Not So Wacky Shooting

[user 49399]

I took the Kentucky rifle out today for some serious shooting.

Traditions Kentucky percussion rifle .50 caliber
50 grains Pyrodex RS
.490 Hornady patched round ball, cut at muzzle
CCI #11 caps
All shots from bench rest
May not win any matches, but it works for me.

The top group is actually two shots in one hole with one flier. The flier was the first shot of the day. The bottom group was three shots. Point of aim was center of each group.

 

[ord sgt]

The barrels made in Spain are very accurate. My CVA in .45 calibre is a good shooter.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Looks good to me. I like those rifles. Really digging that knife though.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I do not understand why…but those guns always shot well. My dad has two of them…both are tack-drivers

 

[user 49399]

Looks good to me. I like those rifles. Really digging that knife though.

Thanks. That’s the knife I plowed up out of the garden. It’s a great patch knife and my favorite for every day carry.

 

[LME]

I took the Kentucky rifle out today for some serious shooting.

Traditions Kentucky percussion rifle .50 caliber
50 grains Pyrodex RS
.490 Hornady patched round ball, cut at muzzle
CCI #11 caps
All shots from bench rest
May not win any matches, but it works for me.

The top group is actually two shots in one hole with one flier. The flier was the first shot of the day. The bottom group was three shots. Point of aim was center of each group.


View attachment 159266

I will lay odds and bet a $1,000 to $1 that 95% of us here wish our shots were that accurate! I have seen modern rifles not group as well! I suspect that a few here would wet their pants if they could shoot as well! LOL!

 

[user 49399]

I will lay odds and bet a $1,000 to $1 that 95% of us here wish our shots were that accurate! I have seen modern rifles not group as well! I suspect that a few here would wet their pants if they could shoot as well! LOL!

It was an exceptionally good day. Everything went right. I’ve had days where everything went wrong and I couldn’t hit the side of a barn if I was standing in it.

 

[Stykbow]

I will lay odds and bet a $1,000 to $1 that 95% of us here wish our shots were that accurate! I have seen modern rifles not group as well! I suspect that a few here would wet their pants if they could shoot as well! LOL!

Heck, I almost wet my pants to see someone else shot that good!

 

[Hermit Tim]

Thanks. That’s the knife I plowed up out of the garden. It’s a great patch knife and my favorite for every day carry.

I thought that was it but couldn't remember from the other discussion exactly what it looked like. It is cool though and to think you found it in the garden. That's my idea of buried treasure.

 

[Hermit Tim]

Heck, I almost wet my pants to see someone else shot that good!

Let's face it. With the age of some of us regulars on here that could actually be a real concern... Would hate for that to interfere with my shooting though

 

[Urban Coyote]

I've never quite figured out the attraction to these rifles but they seem popular. I always kind of figured them a very basic entry level gun. Most I've seen online look to have been made up from a kit. I've wondered why examples sell at online auction sites for as much as they do. Apparently people find them accurate beyond expectations. The only one I ever really had my hands on was brought to me by my Dad, coworker of his asked him to have me look at, the bore was a sewer pipe of rust.

 

[Hermit Tim]

I've never quite figured out the attraction to these rifles but they seem popular. I always kind of figured them a very basic entry level gun. Most I've seen online look to have been made up from a kit. I've wondered why examples sell at online auction sites for as much as they do. Apparently people find them accurate beyond expectations. The only one I ever really had my hands on was brought to me by my Dad, coworker of his asked him to have me look at, the bore was a sewer pipe of rust.

I guess that is correct about an entry level rifle. Most folks just getting into it may not want to drop a thousand bucks or more on a rifle only to give up interest so these guns do provide an opportunity. But they are much more than that. Just like any rifle, if you take care of it then it will take care of you. I've had many a Traditions rifle but have never fired their version of the Kentucky. So far they have performed better than what the price tag would suggest for me. And many a CVA or Jukar rifle (essentially the same as Banjo's rifle) have passed through my collection. Every one of them, without exception, has been a fantastic rifle. At least that has been my experience with them. The only thing I don't like about traditions is that, on the Deerhunter rifles, the trigger design with that little wire spring really sucks. Wondering if anybody offers an aftermarket drop in replacement for that??? Just seems like a weak point. But otherwise both of my deerhunters (one regular and one with a 13 inch barrel) work great. If you ever get a chance to shoot one of these give it a shot. You might be surprised.

 

[Kodiak13]

Nice shoot'n, my cousin had a Tradition .50 flintlock and it too was a tack driver. Not to detract from the other part of the equation (shooter) helping those groups!!!

 

[hanshi]

I've had several CVA and Traditions rifles over the years. Every last one was terrifically accurate. I shot and hunted with a DeerHunter .50 for over 20 years. The Spanish and Italian barrels are really good but usually have that dogleg breech which I don't like.

 

[longcruise]

I recall Dutch Schultz mentioning that in his days coaching the US team that the spanish rifles were very much in use by the team shooters. The Pedersoli guns are popular with the European international competitors.

 

[deermanok]

Can't beat that with a stick.

 

[Loja man]

That’s a good day for just about anyone!

 

[renegadehunter]

Great shooting!
That "flier" on the first target was the foul shot, my foul shot is always a bit low like that too.
I'm sighted in for a 75 yard zero and my first foul shot hits at a 50 yard zero.

 

[user 49399]

Yep. I wish I would have put that first shot off paper to make the group look better.

I shot that gun again today and could only get about 2 inch groups at 50 yards. But it was windy and I was tired so I’ll blame it on that.

 

[burlesontom]

I have read that Bergera makes the barrels for Traditions. And they are top class barrel makers. I have owned and shot several CVA rifles and all were shooters. And unless abused were some of the slickest barrels I have ever looked down.

The big drawback to the guns like the OP has is the 2 piece stock. And the ugly brass spacer. If I ever built one from a kit I would either use a wood spacer or just join the two stock pieces and refit the pins and nose cap.

But for someone just getting into BP shooting there is not a thing in the world wrong with those guns. You can also buy a one piece stock version but now they make them with the same 33” barrel instead of the 39”(?) barrel like they used to have.