What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

[deerstalkert]

am in between builds at the moment (read that as the ceo is watching the check book and credit cards), so, i took the lock off my TMR, disassembled it and polished inside and started browning outside.
then i put a coat of renaissance wax on the stock and furniture.
was going to leave the lock in the white but it started to freckle and i didn't want freckles on my lock. freckles are fun on a woman but not a gun.
wondering at the moment what else needs browned while i am in the mood

 

[aussie pete]

I saw one of Tom A Hawk’s peep sights advertised on this site, and knew I just had to give one a go on the Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken. It arrived in Australia, travelling safely through customs with a dangerous goods declaration attached that cautiously read: Vision Enhancement Device.

The shiny brass coloured sight is well finished, engineered to do the task. I like its unobtrusive footprint. The brass colour would be right at home on most rifles, but I thought I would lend it some patination to blend with the colour case and blued aesthetic of the Hawken (using a cold blue agent). Also, I took the liberty of rounding off the ends of the base and staff to match similar profiles of the lock and hammer. The through bolt, I found at Bunnings, our local hardware store; the M5 metric threaded bolt has a large flat surface area to mate against the base to ensure the sight stays in place. I blued the stainless bolt head by heating it over a propane camping stove, quenching it in two-stroke mower oil.

Does the sight work? Check out the target below. 11 shots fired this morning at 50 metres, 60 grains of Wano, a .018 spit-lubed patch and a .530 round ball. The rifle was locked firmly into a rear sandbag, supported by a front rest. My 66-year-old eyes were spoilt for contrast.

Thanks Tom A Hawk! Great service, and a splendid product.

Kindest regards, Pete

 

[Ballshooter]

Got a little range time in…..this target is a total of ten shots….five high right, four at the bullseye, one…uh…flinch, jerk, didn’t squeeze…I dunno. All in all, I was happy!View attachment 87272

What cal and what gun?

 

[Kevin]

Cactus, locust bush, early Lancaster rifle. Reminds me of a deer camp I had.

West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona?

Pawnee, Tx.
South of San Antonio

 

[smo]

Thanks, but with the group I hang with..
It’ll get yer brains beat out every time..

 

[Rob M.]

Not much today ...finished and tweeked a trigger guard I forged ,drilled and tapped for the long tang screw , roughed in the buttstock of the early NW trade gun ...

 

[Zimmerman]

Tomorrow is the first nice day in a while, so I'm at my desk lubing some patches!

 

[Matt85]

Was the British military load around 40 grains? That monster ball hits with authority, that's for sure.
But if you are cool with it, keep shooting!!

Not sure what the British would have loaded it with , but the French used 116gr cartridges according to another forum member here. I haven't found a proper official source and would love one if someone could point me in the right direction.

40gr of powder would be a "mouse load" for this gun and wouldn't produce lethal velocities. I did some testing in the pistol section of the forum, here is a link: Pedersoli An IX chronograph fun

 

[ETipp]

I saw one of Tom A Hawk’s peep sights advertised on this site, and knew I just had to give one a go on the Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken. It arrived in Australia, travelling safely through customs with a dangerous goods declaration attached that cautiously read: Vision Enhancement Device.

The shiny brass coloured sight is well finished, engineered to do the task. I like its unobtrusive footprint. The brass colour would be right at home on most rifles, but I thought I would lend it some patination to blend with the colour case and blued aesthetic of the Hawken (using a cold blue agent). Also, I took the liberty of rounding off the ends of the base and staff to match similar profiles of the lock and hammer. The through bolt, I found at Bunnings, our local hardware store; the M5 metric threaded bolt has a large flat surface area to mate against the base to ensure the sight stays in place. I blued the stainless bolt head by heating it over a propane camping stove, quenching it in two-stroke mower oil.

Does the sight work? Check out the target below. 11 shots fired this morning at 50 metres, 60 grains of Wano, a .018 spit-lubed patch and a .530 round ball. The rifle was locked firmly into a rear sandbag, supported by a front rest. My 66-year-old eyes were spoilt for contrast.

Thanks Tom A Hawk! Great service, and a splendid product.

Kindest regards, Pete

View attachment 205451View attachment 205452View attachment 205453View attachment 205454View attachment 205455

By Golly, I've been racking my brain trying to find some sort of peep to add to my Crockett rifle but just couldn't quite come up with an idea. And I do believe the Tom Hawks peep might work. Due to design, I have the problem of having to remove it every time the barrel is removed for cleaning, but I think that's the only way to make it happen. Also pretty sure the aperture would have to be larger for my old eyes.

Thanks for the post, Pete.

 

[pacanis]

Thanks for the pics, @aussie pete
That sight looks very well done and looks great on your rifle.

