I got a t/c 45csl Hawkins , I picked it up for 75 bucks a couple years a ago , bore looks to be clean with decent rifling , I have taken two deer and s coyote with it to date .here in tn muzzleloader season is about to begin,I went to but a few patched round balls Dow range this week and wow the deer couldn't be safer . At 25 to 50 yards it was shooting high with sights bottomed out . At 100 yards I coundnt keep the bullets in a 3x3 foot square .the was hitting high, low , left and right . I was shock cause in times past it has shoot well .orginal load was .445 ball . 70 gr of 3f bp, and a pillow ticking patch after the poor range performance i tryed different powder charges and patching . With no improvement . What to do or try next ?
Lost ! Need help
- Thread starter boker
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Patocazador
54 Cal.
See the "Can't Sight In Round Balls At All" thread below.
Walks with fire
54 Cal.
Did you change any components?
The one element you didn't mention was lube. Were your patches lubed?
Sounds like a situation where some hands-on experienced help would be useful.
There are a ton of variables that can affect accuracy. We need more info.
Sounds like a situation where some hands-on experienced help would be useful.
There are a ton of variables that can affect accuracy. We need more info.
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2005
- Messages
- 8,025
- Reaction score
- 1,030
what they said ... none of this happens in a vacuum, so i'd recommend you check to see if the stock shifted, if the sights may have come loose, an if the lube has changed any. also, i'd make sure the barrel is super clean - not trying to 'throw stones,' but maybe something that's in there shouldn't be... has this rifle ever been used to fire REAL or similar projectiles? if so, you may have a leading problem.
good luck, and let us know how it turns out!
good luck, and let us know how it turns out!
Did you find any fired patches?
ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2008
- Messages
- 7,473
- Reaction score
- 2,212
When I get that kind of shooting the first thing I check on a gun with adjustable sights is for loose and moving sights. Next, recover some patches and check for cutting/burning. :idunno:
ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2008
- Messages
- 7,473
- Reaction score
- 2,212
When I get that kind of shooting the first thing I check on a gun with adjustable sights is for loose and moving sights. Next, recover some patches and check for cutting/burning. :idunno:
ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2008
- Messages
- 7,473
- Reaction score
- 2,212
When I get that kind of shooting the first thing I check on a gun with adjustable sights is for loose and moving sights. Next, recover some patches and check for cutting/burning. :idunno:
ohio ramrod
75 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2008
- Messages
- 7,473
- Reaction score
- 2,212
When I get that kind of shooting the first thing I check on a gun with adjustable sights is for loose and moving sights. Next, recover some patches and check for cutting/burning. :idunno:
AZbpBurner
54 Cal.
I recall reading somewhere :idunno: lately that it's a good idea check a gun with adjustable sights for loose and moving sights. Next, recover some patches and check for cutting/burning.
Sights haven't moved , patches are lubed with crisco and bore butter . Barrel is tight in stock .i haven't been able to find a patch but will look harder next time out . The only thing that might be different is I am shooting .445 balls .i think I started out using .440 to be honest can't really remember but I know the box of .445 are amosy gone and I don't shoot regular so I have been using them for awhile . Going to pick up some.440 as soon as I can .
boker said:
Two new thoughts. (my daily limit :wink: ) I think Crisco is the devils lube. Stop using it an go with straight Bore Butter, still not the best, IMHO, but OK.
Have you checked the bore really well? Some of the early TC's had very shallow rifling and needed a very thin but very strong patch material. I know, been there, done that. If it is a later barrel with "decent" rifling and a 1:48" twist, the .445" ball should work just fine. However, you will get fair accuracy with .440" and a proper patch.
Measure the twist, use ticking with BB and a .440" ball from a rest at 50 yards, real bp and let us know what happens.
excess650
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2009
- Messages
- 1,671
- Reaction score
- 639
AZbpBurner said:
:rotf: Changing the nipple can make a noticeable difference as well. I changed the original on a TC that I have and group size shrunk in half at 60 yards.
If you're using old, pre-lubed patches, they may be rotten. I NEVER use store bought, pre-lubed patches!
.445 balls will load slightly harder than .440s, but shouldn't degrade accuracy unless you're tearing or cutting the patches while loading/shooting.
