Ball trajectory

[Salty]

I’m shooting a TC Hawken 45cal, 440 ball, 018 lubed patch. With 45 g Swiss 3f. The POI on the target is 2” above the POA. Rear sight is run as far down as it will go. It appears the ball is arcing up. Anyone agree?
Should I reduce my powder load to say 40g?
Or just live with it and aim 2” lower?
Any suggestions or experience is appreciated.

 

[senseisugarbear]

How far are you shooting ?If you,re shooting 25 yds. Leave it alone, But check 50 ,75 ,100 yd .For me It's easier to hold under up close than hold over at any distant shot....Be Safe>>>>>>>>Wally

 

[R Ellis]

Not enough info what distance and are you target shooting or hunting Also all bullets arch some more than others also a higher powder charge may lower your shot my decreasing the amount of arch and will have less barrel time which will let the bullet exit barrel before it [ barrel ] has a chance to rise under recoil

 

[DCAN]

Taller front sight?

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I’m shooting a TC Hawken 45cal, 440 ball, 018 lubed patch. With 45 g Swiss 3f. The POI on the target is 2” above the POA. Rear sight is run as far down as it will go. It appears the ball is arcing up. Anyone agree?
Should I reduce my powder load to say 40g?
Or just live with it and aim 2” lower?
Any suggestions or experience is appreciated.

Your powder charge (IMO) should be the one that gets the best group. You need to adjust your sights if your group is good. Your only choice to me is a taller front sight. No big deal. The easiest way if you can't find a taller sight is to remove the front sight, then the blade from the dovetail base. Solder in a new blade. Measure with a caliper where the existing blade is first, so you can put the sight back to the same windage.
Larry

 

[ronaldrothb49]

I’m shooting a TC Hawken 45cal, 440 ball, 018 lubed patch. With 45 g Swiss 3f. The POI on the target is 2” above the POA. Rear sight is run as far down as it will go. It appears the ball is arcing up. Anyone agree?
Should I reduce my powder load to say 40g?
Or just live with it and aim 2” lower?
Any suggestions or experience is appreciated.

It doesn't matter what you shoot, muzzleloader or modern, Ball or Bullet they all are going to travel down range in an arc.

 

[Salty]

How far are you shooting ?If you,re shooting 25 yds. Leave it alone, But check 50 ,75 ,100 yd .For me It's easier to hold under up close than hold over at any distant shot....Be Safe>>>>>>>>Wally

Shooting targets at 25 and 50. I’ll try the hold under at 25. Then I’ll see where my groups are at 50 also.
Thanks

 

[user 49399]

What size group are you getting at 25 yards? If the group is good then I would either hold under or get a taller front sight as stated above.

 

[longcruise]

If you want to be POI = POA at 50 yards then you will want POI to be below POA at 25 yards.

If you want your rifle to be adaptable to varying demands and situations, you should replace the front sight with a taller one. Pictures of both your front and rear sight would be helpful in directing you to the appropriate replacement sight.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Well said above, but I would add ...

I'd decide if this is a target gun or hunting gun? To that, do some load development for the best benched group @ 50-yards and go from there. I do typically find 2 nodes where the gun shoots the best (i.e., ideal for a hunting load), a lower charged load and a higher or hevier charge one too.

Typically a heavier charge will impact lower on the target, i.e., flatter trajectory.

 

[Salty]

If you want to be POI = POA at 50 yards then you will want POI to be below POA at 25 yards.

If you want your rifle to be adaptable to varying demands and situations, you should replace the front sight with a taller one. Pictures of both your front and rear sight would be helpful in directing you to the appropriate replacement sight.

Wow thank you for the advice.
This is just a target gun for 25 and 50.
Here’s photos of my sights.

 

[TDM]

Looks like your front sight is plenty tall. As mentioned, I'd verify where it's printing at 50. If it's still higher than you want you can file the rear sight notch down. Just a bit at a time till it's hitting where you want.

 

[longcruise]

@Salty I have a TC barrel and the sights are the same as yours. I agree that the front sight looks correct on height per @TDM

Three things occur to me but all three could be wrong.

1. The barrel was not bored straight and the bore is angled upward even though the barrel itself is straight.

2. The barrel is bent. You should be able to tell with a straight edge layed on the flats.

3. You are not forming the sight picture correctly. Eg., the front sight is not resting low enough in rhe rear sight.

Others may have additional analysis, but that's all I got!

In the case of 1 and 2, a taller sight is a solution.

 

[Salty]

@Salty I have a TC barrel and the sights are the same as yours. I agree that the front sight looks correct on height per @TDM

Three things occur to me but all three could be wrong.

1. The barrel was not bored straight and the bore is angled upward even though the barrel itself is straight.

2. The barrel is bent. You should be able to tell with a straight edge layed on the flats.

3. You are not forming the sight picture correctly. Eg., the front sight is not resting low enough in rhe rear sight.

Others may have additional analysis, but that's all I got!

In the case of 1 and 2, a taller sight is a solution.

@longcruise thank you. I will check all three suggestions.

 

[hanshi]

At 25 yards my rifles bigger than .36 hit dead on or close to it. At 50 yds they are about 2" (+ or -) high. At 100 yds about 4" low. Find your best load before you touch the sights. Reducing the height of the rear will also lower the poi.

 

[harleynut]

I’m shooting a TC Hawken 45cal, 440 ball, 018 lubed patch. With 45 g Swiss 3f. The POI on the target is 2” above the POA. Rear sight is run as far down as it will go. It appears the ball is arcing up. Anyone agree?
Should I reduce my powder load to say 40g?
Or just live with it and aim 2” lower?
Any suggestions or experience is appreciated.

My TC .45 hawken straightened out with a .445 rb .015 patch its a tack driver the lube has alot to do with accuracy as well! I use Tc #13 bore cleaner in the all white bottle great to start with.i would shoot at leat 50 rnds if its hitting high and to the left and repeating that area then adjust sights good luck

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

It looks as though you have plenty of material available to gradually lower the notch in the rear sight. Please - just a few swipes of an edge needle file each time. Like the old Bryl Cream ad - just a little dab will do ya.

 

[Salty]

My TC .45 hawken straightened out with a .445 rb .015 patch its a tack driver the lube has alot to do with accuracy as well! I use Tc #13 bore cleaner in the all white bottle great to start with.i would shoot at leat 50 rnds if its hitting high and to the left and repeating that area then adjust sights good luck

Thank you!

 

[Salty]

My TC .45 hawken straightened out with a .445 rb .015 patch its a tack driver the lube has alot to do with accuracy as well! I use Tc #13 bore cleaner in the all white bottle great to start with.i would shoot at leat 50 rnds if its hitting high and to the left and repeating that area then adjust sights good luck

Do you use the #13 bore cleaner as a patch lube?

 

[harleynut]

Do you use the #13 bore cleaner as a patch lube?

Yes i do!! In the all white bottle