Greetings From Central Indiana

[dave63]

I got the bug to try muzzleloading several years ago, but never did anything about it. When I get into something, I jump with both feet. In the past month since I bought that $53 Bobcat from Walmart, I've owned or otherwise possesed three others. A TC White Mountain Carbine (gone already), a TC Renegade .54, and a TC Hawken .50. Still have the Hawken, Renegade, and Bobcat.

I'm having some frustration trying to get good groups, but in all, still having fun. I want to get the Renegade shooting well before ML season starts here on the 2nd of December. Working with different patches and lubes and considering going to a .535 ball. Strangely enough, the Bobcat is the only one that I feel confident enough with at this point to take into the woods. The thing shoots remakably well with a .490 and any patch. The Hawken is at the other end of the spectrum. I cant get that thing to even hit paper consistently. It loads very easily with a .490 and .018 ticking patch, so I'm thinking that the barrel is worn and I need to go to a .495 ball. I got the thing for a hundred bucks from somebody that didn't love it anymore, so it probably has not been taken very good care of.

If there is anybody in the Indianapolis area, or within an hours drive that would like to take a rookie under thier arm and show him some tricks, I'd be happy to buy the beer.

Boy! hows that for an introduction. More like thinkinig out loud. :sorry:

Dave

 

[Stumpkiller]

Welcome.

Thinking out loud is a lot better than what many of us accomplish here.

I've noticed the same thing, and I'm sure others here have as well. Some guns will take anything and toss it well. I have a Renegade that shoots roundballs well whether fast, slow or in between. Others I have owned or met are royal pains, but with enough tinkering and trial and error you can usually find some load & lube that works in them. That's part of the fun; when you're done. Until you find a happy load they are d*mn miserable nuisances. Change one thing at a time and do a lot of shooting. Sometimes all it seems to take is getting the bore worn in.

 

[shmrck1]

Dave from Indy,
welcome to the forum glad to have you with us. Stumpy is right about breaking in the barrel. i put a Green Mountain barrel in .45 cal on one of my Cabella's
hawkins and it did'nt shoot worth a darn until it had around 100 rounds out of it. now its the best shooting gun in the arsenal. hang in there and keep tinkering i'm sure they will work out.
again welcome and stay active
I am snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup: :relax:

 

[dave63]

I hope you guys are right about just needing to shoot more. The only "new" gun is the Bobcat. I got the Renegade used, but it doesn't look like it's had alot of use. A .530 RB patched with .018 is so tight I have to almost hammer it down, so I think that the barrel is okay. I'll just keep at it.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[shmrck1]

Dave,
you mite want to cut back to a .015 patch see if that helps :m2c:
snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup:

 

[gordy]

Welcome to the Forum!I'd try going to .015 patch,and a .495 ball in the Hawkens!What powder charges and type of powder are You loading?I have the Renegade in .54 and have to keep the loads at under 70 grs.2ff BP or Pyrodex RS.I think the QLA system may be one reason accy. falls off with heavyer loads and PRB.Also the type lube can effect accy. some!Good Luck and keep posting. :hmm: :redthumb:

 

[musketman]

I got the bug to try muzzleloading several years ago,

Welcome Dave from Indy:

Yep, that black powder bug is something else...