Another TVM .50 Flint Pistol Report

[jetcanoe]

Well, I'll piggyback on El Lobo's recent post as I also just got a TVM .50 Tennessee Pistol (this one is by Avance, not Garner). She's sort of a cross between Matt's TN and Early-style pistols, with this grip shape and the 10" bbl. Very comfortable to hold and points nice and light, which was a pleasant suprise. Please excuse my "ancient" 1.3mpx camera here :haha:

Got out to the range yesterday. All shots were 16" high/right from a bench at 25yds...which is why I didn't post a target pic. Group size was about 5". I also took some "dueling shots" at ten paces as well and it was still 10-12" high/right. Experimented with 20/25/30gr 3F,.480 & .490 PRBs, and .010/.015/.020 patches. All pretty much similar results. Ignition was very good but she wore the flint edge down after only a few shots. There's a current post on the gunbuilder forum about balancing frizzen tension against possible bounceback, which I guess I'll have to look into. Trigger is similar to El Lobo's description of his: about 4lbs after a good bit of take up. Recoil was a strong "push" as I expected.

So I could use your help. I don't see a different load bringing down the POI this much, and the rear sight notch would (in theory) need a ton of filing. Should I find a lower rear sight or just start filing? Or, any other load suggestions?

I love the look and feel of this pistol, and have a lot of work ahead. Which of couse, means more shooting. :grin: Thanks for any help and sorry for the length of this post!
-Jet

PS: Let me add one more among many, many kudos to Toni Avance for being just about the most pleasant person you can ever work with. :hatsoff:

 

[R.M.]

It could be a combination of replacing both sights, it's shooting high so, you want to lower the rear, and raise the front. Sometimes you need to do both to get the right balance.

 

[FishDFly]

I personally would contact the builder concerning returning the pistol to have the proper sights (higher front or lower rear) installed on the pistol. If you start lowering the rear, you may not have enough of a rear sight for a notch.

For me, I would be a bit miffed after buying a custom made pistol and then having to work on the sights or purchase a new front sight.

RDE

 

[El Lobo]

I would also recommend contacting TVM about the pistol shooting so high. They may have some wisdom about the situation since Mr. Avance has likely produced a number of pistols similar to yours.

That is a fine looking weapon. Once you get things sorted out I am sure it will provide you with many years of enjoyment.

 

[oldarmy]

Every muzzle loading pistol I have ever build, or shot all shot high. That includes the commercial ones..pedersoli,traditions,etc.
He probably left the sights high on purpose. Although the sights do look like rifle sights
That rear sight is way too high.
I would file it down, ALLOT, and cut a deep slot in it. You have plenty of height on the front one.That combination should bring down the POA enough
A square diamond file will work. The windage is a simple fix. You should still point the pistol at 6 oclock to the target.
I Have the same lock on my latest pistol.. One of Jack Garner's assembled siler..Nice lock.. it just needs some tweaking.. Try thinning the frizzen spring and polishing it. I did that with mine.. going to try it today. Will post results on the other thread.
Having to sight in your pistol is part of the fun of owning these types of weapons.
By all means stay in touch with Matt and if you have any problems or issues you can't work out. I am sure he will be happy to advise.
You don't stay in business with unhappy customers

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

It's difficult to sight in any firearm for another person. Too many variables in how they hold the weapon and attain the sight picture. Best leave extra metal and let the new owner sight it in. Pistols are especially difficult for the builder to sight in for the owner.

 

[FishDFly]

Yep, you are right, but 16" at 25 yards sure is a lot of work with a file!!!!

OldArmy did question the rear sight and it's height???? He builds guns not me.

I trust the builder to get it somewhat close to be reasonable and for me to do a bit of adjusting if necessary. In all honesty, when I pay for a custom pistol, I do not expect to do a lot of filing or to have to replace a sight.

I expect the builder to do what is necessary to get the pistol close to the black scoring ring.
To me, 16" high at 25 yards, is not performance which I would personally pay for in a custom made pistol.

But then again, I did not spend my money.

Just my thoughts.

RDE

 

[oldarmy]

I have build a number of pistols..
But, I don't want to critizie other builders work.
Contact Matt and tell him the pistol shots WAY TOO HIGH.
Most of my guns have an OCT/to Rd Barrels..
This creates a different problem,but also the same one. ALL the front sights...until recently have been too small..
Which of course means the weapon shoots TOO HIGH.
In my case, it's a simple fix.. solder on a new higher front sight.
In addition there is a real lack of commercialy made suitable rear pistol sights.. I KNOW make your own.. however all that adds up to increasing the cost of the weapon.
I am sure he will make it right..
BTW. thinning and polishing the frizzen spring did wonders with my pistol..
10 shots, in a row.. flint looks good..
Let us know how you make out.
Regards
Mike

 

[hanshi]

I have a nice pistol Matt (TVM) built for me a few years ago. The sights are way too high so as to allow room for filing down. Mine, however, shot way too low. I filed down the front & drifted the rear to center poi. I ended up filing both front and rear down a good bit more in keeping with what pistol sights should look like. If poi is way, way too high you can replace the front with a higher one. Matt & Toni are genuinely nice people and a call to him will take care of what needs to be done.