to honor the builder.
Shot at 32 yards using the loading stand as a steady rest. She seems to like a .490 ball patched with Ox-Yoke .12 oiled patches and 55 gr Goex fffg.
After posting about this gun hitting clay birds on the berm at 120 yards, on another thread, I got to thinking that I had not shot it since. I couldn’t remember what load was used and for the life of me I can’t find my notes (note to self make up a spreadsheet for all of my muzzleloaders).
Yesterday I started working up a load again. It still shoots better than I can and I’ve decided to keep it like it is. If for no other reason than to honor the builder.
Shot at 32 yards using the loading stand as a steady rest. She seems to like a .490 ball patched with Ox-Yoke .12 oiled patches and 55 gr Goex fffg.
