New to ML-Am I doing it right?

[cynthialee]

I find myself happy with groups like that at 50-75 yards.

 

[crockett]

Dixie: just a few more thoughts for a newbie. Some guys shoot patched round balls very accurately out to 100 yards or more and if you are not careful you might confuse that accuracy with acceptable hunting ranges. Now patched round balls HAVE killed game at long ranges but just be aware that even with good accuracy the velocity of the round ball starts dropping pretty fast at 100 or more yards so the accuracy might be there- fine for target shooting- but the velocity is starting to get potentially marginal for hunting.
On the substitute powders. Like most old timers I like real black powder- some beginners think the substitutes, not being "real" black powder are not corrosive. In truth some are more corrosive- you still need to clean the bore, etc after a day's shooting. If possible, get the real stuff.

 

[DixieRambler]

Dixie: just a few more thoughts for a newbie. Some guys shoot patched round balls very accurately out to 100 yards or more and if you are not careful you might confuse that accuracy with acceptable hunting ranges. Now patched round balls HAVE killed game at long ranges but just be aware that even with good accuracy the velocity of the round ball starts dropping pretty fast at 100 or more yards so the accuracy might be there- fine for target shooting- but the velocity is starting to get potentially marginal for hunting.
On the substitute powders. Like most old timers I like real black powder- some beginners think the substitutes, not being "real" black powder are not corrosive. In truth some are more corrosive- you still need to clean the bore, etc after a day's shooting. If possible, get the real stuff.

Thanks again Crockett. Took your suggestion and purchased .490 round balls and .015 patches. Gonna try em tomorrow when I get to the woods. With the exception of a few green fields, most of my hunting involves being in the woods with shots of 75 yards or less. As far as the Triple Seven powder I am using, I did read where they are somewhat corrosive as well. If I remember, the article stated that as much as 50% of the gases from this powder goes unburned and is left in the barrel? :idunno: I'll get some of the real powder and try it. I did clean it after shooting and it was pretty dirty. Thanks again for your time and help. Jim

 

[bpd303]

One thing to remember about real black powder is due to regulations it cannot be displayed on the shelves. If a store carries it, you will have to ask for it.

 

[DixieRambler]

3-4 inch group at 100 yard, with an open sighted gun, would make me a "Happy Camper". I belong to a shooting club, and they're are very few people that can shoot a 3-4 inch group, with a open sighted rifle of any kind. I've worked public sight-in days for the public, where they pay a fee to sight in their rifles prior to hunting season, and I have been doing this for at least 30 years. Not many people shoot any better.

Although I did have several groups of three rounds hit in the 3-4 inch range, I also had several that were in the 4-5 inch range. Can't remember the type of target I was using, I believe it was a 100 yard rifle target. The black circle was I think about 12". All were hitting in the 12" circle, some at 3-4 and some groups at 4-5 inches. Thanks for the reply. Jim

 

[don hepler]

If you haven't been shooting open sights very much, then just practice, might tighten the group size up.

 

[Mad Professor]

Those groups at 100 yds are fine with open sights. I learned this many years ago with my first 30-06, gun would do better but not my eyes or mostly my hold.

At 50 yds off a rest a good load will nearly touch each other.

I work things up at 50 then see how things go at 100 yds. About 2-3" high at 50 will get you close at 100.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I find I shoot better groups by using a 6 o'clock hold. I sight my rifle to hit where I am holding the sights, which means the bullet is hitting at the bottom of the target. When I go to a center hold on a deer the bullet will now hit right where I am holding. The reason for this is I can see better with this hold. A black front sight in the middle of a black target is hard for many people to see well.

Triple Seven 2F has been my go to hunting powder in a number or rifles when deer season comes around. Only my smaller rifles of 36 & 40 get Goex these days.

Some rifles will shoot just about everything well while others are more picky. Ya have to play with the rifle and see if it likes conicals or patched round balls better. When using conicals put a felt wad under the bullet it will aid in the accauracy. For example I have a Tc 50 & a TC 54 both Hawkens that will shoot both hornady great plains bullets and patched round balls very well. However my TC 45 Hawken doesn't like conicals at all. The 45 will shoot groups around an inch at 50 yards with 70 grains of 777 2F and a patched round ball.