Hawken Meets Real Black

[Spikebuck]

All I've used in my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken .54 since I bought it 8 years ago is Triple 7. 777 has been a great powder, but as my supply is running out, I'm moving everything over to real black for the convenience of having fewer powder types sitting around and cost is much lower for real black.

So yesterday my Hawken got introduced to real black. I already had loads worked up in 777 for shooting both Hornady GP conicals and patched roundballs, so I just started with my same PRB load.

I think the ol' Hawken likes it! The load is 90 grains of KIK 2F, a .530 RB (in this case a leftover box of Hornady), a .015 prelubed Oxyoke patch.

In this first pic there are actually 4 shots in the top and 1 just down a bit. Those five consist of three shots from 50 yards and two from 75.

I moved the target back to 100 and here's the results of four shots. Three right together and one a bit to the right. Since my sight covers the whole target at that range, I felt pretty good about the results. I did lose a couple of inches in trajectory, as would be expected, but on deer, a dead-on hold would still produce well.

I was a tad left, so I adjusted the sight a little and took three more shots: One each at 50, 75, and 100 (holding up a tad on the last shot). I think she's ready for whitetails! :grin:

 

[Dean2]

I think you are right. It really does seem to like it. did it shoot this flat with 777?

 

[50cal.cliff]

I think she's ready for whitetails! :grin:

Well as I see you got two problems, it's hard to find a deer with one of those targets pasted on it' side! :haha: :rotf: :idunno:

The other is once you try real black, you'll never go back! :rotf: :rotf: :idunno: :stir:

Look I just couldn't help myself this BP is one of the greatest experiences I ever got into! Practically every time I go to the range I take my 50 cal. My son says, Dad why do you always bring that "thing", :shocked2:.

Son, quit talking like that your gonna hurt "ole Betsy's" feelings!

Then I usually got a half dozen guys asking all sorts of questions about her.
Would you like to shoot her I ask. Those that do walk away with a different attitude!

I had one little fellar kept coming back and saying wow, I like to watch that thing. So I told him she's even more fun when your shooting her.

I could tell he was scared of her, so I told him her bark is worse than her bite. Sit down here and I will talk you through it! I don't believe you could have washed the grin off or his face when he got done.

Looks like you got all the kinks worked out so if you miss, :idunno: it is on your back, not the rifles!! :thumbsup: Happy Hunting

 

[Spikebuck]

did it shoot this flat with 777?

Yes....the same. Since it's a by-volume measurement instead of real weight, I suspect that's why 90 grs of real black acts the same way 90 grs of 777 does. For some reason I expected that the black would have a bit more drop, but was pleasantly surprised to see no difference at all.

 

[Billnpatti]

It would be hard to get much better than that. I think you have found your load and are ready for the woods. :thumbsup:

 

[Spikebuck]

[
Then I usually got a half dozen guys asking all sorts of questions about her.
Would you like to shoot her I ask. Those that do walk away with a different attitude!

There were two guys at the range yesterday shooting their "black" modern guns. They had their chrono's set up, where marking every shot in a log book, etc, so are serious gunners. They could not believe that a round ball could be so accurate. I've been a member at this range now for two summers and have never, ever seen another traditional muzzleloader. A few unmentionables, but not a traditional gun. I've had many shoot my flinters and all love it. :grin: One young man who shot my Jaeger hit the X at 75 yards with his first shot! He was really happy.

 

[Jumpshot]

Nice shooting.

That target looks like a big orange pillow ticking patch. :grin:

 

[Alden]

Good going!

 

[cynthialee]

Sweet! Bambi and Bullwinkle best keep their wits about them come hunting season.

 

[Col. Batguano]

YOu think finding traditional ML flint or percussion shooters is hard? Try organizing a wheel lock shoot at your club some day.

 

[paul54]

Excellent shooting! Looks like your rifle is likin' what you're feeding it. :thumbsup:

 

[Spikebuck]

YOu think finding traditional ML flint or percussion shooters is hard? Try organizing a wheel lock shoot at your club some day.

Yeah, but you can win every competition you set up!!! :wink: :rotf:

 

[Sean Gadhar]

:thumbsup:

 

[Bob J]

Looks like you are ready for hunting season...good shooting, btw! :thumbsup:

 

[AZbpBurner]

[
Then I usually got a half dozen guys asking all sorts of questions about her.
Would you like to shoot her I ask. Those that do walk away with a different attitude!

There were two guys at the range yesterday shooting their "black" modern guns. They had their chrono's set up, where marking every shot in a log book, etc, so are serious gunners. They could not believe that a round ball could be so accurate. I've been a member at this range now for two summers and have never, ever seen another traditional muzzleloader. A few unmentionables, but not a traditional gun. I've had many shoot my flinters and all love it. :grin: One young man who shot my Jaeger hit the X at 75 yards with his first shot! He was really happy.

While firing a new-to-me Cabela's / Investarms .54 cal, a couple of goobers were yukking it up and loudly coughing every time I fired my 'new' $95 gunshow special. They were shooting with a chronograph, and couldn't wait to see my first target, which did have a flyer. The rest were all touching at 75 yards. They were using scopes on their rifles, and were patterning all over the place.

While they conceded that I was more accurate, and didn't even need a scope, they said their stuff was faster. I loaded up a heftier charge than my accuracy load and fired it thru their chrono - 2125 f/s, and I reminded them that what they were clocking was a 236 grain lead roundball, that, if hit center of body mass, would likely suck their liver out thru the exit hole.

It remained really quiet over at that side of the range the rest of the afternoon.

 

[Zonie]

I would have added a bit by saying, "This ole' fashioned roundball goes in at .54 caliber but it comes out the far side bigger than a .75." :shocked2:

 

[Col. Batguano]

what was the charge that gave that velocity? I bet it smacked you pretty good!

I once loaded up a 180 gr. FFg charge in a 58 cal Armi Sport `61 Springfield (PRB). I never found the hole in the target, but the recoil was something I didn't ever want to experience again. Moral; it doesn't matter how much energy you put down range if it doesn't go where you want it to.

 

[JD Peppergrinder]

I would of told them that I doubt that a deer can outrun it