.62 Tennessee Rifle

[BrownBear]

Let us know how she shoots...and what load you work up. I think that recoil might not be punishing if the barrel is fairly heavy.

I managed to break free from deer hunting today in time to take it to the range. Here are the nuts and bolts:

I fired it 30 times from the bench, 10 shots each with 80 grains 3f, 90 grains 2f and 100 grains 2f. Ignition was virtually instantaneous with no misfires. Looks like the flint could easily go for another 30 or more- It's going to be real easy on flints.

I was using 3f for prime, and forgot to try 2f. It's likely that my charge will be 90 grains of 2f for deer, but the accuracy appears to be there if I want to snort it up for moose or elk.

I'm not sure how much it had been shot before I got it, because it definitely wasn't sighted in. All shots were about 5" low at 25 yards. Since it appeared to be putting all loads in roughly the same spot, I went to filing and raised the POI about 4". I'll save the last bit till I settle on a load.

Groups were disappointing till I picked up patches after the first few rounds. A .600 ball and .018 ticking was easy to load, burning through. I had some .022 canvas in the range box, so I switched to that. Seating effort went up noticeably, but groups shrank immediately, and I could probably reuse the patches.

The rifle weighs about the same as a GPR- call it somewhere just over 8 pounds, I'd guess. But somehow it has better balance than a GPR for my taste.

I was curious about recoil, being a light 62 and a Tennessee to boot, but no sweat. It definitely recoils more than my Big Boar 58's with the same charges, but when held right recoil is not uncomfortable, even from the bench. You definitely know you lit something off, but I don't think recoil will be an issue at all.

One more shooting session and final sight-in and this one is going hunting!

 

[Bob J]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are going to enjoy that rifle

 

[hoochiepapa]

See? That's what I keep sayin'. Ain't nothin' like taking a BEAUTIFUL long rifle into the woods. NICE!!!!!

 

[BigSkyRambler]

BrownBear:
Looks like the rifle is going to work well for you. I am very glad it went where it can really be put to the test. Now go make some meat with it!

 

[BrownBear]

I'm up for the meat, BSR! The weather isn't cooperating at the moment, but the Tennessee is ready.

Thanks again for your extra effort in packaging. The USPS delivered it in pristine condition!

 

[tg]

I am sure it will get the job done,I am an early gun guy so the later ones have never caught my eye as much so to speak this is an excellant example of how differently a gun is viewed/percieved differently from longtime builders/gun students and non builders and explains the foundation of many of the clashes between folks over various guns on the forum from time to time, enjoy your hunt if you find a big Bear I hope you are sitting in a large tree with lots of powder and ball.