Single shot pistols.

[Don]

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time shooting my single shot ML pistols and having a ball doing so. They are accurate as all get out and quick and easy to clean. Been playing around with 3f 777 and finding that 20 grains of that stuff makes a fine plinking load especially at 10 or so yards. At 25 to 30 yards the groups open up to patterns but at least I'm hitting the target. Anyone else been playin with their single shots? If so, what kind of loads have you been shooting?

Don

 

[don hepler]

Hey Don,

I found a Patriot 45 cal. two days ago and shot it yesterday. I loaded the .445 ball and .015 patch with 20 grains of 3f goex black powder and got excellant groups at 20 yrds. I also have and old CVA 50 that shoots pretty good at 25 yds. I like to just take, what I need to shoot, and leave all my other stuff at home. Generly when I go to the range, it takes a truck load of equipment and stuff to shoot, but I went to the range with the Patriot and one box. Now that's fun, and like you say the clean up was easier. My dream pistol would be stocked with fancy maple, shaped like a Patriot, with a 50 or 54 cal. and maybe just a little larger in size, to use for deer hunting.

 

[don hepler]

By the way, what pistol are you shooting?

 

[Don]

I'd like a pistol in .54 to be the match for a rifle I have in .54. Its nice to carry the same components for two guns.

Don

 

[Don]

Today I shot my Pedersoli Kentucky percussion in .5o. I've also been shooting my CVA Kentuckies in .45 and a Colonial in .45. All a blast to shoot with my home cast balls.

Don

 

[don hepler]

Check out Muzzleload deer hunting with a flintlock pistol, on Youtube. The dude has one arm, to shoot with, and is shooting a custom 50 cal. pistol with 16 1/2 inch barrel, 1 in 18 twist, 55 grs. of 3f for 1450 fps. and 800 ft.lbs of energy. Now that's what I'm talking about. If I get up to Dixon's for the builders fair, that's what I'll be looking to find, a barrel, some wood and lock and trigger. I can,t get that video out of my head.

 

[Don]

Yeah, I saw that video. The pistol has a wieght under the barrel to keep it from knocking him out when he pulls the trigger.

Don

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Don't know if the bounty hunter is still made
it was built on a Kentucky pistol stoch with an extra six or seven inches of barrel

 

[SAJones]

I literally have a drawer full of single shot ML pistols, mostly flintlock. They are inherently more accurate than revolvers, and I shoot a ".40" cal caplock, 15 grs. 3Fg w/ a .410 ball, .015 patch, in matches. I have a .45 cal flintlock w/ a set trigger that will drive tacks at 25 yards (.440 ball, 20 grs 3FG, .015 patch), but it's too heavy for me to hold up nowadays. I used to be able to keep all 10 shots in the black at 25 yards, but lately have a difficult time finding the sights: I have to be satisfied with just getting 10 holes in the target. I have some accurate revolvers, including a Ruger Old Army, but the old sidehammers give better results for hitting things.

 

[Musketeer]

Don't know if the bounty hunter is still made
it was built on a Kentucky pistol stoch with an extra six or seven inches of barrel

Yep, they're still shown on the DP website and also at a number of retailers. I thought those were kinda funky lookin' at first, but they've grown on me. :haha:

 

[buttonbuck]

I have had similar thoughts. I know in the past we have been permitted to discuss the TC Scout, that said that is the closest thing I could think of as somewhat close. Myself I went with a plains kit years ago because it was 140.00 at the time.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

The difference between some manufacturers recommended loads and max loads from pistol to pistol is just amazing. I am interested in a traditional pistol that can handle some "beefy" loads. Pa requires flint and at least a 50 caliber for side lock deer pistols.

In my 50 cal Scout, loads less than max can still equal muzzle energy of a 44 mag. I don't need anything quite like that. However, I think perhaps the ignition by the nipple directly into the powder charge permits more powder to burn within the bore than some hook breech systems. If I didn't need a flinter to comply with state law, I would really insist on a side slapper.

A flinter in 54 or 58 caliber with a tapered barrel about 10 inches to 12 inches long?

 

[buzz]

had one six shooter kept dry balling the drum
but i to enjoy my single shot pistols 35 grains in all 50 cal flint and CVA cap kentucky 45 and unkown cap 44 cal (dad made the last one from a kit in the late 70's never seen another one like it)
all are great shooters at 20-25 yards groups im happy with hit a siloate target always
i take them out more as they are easy to clean in the sink aqnd they are jsut as much fun as my long rifles