I picked up a fine used .50 caliber Tennessee pistol from a fellow on another forum a few weeks ago. He was in need of cash and I had a little bit to spare so we were able to strike a deal amenable to both parties.
The fellow I bought it from said it was made by Jack Garner and I have no reason to doubt his word. She closely resembles another Jack Garner pistol I almost bought about a year ago. Very workmanlike construction, great fit and finish and no nonsense. The pistol is in very nice condition, as shown in the photo above. She has a maple stock with a good deal of figure, a 12 inch straight barrel, L&R Bailes lock and a single trigger.
I took her to the range this morning to see how she shoots. When I asked him, the previous owner said he never worked up a load for the pistol, so I started out with a .490 round ball on a .015 patch over 30 grains of Fffg Goex.
This is my first 5 shot group from a rest at 25 yards. Good enough for starters. I was very pleased.
There was quite a bit of take up in the single trigger before it broke at about 4 pounds, by my estimate. Recoil was milder than I expected, but then again this pistol is fairly heavy with its 12 inch barrel. I have never fired a pistol with a Bailes lock before and was impressed by the Bailes' speed. It seems a little faster than the Large Siler on my rifle. The long barrel made the pistol feel a little more unwieldy and muzzle heavy than my .45 Patriot and I needed to remember to grip the pistol tighter than with the Patriot, especially for the offhand shots. My best shots offhand were done with a very firm grip on the pistol.
I switched to offhand and here is my second (and final) 5 shot group. I am not the best shot in the world, but with a pistol I have never fired, using the first load I tried, I was very pleased with this group, too.
I upped the powder to 40 grains for my last shot of the morning at one of the range's 75 yard gongs. Hit it.
I will be back to the range in the very near future with this pistol. As much as I love my little Patriot, I think I have a new favorite in the making with this one. I am looking forward to getting to know her better.
The fellow I bought it from said it was made by Jack Garner and I have no reason to doubt his word. She closely resembles another Jack Garner pistol I almost bought about a year ago. Very workmanlike construction, great fit and finish and no nonsense. The pistol is in very nice condition, as shown in the photo above. She has a maple stock with a good deal of figure, a 12 inch straight barrel, L&R Bailes lock and a single trigger.
I took her to the range this morning to see how she shoots. When I asked him, the previous owner said he never worked up a load for the pistol, so I started out with a .490 round ball on a .015 patch over 30 grains of Fffg Goex.
This is my first 5 shot group from a rest at 25 yards. Good enough for starters. I was very pleased.
There was quite a bit of take up in the single trigger before it broke at about 4 pounds, by my estimate. Recoil was milder than I expected, but then again this pistol is fairly heavy with its 12 inch barrel. I have never fired a pistol with a Bailes lock before and was impressed by the Bailes' speed. It seems a little faster than the Large Siler on my rifle. The long barrel made the pistol feel a little more unwieldy and muzzle heavy than my .45 Patriot and I needed to remember to grip the pistol tighter than with the Patriot, especially for the offhand shots. My best shots offhand were done with a very firm grip on the pistol.
I switched to offhand and here is my second (and final) 5 shot group. I am not the best shot in the world, but with a pistol I have never fired, using the first load I tried, I was very pleased with this group, too.
I upped the powder to 40 grains for my last shot of the morning at one of the range's 75 yard gongs. Hit it.
I will be back to the range in the very near future with this pistol. As much as I love my little Patriot, I think I have a new favorite in the making with this one. I am looking forward to getting to know her better.
