In the mid 70's some local boys put on a annual deer rifle match just before season. Rules were, any legal caliber including MZ Loaders at 100 yards, at 100 yards only open sights, 5 shots, any field position. At the 200 yard mark scopes could be used. The targets were life sized paper bucks with the internal organs scoring different values, heart-5 points, lungs-4 points, etc.
I was young, newlywed with a new baby boy and a small income. I wanted to shoot black powder in the 100 yard match but had no gun. I found a .54 TC Renegade on close out and bought it. I knew nothing about shooting black powder but was eager to learn even without a mentor. So I practiced several times a week both on the bench trying lubes and patch material and in different positions. I found my best position was sitting so I really worked on my form and accuracy. When the match rolled around I felt like I was ready. The fact that I would be shooting against modern rifles like .243's and '06's didn't intimidate me to any great degree. Now this would be an "Apple to Apple" contest.
My 5 shots felt good. After the scores were tallied I had tied with a friend shooting a .243 and a shoot off would determine the winner. My friend and several others congratulated me on winning 2nd place. Most considered my score was a fluke.
My next 5 shot group felt good also. Even better when the score was tallied. I had won the match by 1 point. This proved to me that at 100 yards that little .54 with a prb was generally as accurate as all the modern centerfire's shot at 100 yards that day. Or was it the team formed by the rifle and a shooter who had spent every spare moment on the range for nearly a year?
Since then I've owned several factory .54's and found them all to have comparable accuracy. I now only own and shoot 2 flintlocks, I built both of these to feel as close alike as possible. Both locks have been tuned for fast ignition, and to have the triggers almost alike and just the way I want them. One of these rifles have a .54 Colrain barrel, the other has a .40 Rice. Both are considerably more accurate than any of my factory rifles were.
And shooting against the average open sighted CF I think both would give it a run for it's money.
I was young, newlywed with a new baby boy and a small income. I wanted to shoot black powder in the 100 yard match but had no gun. I found a .54 TC Renegade on close out and bought it. I knew nothing about shooting black powder but was eager to learn even without a mentor. So I practiced several times a week both on the bench trying lubes and patch material and in different positions. I found my best position was sitting so I really worked on my form and accuracy. When the match rolled around I felt like I was ready. The fact that I would be shooting against modern rifles like .243's and '06's didn't intimidate me to any great degree. Now this would be an "Apple to Apple" contest.
My 5 shots felt good. After the scores were tallied I had tied with a friend shooting a .243 and a shoot off would determine the winner. My friend and several others congratulated me on winning 2nd place. Most considered my score was a fluke.
My next 5 shot group felt good also. Even better when the score was tallied. I had won the match by 1 point. This proved to me that at 100 yards that little .54 with a prb was generally as accurate as all the modern centerfire's shot at 100 yards that day. Or was it the team formed by the rifle and a shooter who had spent every spare moment on the range for nearly a year?
Since then I've owned several factory .54's and found them all to have comparable accuracy. I now only own and shoot 2 flintlocks, I built both of these to feel as close alike as possible. Both locks have been tuned for fast ignition, and to have the triggers almost alike and just the way I want them. One of these rifles have a .54 Colrain barrel, the other has a .40 Rice. Both are considerably more accurate than any of my factory rifles were.
And shooting against the average open sighted CF I think both would give it a run for it's money.
