How Accurate is your Factory Built ML'er?

[broken hand]

My 50 with the right load will shoot better than I can. :haha:

 

[FRJ]

I just shot my GPR with its elk hunting load today. 110 gr Goex 2F, felt over powder wad, pillow ticking patch lubed with mink oil, and a home cast pure lead ball. Shot a 5 shot group at 55 yards of 1.110". Could probably do better but why mess with a load that will kill most anything. FRJ

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes indeed, the sights and lock play a huge factor. From a sand-bagged rest, I have gotten under 4" groups at 100 yards with my Colerain barrel and iron sights.

One of the biggest problems I found with factory guns such as my CVA, TC, and Pedersoli "Blue Ridge" was the front sight post was massive. I mean at fifty yards compared to the black circle on the target the front sight post seemed large, and at 100 yards it was like trying to center a quarter coin on top of a 2 x 4. :shocked2: When I swapped out the front sights for thin, silver blades, the groups dramatically improved, because it made it easier for my eyes to be consistant shot after shot. In fact the year I did this for the Blue Ridge I won a stake cutting contest with the target being a 2x2.

The manufacturers ship these guns with robust, steel sights as they want the customer to get their rifle intact, and a thin, steel or silver, front sight post is easily damaged or snapped off in shipping. Further more, the rear sight on a facotry gun when adjustable my not be very precise, and a fixed rear sight may be more a function of how they contribute to the rifle's appearance, than how well they work. :wink:

The poor novice, doesn't often realize there are ways to optimize both the front and rear sights on their factory rifle, and when they don't get very good groups at the range, they get discouraged. If they don't have somebody who is experienced in BP shooting to give them a tip or two, they may not continue with the hobby.

LD

 

[David W.]

Can't say, I never had a factory built ML! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[BullRunBear]

Haven't done this in a while so no photos. I wanted to find out just how accurate my usual MLs were: a T/C Renegade with GM barrel and a GPR flinter, both 50 cals. I knew they would consistently hit a 6" plate at 50 yards and 12" plate at 100 yards off hand if I had a good day. Propping my elbows on a bench, they both kept under 2" groups at 50 yards, sometimes better. (It seems the more I take myself out of the equation, the better the rifles perform.) :cursing:

The surprise was a third hand CVA percussion rifle in 45 built from a kit. It lookes like manure. Paid maybe ten bucks at a yard sale and it sat in the safe for years. Finally tried it out with elbows propped, again at 50 yards. The darn thing kept good groups with no problem. I'll have to see how it does at longer distances and off hand.

Jeff

 

[paulab]

Pedersoli Gibbs...100 yards...15 shots from bench...540 grain paper patch bullet...90 gr. Swiss 1 1/2...no O.P. wad....and the bullet obturates 100% before it moves...absolutely no gas leakage. cheers Paul http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/paulbehe/001-1.jpg

 

[Darkgael]

Lyman GPR flintlock gave me this three shot group for one of Jethro24's members only matches. I am the third owner of this rifle. 50 cal. PRB. 90 grs. Goex FFg.
Benched. 100 yards.

Didn't win.
Pete

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I will be the odd ball to go out on a limb here and say that while most factory built rifles do shoot OK and some very well, I have generally found they all do better after I've replaced the factory barrel with a Green Mountain, Rice or other better quality barrel. This has been true both in my own experience and in the experience of people for whom I have done a barrel job, no one has ever failed to find an accuracy improvement with an after market barrel.
Granted it can be said the difference is of purely academic interest and will not be apparent in offhand shooting or hunting. That may be true but for those of us who want to know our rifle is doing the best it possibly can do, if we shoot a factory made rifle it most likely wears a GM drop-in or other after market barrel.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You mean one o' those caplock, blued barrel rifles with the two piece stock and the brass connector between the stock pieces?

I've had mine for the past 32 years, as nobody wanted to buy it. The twist rate on the barrel makes it round ball only, but it does hold very nice groups at 50 yards. About time to start my son a shooting it!

LD

 

[BE Wild Willy]

Last three shot group of the day with my CVA Mtn Rifle. Hornady .490 RB, Walmart PT, 60gr. Goex 3f, at 75 yards. Shot from the redneck sitting position (cross legged in a camp chair).

 

[Stumpkiller]

Three shots standing offhand at 50 yards with my .50 New Englander (27" bbl) with patched round balls and 85 gr FFg. It's the only cap rifle I keep in action and a great deer rifle.

 

[rmark]

Three shots touching at 50 yards from my previous Pedersoli Tryon rifle on a regular basis from a rest.