Got to love playing with patches

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
341
Reaction score
2
This morning I decided it was time to get that Woodsman Hawken Flintlock out to 100 yards and with a thicker patch! I am glad I tried it because it took a previous 4 1/2" group and shrunk it down so greatly, I still can not wipe the smile off my face!
IMG_6913.jpg


First off here's the load info:

80gr Goex 2fg
Grafs 4fg for the pan
.490" Traditions round balls ( Came with the rifle)
.020" lubed with ------( Cut at the muzzle)

The new .020" patch loaded perfectly but I still decided to swab with No 77 muzzle magic and get all of the fouling out after each shot and let it cool down in the shade until the barrel was cool to the touch. I like to practice that first shot accuracy as much as possible because that's the most important.
IMG_6919.jpg


While swabbing, I used a sloppy wet patch and used both sides. Just holding the rifle upside down to keep from soaking the breech.
IMG_6925.jpg

IMG_6926.jpg


I used the MMP packer set up and with a new wood ramrod ( plastic ramrod would bend under this pressure) I seated each ball at aprox 75lbs.
IMG_6931.jpg


The first 3 shots are on the right side of the target. This is my first time using graf's 4fg in the pan and I did not like it at all. It was slow to ignite and as you can tell, group wasn't that great.

The 2 shots in the middle were with Goex 4fg pan powder! Now that's why I can not wipe the smile off my face! Ignition was almost instant and the recoil was firm on the arm.
IMG_6915.jpg


Cleaned, dried, cooled, loaded and 8 clicks up on my rear sight put my final shot closer to where I want to be.
target2.jpg


This target has been my savior as the big black circle and 3" orange bulls eye keeps the sights clear and easy to see. The target is over 17" diameter.
IMG_6937.jpg


IMG_6929.jpg


Super flintlock. I have zero complaints about it. I haven't had one bit of trouble with her to date. It just keeps getting better and better as I shoot. I SHOULD have a bull elk tag this year and I plan on getting the percussion model of the Woodsman in .54cal for this hunt.
IMG_6942.jpg
 
Sunny, tee shirt weather in Colorado - I'm jealous! Not here in Wisconsin, but it's coming I hope.
 
you're getting there, for sure! by the way, I like the little pan charger horn...

for good accuracy, check out Dutch Schoultz' method - here's a link :: http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/
if you follow his instructions, Dutch guarantees that your groups will shrink. worked for me.

this is, to my mind, the most cost effective shooting accessory you can get; you will save a ton of powder, ball, and aggravation.

Make Good Smoke!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Congrats on your learning project with that rifle. Too many here seem to think it can all be done at the keyboard. You are on your way, fer sure. :hatsoff: Now, I would suggest you use up all that stuff that comes from the store in plastic. :barf: Start cutting your own patches, both shooting and cleaning ones. Some things about your routine that could be picked on but, I am sure, your ml journey will end up in a good place.
 
Those 100 yard shots are amazing with iron sights - nobody should be telling you what you should be doing different to get "better" groups :wink: . Keep doing what your doing :thumbsup: and be sure to show us a picture of the successful hunt :)
 
FML said:
Super flintlock. I have zero complaints about it. I haven't had one bit of trouble with her to date. It just keeps getting better and better as I shoot. I SHOULD have a bull elk tag this year and I plan on getting the percussion model of the Woodsman in .54cal for this hunt.
What is wrong with using the flint rifle? Should work just fine for your hunt....
 
yeah I was going to say... After measuring my 2 shots at 1 1/8" I am not sure how many I can improve on LOL.

I already bought that dutch book years ago. Now that I make my own lubes, I prefer using what I hunt with.

The only trouble I had was using that grafs 4fg powder. Very slow stuff.
 
Black Hand said:
FML said:
Super flintlock. I have zero complaints about it. I haven't had one bit of trouble with her to date. It just keeps getting better and better as I shoot. I SHOULD have a bull elk tag this year and I plan on getting the percussion model of the Woodsman in .54cal for this hunt.
What is wrong with using the flint rifle? Should work just fine for your hunt....

Nuttin at all! I personally prefer a .54cal+ for elk. The area I hunt can be extremely windy and rainy during muzzy season and I have many more years under the belt with the sidelock than I do flinter.
 
After using 4f to prime for a while I switched to the same 3f Goex I use in the main charge and I had the best shooting day I've had in a while. It seemed to ignite more reliably. Lots of slow burns and misfires with 4f, but I cracked off 25 shots without a mishap with 3f
 
Back
Top