Hi names Chris new to the forum, I have a question was shooting a cap lock my dad left me an it shoots about 6-7 inches high at fifty yards. That’s with the back sight lowered all the way down any suggestions on how to lower point of impact ? I’m shooting 60 grains of FF goex an a patch an 128 grain round ball 45 cal I’m look to hunt with it farthest shot be 60 yards. Any information you have would be appreciated thanks
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A taller front sight, or you could file the notch of the rear sight a touch deeper.
I have a 45 caliber rifle. My best load is 60 grains of 3f Swiss. 440 ball and a .010" cotton patch. Spit lube usually or Crisco.
Maybe try 50 grains of powder.
Maybe try 50 grains of powder.
DOUBLEDEUCE 1
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Shoot from a sand bag. Start with a lower powder charge, maybe 40 gr. Work up from there in 5 gr. increments.
Ok thanks guys Someone was telling me to up the charge an I didn’t understand how that would work but I know very little about muzzleloaders . Have to try it once the weather isn’t so hot here in pa wanting to use the gun this year in Maryland’s muzzleloader season.
Depends where you put the hole I think.
What rifle is it Chris?
user 48679
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Welcome to the insanity, Chris !
Some things to think on/try:
* Shots 7" high @ 50 yards will be at least twice as high @ 100yds - so think about what the ranges may be where you're hunting.
* There are two ways to change the rifle sight's elevation of the point of impact (POI) - lowering the rear sight or raising the front sight.
Raising the front sight lowers the POI; lowering it raises the POI
Raising the rear sight raises the POI; lowering the rear sight lowers the POI
If you run out of adjustment, one sight or the other needs to be changed accordingly
* The heftier the powder charge, the faster the projectile will exit the barrel, lowering the POI somewhat.
* Using a .45 & a conical boolit, I wouldn't use less than a 60-70gr charge for deer.
* If you're shooting with the rifle resting on sandbags, the firmness of the front bag will throw shot higher than the POA (point of aim).
Keep messing with all those things - if nothing else, the practice will help you with getting a deer/etc.
Some things to think on/try:
* Shots 7" high @ 50 yards will be at least twice as high @ 100yds - so think about what the ranges may be where you're hunting.
* There are two ways to change the rifle sight's elevation of the point of impact (POI) - lowering the rear sight or raising the front sight.
Raising the front sight lowers the POI; lowering it raises the POI
Raising the rear sight raises the POI; lowering the rear sight lowers the POI
If you run out of adjustment, one sight or the other needs to be changed accordingly
* The heftier the powder charge, the faster the projectile will exit the barrel, lowering the POI somewhat.
* Using a .45 & a conical boolit, I wouldn't use less than a 60-70gr charge for deer.
* If you're shooting with the rifle resting on sandbags, the firmness of the front bag will throw shot higher than the POA (point of aim).
Keep messing with all those things - if nothing else, the practice will help you with getting a deer/etc.
Last edited:
Thomas.bill92
40 Cal
I have a rifle shat shoots about 8 inches high. I just put the sight at the bottom of the target. Works great out to about 75 yards.
user 34300
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I am assuming the testing was done off a bench. Off hand results mean nothing here.
To make it shoot dead on you will need the front sight to be about 0.085" taller (about 3/32") assuming a 25" sight radius. You can file the rear sight notch deeper by the same amount.
Forget about messing with blooper loads to make it hit lower. Hotter load will hit higher due to flatter trajectory.
To make it shoot dead on you will need the front sight to be about 0.085" taller (about 3/32") assuming a 25" sight radius. You can file the rear sight notch deeper by the same amount.
Forget about messing with blooper loads to make it hit lower. Hotter load will hit higher due to flatter trajectory.
Cut the height of the rear sight gradually with a file. Don't take off too much at once. Do it gradually with lots of test firing. Once it's gone you can't put it back!
Filing the notch deeper will not adjust the trajectory guys,. You have to cut down the height of the rear blade. If the notch was shallow, and cutting the height made the notch too small, it would be necessary then and only then to deepen the notch.
In general, deepening/widening the notch helps with sight acquisition, shortening the rear blade lowers the point of impact, and shortening the front blade raises the point of impact.
If you start by deepening the notch for this problem, you will be left with a deeper notch and the same problem you started with. That's just making two problems out of one.
In general, deepening/widening the notch helps with sight acquisition, shortening the rear blade lowers the point of impact, and shortening the front blade raises the point of impact.
If you start by deepening the notch for this problem, you will be left with a deeper notch and the same problem you started with. That's just making two problems out of one.
I’ll file the rear sight blade slowly that makes most sense to me. I’ll file lightly an shoot an slowly work that process till it’s close with in the desired target as I have plenty of room to move the sight higher thanks a lot guys learned something today lol
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If I were you I would get some eyes on the problem from a good BP shooter before you wind up with a mess!
Most of us like to have the front sight level with the top of the rear sight. To change the impact if the impact is low the point of aim, either the front sight has to be raised or the rear sight lowered. As @Pa17233 has already lowered the rear sight to bottom of its adjustment range, the only choice is to try using a fine sight or half sight. @ResearchPress has provided an short description of the different sighting processes.
For many of us getting a good sight picture with the front blade at the bottom of the rear sight notch and the target at the top of the rear sight notch takes a bit of practice and its not all that easy. Try the fine sight and see if the impact can be raised. A taller front sight might have to be made. How's your filing?
