Gregory Mitchell
36 Cl.
- Joined
- May 4, 2019
- Messages
- 82
- Reaction score
- 66
Howdy all -- new here. As mentioned just now in the "BP substitute" thread, I've been a cap & ball revolver addict for going on three years now and it's the most fun I've had with any shooting activity in my almost-fifty years of shooting and messing with fine guns. I have and enjoy a lot of Uberti Colt and Remington replicas, including all the Colt models, and now have about a half-dozen genuine Colts, 2nd and 3rd Gen 1851s, 1860s, and a Dragoon.
A week ago, I finally just had to get into the long gun BP game. After much shopping and comparing, I purchased a new Pedersoli Traditional Hawken in .50, and I really love it. I'm surprised you can buy such a beautiful and well-appointed Hawken, with Pedersoli quality, for about $630 (Cabela's). I've already had it to the range once and loaded/fired about 50 rounds. Started with .490 Hornady RB with .015 pre-lubed patches. CCI #11 caps. All of my loads went "bang" and the first 10 or 15 actually threw what I thought were "ok" groups at 50 yards (3-4" -- far from the 1/2-minute groups I've gotten from my Remington 700 .223 but I was Ok with it for a first effort from a percussion rifle with open sights). Then things went downhill at 100 yds! I wasn't able to get what I would call a "group" at that distance, and I was shooting from a Caldwell rest set on a concrete bench. I apparently have much to learn.
My first loads were with 60 grains of Triple 7 ffg -- given the 1:48 twist in the Traditional Hawken, next outing (hopefully in a few days) I plan to drop that to 50 gns and see what kind of groups I get. Any thoughts from the crowd on other obvious things I should try?
Also, the .490 ball/.015 patch combo seemed VERY hard to ram home -- as in, holding the big rifle between my knees and using both hands on the rod, just above the muzzle, and repeat/repeat until the ball was firmly seated. Is this level of effort normal, or should I try .010 patches?
All suggestions welcome for a long gun black powder newbie. My only restriction is that I ONLY intend to use Triple 7 BP substitute. Zero interest in actual black powder or Pyrodex. Also, I'd prefer to stay with patched-ball loads, rather than conicals of any kind.
I know that finding the "magic load" and all is a big part of the fun of these rifles and I look forward to the journey. Thanks -- look forward to your wisdom!
A week ago, I finally just had to get into the long gun BP game. After much shopping and comparing, I purchased a new Pedersoli Traditional Hawken in .50, and I really love it. I'm surprised you can buy such a beautiful and well-appointed Hawken, with Pedersoli quality, for about $630 (Cabela's). I've already had it to the range once and loaded/fired about 50 rounds. Started with .490 Hornady RB with .015 pre-lubed patches. CCI #11 caps. All of my loads went "bang" and the first 10 or 15 actually threw what I thought were "ok" groups at 50 yards (3-4" -- far from the 1/2-minute groups I've gotten from my Remington 700 .223 but I was Ok with it for a first effort from a percussion rifle with open sights). Then things went downhill at 100 yds! I wasn't able to get what I would call a "group" at that distance, and I was shooting from a Caldwell rest set on a concrete bench. I apparently have much to learn.
My first loads were with 60 grains of Triple 7 ffg -- given the 1:48 twist in the Traditional Hawken, next outing (hopefully in a few days) I plan to drop that to 50 gns and see what kind of groups I get. Any thoughts from the crowd on other obvious things I should try?
Also, the .490 ball/.015 patch combo seemed VERY hard to ram home -- as in, holding the big rifle between my knees and using both hands on the rod, just above the muzzle, and repeat/repeat until the ball was firmly seated. Is this level of effort normal, or should I try .010 patches?
All suggestions welcome for a long gun black powder newbie. My only restriction is that I ONLY intend to use Triple 7 BP substitute. Zero interest in actual black powder or Pyrodex. Also, I'd prefer to stay with patched-ball loads, rather than conicals of any kind.
I know that finding the "magic load" and all is a big part of the fun of these rifles and I look forward to the journey. Thanks -- look forward to your wisdom!