Traditions Deerhunter - 50 cal - first shots

[Griz44Mag]

I got this Deerhunter from @CumberlandRiver and he made me a great deal on it.
It is late 90's vintage - but was brand new - right out of the box and unfired.
I procured tis for a friend that is just starting his foray into the dark art - this is now his first black powder firearm.
He has shot several of mine on my trips to the range (he works there as an RSO and gunsmith)
I took a couple of ball sizes and 3 patch sizes with me when I took it to him.
It took a few shots - sorting through charges and patches until we found the "right stuff"
After about 15-20 shots - he had it cutting a bughole at 50 yards. This young man is an EXCELLENT marksman, and got the flinch factor under control very quickly. We both left the firing line with a smile!
So thanks to Cumberlandriver - a true gentleman and aficionado of the sports for this great starter gun for a new black powder shooter.
Hope this link will work - It was too big to upload. I slowed the stream down to frame ticking and caught the strike, the flash and the boom!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ejnzDxqgytc1w5Wq7

 

[Griz44Mag]

I was asked about the lock speed.
I used the video frame editor and measured the following:
Times are measured from the start of the video.
Hammer struck the frizzen at 11.1 seconds
the pan flashed at 11.16 seconds
Powder smoke stream expelled to the right from the vent at 11.2 seconds
Muzzle flash with heavy fire column at 11.23 seconds.
Total lock time from strike to muzzle flash was .13 seconds.
I'll let the lock experts on here tell me if that is great - average or poor lock timing.
It seemed to me just watching, that it was pretty darn good - and a LOT faster than my Long Land musket lock,

 

[Sparkitoff]

So what load was the best? Just curious...

 

[Woody Morgan]

Fun rifles! Mine does well on 70 grains of FFg and a 250 grain REAL.

wm

 

[Griz44Mag]

So what load was the best? Just curious...

Best load was 70gr FFFg O.E., .490 round ball, .015 minked patch, used same 3F powder in the pan -
Not a single misfire, used the same 1/2 X 5/8 French amber flint for 25+ shots. Flint still looks quite serviceable but could use an edge knap.
Wiped with a reduced diameter 50 cal jag dampened with Windex after every shot.
He did all load testing from a bench and a bag. Also took a few shots from a kneel that looked just like the bench shots.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Very. Ice!

 

[deermanok]

A lot of shooters like to bash Traditions muzzleloaders. Yours looks like it's shooting pretty good.

 

[Cherrybow]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Woody Morgan]

A lot of shooters like to bash Traditions muzzleloaders. Yours looks like it's shooting pretty good.

Why is that? I'm also new to this therefore I don't know any better.

wm

 

[Grenadier1758]

Mainly because of the weak locks and the two piece stocks of beech wood and the low price point.

There are a few threads on the Forum on how to transform a two piece stock Traditions/CVA into a presentable rifle.

Once the wood is stained and the lock tuned, the barrels seem to be accurate on targets.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Leaving a powder flask on the bench directly under & in line with the pan flash is something I find unusual for a RSO to tolerate, let alone perpetrate.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Mainly because of the weak locks and the two piece stocks of beech wood and the low price point.

There are a few threads on the Forum on how to transform a two piece stock Traditions/CVA into a presentable rifle.

Once the wood is stained and the lock tuned, the barrels seem to be accurate on targets.

The Deerhunter is a one piece half stock with a single wedge.
I also did not care for the 2 piece full length stocks.
Frankly, I was floored at how accurate the short 24" gun shot. All I told him to expect was "minute of deer".
What he got was "minute of squirrel brains"

 

[Grenadier1758]

Well, @Griz44Mag, its like I said. "The barrels (of a Traditions/CVA - Jukar) seem to be accurate on targets". I'm not surprised by the performance of the rifle.

 

[bang]

Well grizz, bring that shooter out to Aurora bp club 3rd Sunday and show us how it shoots.

 

[CumberlandRiver]

Thats Awesome! Cant tell you how happy that makes me. I am glad it found a new home with a young shooter. Keep us posted on his progress. I would love to see hunting pictures if that happens.

 

[Woody Morgan]

Leaving a powder flask on the bench directly under & in line with the pan flash is something I find unusual for a RSO to tolerate, let alone perpetrate.

Mmhmm.

wm

 

[Griz44Mag]

Well grizz, bring that shooter out to Aurora bp club 3rd Sunday and show us how it shoots.

LOL, the gun was for a good friend of mine.
I could ask him if wants to come out with me. I am planning to head out there this month.
Next meeting is the 21st - yes?

 

[Griz44Mag]

Thats Awesome! Cant tell you how happy that makes me. I am glad it found a new home with a young shooter. Keep us posted on his progress. I would love to see hunting pictures if that happens.

Yes - it's going to happen.. Pig hunt NEXT WEEK. !

 

[CumberlandRiver]

Standing by for hunting pics....

 

[Griz44Mag]

Mainly because of the weak locks and the two piece stocks of beech wood and the low price point.

There are a few threads on the Forum on how to transform a two piece stock Traditions/CVA into a presentable rifle.

Once the wood is stained and the lock tuned, the barrels seem to be accurate on targets.

I do agree that the locks need some work. Before I took this one to him I thinned and narrowed the frizzen spring to lighten it up - a lot!
It was originally so strong that the first flint snapped in the jaw on the first strike.
Other than that - the frizzen has a lot of play in it, but does not seem to hamper it's function.