JOHN L. HINNANT
45 Cal.
- Joined
- May 29, 2004
- Messages
- 711
- Reaction score
- 2
Good Evening Flechto,
If there is anything I have learned in my 60 years of shooting the muzzle loading rifle, this so-called "balance" is an arbitary and relative issue that varies from person to person.
When one is used to making a T-C Hawken with a 28" barrel, a,Renegade with 26" barrel or CVA Mountain Rifle with 15/16" 32' barrel. his primary rifle, then others like the JBMR or Pedersoli Hawken seem "unbalanced" and too heavy to use for hunting in the mountains and higher altitudes. All of these rifles weigh in at or close to the 8 pound mark.
Replace the T-C Hawken or Renegade with the longer Green Mountain Drop-In round ball barrel, and you will have rifle weighs and "balances" like the JBMR.
The T-C Hawken and Renegade are very popular for more than one reason, and that was the intended intent of T-C. They did a very good job with their market research.
I used my JBMR with 54 caliber barrel for hunting elk and mule deer in the Gila National Wilderness (New Mexico) back in the 70's and early-mid 80's.
The Gila is the world's first desiginated wildernes area, containing 558,065 acres of the Southern end of the Rocky Mountain chain in the USA.
There are no roads in it, only trials. Travel is by foot or horse/mule. No mechanized vehicles of any type or mechanized equipment is allowed; period and final. You pack in all of your gear for hunting either on your back or have an outfitter drop you off at a spike camp.
I have done both. Either way, you will still have a lot of foot travel while hunting.
The Gila is high mountain desert country with a combination of typical mountain meadows and very rugged terrain. Typical Rocky Mountain country.
My JBMR was the rifle of choice for me, and it served me exceptionally well. I would still use it there if age allowed.
My JBMR was never too heavy or too poorly balanced for me to carry into the Gila. In addition to the hunting trips, my late partner and I made 52 individual back-packing trips into the Gila during the summer months.
This discussion about the merits of the JBMR on this forum is an old one, and the same criticisms are always put forth. Maybe, for me at least, since I have never shot a light ML rifle like the T-C Hawken or Renagade, my JBMR is not heavy (I have heavier rifles) The so-called weight has never been a problem, and the rifle has always been 100% reliable.
I was introduced to ML rifles of this nature 60 years ago. A number of your fathers were still in diapers at that time or maybe had not arrived yet.
During these years I managed to acquire a bit of knowledge about the ML rifle and stand by my JBMR for hunting or on the range.
With all that said, I will now retire from this discussion about the merits or demerits of the JBMR, feeling that is little or nothing more I can contribute to this particular subject.
My respects to all,
John L. Hinnant
"God and Texas"
If there is anything I have learned in my 60 years of shooting the muzzle loading rifle, this so-called "balance" is an arbitary and relative issue that varies from person to person.
When one is used to making a T-C Hawken with a 28" barrel, a,Renegade with 26" barrel or CVA Mountain Rifle with 15/16" 32' barrel. his primary rifle, then others like the JBMR or Pedersoli Hawken seem "unbalanced" and too heavy to use for hunting in the mountains and higher altitudes. All of these rifles weigh in at or close to the 8 pound mark.
Replace the T-C Hawken or Renegade with the longer Green Mountain Drop-In round ball barrel, and you will have rifle weighs and "balances" like the JBMR.
The T-C Hawken and Renegade are very popular for more than one reason, and that was the intended intent of T-C. They did a very good job with their market research.
I used my JBMR with 54 caliber barrel for hunting elk and mule deer in the Gila National Wilderness (New Mexico) back in the 70's and early-mid 80's.
The Gila is the world's first desiginated wildernes area, containing 558,065 acres of the Southern end of the Rocky Mountain chain in the USA.
There are no roads in it, only trials. Travel is by foot or horse/mule. No mechanized vehicles of any type or mechanized equipment is allowed; period and final. You pack in all of your gear for hunting either on your back or have an outfitter drop you off at a spike camp.
I have done both. Either way, you will still have a lot of foot travel while hunting.
The Gila is high mountain desert country with a combination of typical mountain meadows and very rugged terrain. Typical Rocky Mountain country.
My JBMR was the rifle of choice for me, and it served me exceptionally well. I would still use it there if age allowed.
My JBMR was never too heavy or too poorly balanced for me to carry into the Gila. In addition to the hunting trips, my late partner and I made 52 individual back-packing trips into the Gila during the summer months.
This discussion about the merits of the JBMR on this forum is an old one, and the same criticisms are always put forth. Maybe, for me at least, since I have never shot a light ML rifle like the T-C Hawken or Renagade, my JBMR is not heavy (I have heavier rifles) The so-called weight has never been a problem, and the rifle has always been 100% reliable.
I was introduced to ML rifles of this nature 60 years ago. A number of your fathers were still in diapers at that time or maybe had not arrived yet.
During these years I managed to acquire a bit of knowledge about the ML rifle and stand by my JBMR for hunting or on the range.
With all that said, I will now retire from this discussion about the merits or demerits of the JBMR, feeling that is little or nothing more I can contribute to this particular subject.
My respects to all,
John L. Hinnant
"God and Texas"
. I believe you nailed the reason my rifle came with the double trigger too. In any event, hard to argue much with "Been there, Done that" and i feel sure you've got lots of experience with both. Glad you stopped by to contribute to this thread, i enjoyed every paragraph and learned a good bit. Highest regards, Jeff
