Range report

[Sharpie44]

Took my .50 cal flintlock rifle out along with my .44 revolver. I set up a paper target at 25 and milk jugs full of water at 50.

The flint lock did well at 25 with 50 grains of powder. I managed to get a good grouping about two inches low and one inch left of the bulls eye. I was able to hit the water jugs with no problem. I played around with different powder loads and 50 grains of 2f seemed to work the best at 25 yards and 80 grains of 2F did the job at 50 yards.

The pistol is another story. It’s a lot of fun to shoot but it took me 4 minutes to load and I barely managed to keep on the target at 25. I was using 20 grains of 3F powder with a wad and a .451 round ball. Not sure if it’s the gun or me but I don’t regret buying it. :grin:

 

[ohio ramrod]

Yep, that is how revolvers work. I have found that I can do better at 100yds with my rifle than I can at ten yards with a pistol.Which is why I have several rifles but only one pistol. Fun to play with now and then but not much good for hitting anything. But then there are some people who can shoot pistols acurately, But I am not one of them.

 

[Many Klatch]

I can usually hit the side of barn with a pistol; if I'm inside the barn and the doors are closed. My opinion is that they are meant for a maximum distance of 15 yards.

Many Klatch

 

[Bill Bryan]

Let me add my 2 cents. We had our black powder club shoot last Sunday and I was pretty happy with the result. I had the best 100 yard target ever with 3 out of 5 shots in the black off-hand with my .50 cal flintlock rifle. So I'm not totally helpless. But when I tried my .50 cal flintlock Kentucky pistol the result was not so good. We shoot 5 shots at the big bull at each 25 and 50 yards. I can keep the bullets on the target most of the time at 25 yards but hitting the 50 yard target is more luck than skill. So I understand your feelings. What makes me mad is the guy 2 stalls down that shot a 89 with a flintlock pistol similar to mine....!

 

[Rancocas]

Don't know what kind of revolver you have. I have a Navy Arms 1860 Army .44 I have found that it shoots low. I haven't fired it in several years now, so I forget just how low it is at 25 yds. but I know it is 6 inches or a little more. I had to aim at the base of the neck of full size man silhouette targets in order to hit center mass.
Back in the day when I was a firearms instructor I took my Army .44 to the range when my fellow agents were doing their pistol qualifications. They all lined up with their .40 Berettas and I took up an end position with my .44
Ready on the left. Ready on the right. Ready on the firing line. Fire!
I kept right up there with everyone, all my shots in center mass --- for six shots. The person firing next to me complained about the smoke. They all finished the entire 60 round course before I got reloaded. :grin:

 

[bingo1952]

Try some .454 balls in your revolver. Those .451 are a tad small. I shoot .457's in mine. Also 20 grains is a little light for a .44, 25-30 grains will probably serve you better.JMO

 

[MikeChapin]

I have three .50s and each one uses a different load from 45 to 55 grains 3F for 25 and 50 yards. The only time I change loads is to reach out to 100 yards and hunting with the same sight picture I have as shorter range.

If you bench the rifle and 25 and 50 yards you will see there is not that much difference in the point of impact with the same load.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

the .451 ball may well be partly to blame. as said try the .454 and maybe another 5-10 gr 3F

 

[rafterob]

I agree with Mike, try upping your 50 grains at 25 yards and see if that raises the point of impact any, if so then that load should do well at both 25 and 50 yards and you will need to add some sight elevation for 100. I settled in at 70 grns in my .50 and have a bead front sight. I use a 6:00 hold at 25 and 50 and elevate the front bead fully above the sight plane at 100 and have been scoring well lately.

 

[Sharpie44]

I'll give the .454 a shot and maybe up the charge to 25 grains.

I'm also going to experiment with the .50 at 50-100 yards.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Good advice as far as the pistol shooting goes! I'm one of those guys that can shoot just about anything, especially a pistol. I consider myself blessed, and have earned the Sharpshooter Qualification thus far, which requires shooting at a B-19 target at 25 and 50 yards, strong-hand only.

The trick to getting tighter groups in pistol shooting is to do everything the same, from the measurement of the charge to the seating depth of the ball. Uniform pressure upon the loading lever helps to ensure a lower SDV, thereby resulting in tighter groups. A loading stand goes a long way in obtaining match accuracy. So does shooting several pounds of powder...muscle memory is a great ally in this endeavor.

Practice some more, and remember to do everything the same, THEN adjust your point of aim to move the point of impact if you don't have adjustable sights :wink:

Most, but not all BP hand guns (revolvers) tend to shoot high and require the shooter to aim low to hit the X-ring. My Colt Walker needs 6.5 inches at 25 yards, with it's usual 50 grain charge of 3Fg, a pre-lubed wonder-wad and a .454 Hornady ball.

Good luck and have fun making smoke!

Dave