 

[TDM]

Beautiful day here, clear skies and in the 50’s. Starting burning powder mid morning, and burning powder is about all I accomplished. Worst shooting I’ve ever done. I was using my Gemmer Hawken .50 flint, which I hadn’t shot in a while. Now I’ve never gotten this rifle fully dialed in, but last time it printed fair at 50. But not today. It was either me, or the gun, or me and the gun! I tried 70gr, both 2F & 3F. .018 & .020 patches. Then I went to 80gr 3F. I finally got some small degree of consistency using the 80gr 3F and .018 pillow ticking. Fired over 20 rounds, all Goex, .490 RBs, and mink oil lube. Even tried using the Lyman peep patch again on my shooting glasses, couldn’t get it right. The last photo is a close as I dared to show the targets! Very frustrating. Tomorrow I’ll take the SMR out for a stroll.

 

[repawn]

Not much today ...finished and tweeked a trigger guard I forged ,drilled and tapped for the long tang screw , roughed in the buttstock of the early NW trade gun ...

That triggerguard looks good - what metal did you use?

 

[pacanis]

Beautiful day here, clear skies and in the 50’s. Starting burning powder mid morning, and burning powder is about all I accomplished. Worst shooting I’ve ever done. I was using my Gemmer Hawken .50 flint, which I hadn’t shot in a while. Now I’ve never gotten this rifle fully dialed in, but last time it printed fair at 50. But not today. It was either me, or the gun, or me and the gun! I tried 70gr, both 2F & 3F. .018 & .020 patches. Then I went to 80gr 3F. I finally got some small degree of consistency using the 80gr 3F and .018 pillow ticking. Fired over 20 rounds, all Goex, .490 RBs, and mink oil lube. Even tried using the Lyman peep patch again on my shooting glasses, couldn’t get it right. The last photo is a close as I dared to show the targets! Very frustrating. Tomorrow I’ll take the SMR out for a stroll.

I'd be walking out with the same gun tomorrow.
Guns that don't shoot straight frustrate me. But I can certainly understand leaving it sit a while, too.

 

[smo]

Placed a couple of orders for some sharp rocks & .626 lead balls…

 

[ord sgt]

I can’t even SEE any of the bench top ! How did that happen ?

Stuff happens. Like rabbits breeding, suddenly a whole bunch of stuff.

 

[oldwood]

Making a fancy copper side plate for a walnut stocked smooth rifle. Trigger guard is next. Still shaping this stone hard walnut butt stock. Never saw a stock where the wood grain runs every direction . Scrapers are ok , cabinet rasps, marginally effective. The party continues.

 

[Rob M.]

That triggerguard looks good - what metal did you use?

This one out of some hardware metal ...was a piece laying on the floor of the shop from some project . 1/8x 1/2"

 

[aussie pete]

Beautiful day here, clear skies and in the 50’s. Starting burning powder mid morning, and burning powder is about all I accomplished. Worst shooting I’ve ever done. I was using my Gemmer Hawken .50 flint, which I hadn’t shot in a while. Now I’ve never gotten this rifle fully dialed in, but last time it printed fair at 50. But not today. It was either me, or the gun, or me and the gun! I tried 70gr, both 2F & 3F. .018 & .020 patches. Then I went to 80gr 3F. I finally got some small degree of consistency using the 80gr 3F and .018 pillow ticking. Fired over 20 rounds, all Goex, .490 RBs, and mink oil lube. Even tried using the Lyman peep patch again on my shooting glasses, couldn’t get it right. The last photo is a close as I dared to show the targets! Very frustrating. Tomorrow I’ll take the SMR out for a stroll.

Morning sir! Keep to it. A hint that may help or not: a buddy at the local range was getting as frustrated as he could with his .50 cal Hawken, 1 in 48 I think. He saw me placing equal volume of semolina behind my musket ball and decided to try that. He's a happy boy. No scientific proof, but I think the filler acts as an over-powder wad and helps keep pressures consistent (not a scientist ), but if it works, it works. I see some European competition shooters do exactly the same thing. What's to lose? At worst, it will smell like you burnt your morning toast! At best, close those groups .

Pete

 

[TDM]

Morning sir! Keep to it. A hint that may help or not: a buddy at the local range was getting as frustrated as he could with his .50 cal Hawken, 1 in 48 I think. He saw me placing equal volume of semolina behind my musket ball and decided to try that. He's a happy boy. No scientific proof, but I think the filler acts as an over-powder wad and helps keep pressures consistent (not a scientist ), but if it works, it works. I see some European competition shooters do exactly the same thing. What's to lose? At worst, it will smell like you burnt your morning toast! At best, close those groups .

Pete

Mine is 1-66, haven’t tried fillers in my rifles, but I do used lubed over powder wads, used them for several shots today but didn’t seem to help. I’m just going to right it off as an off day. Tomorrow I’ll shoot my SMR, doubt I’ll be disappointed. Fingers crossed.

 

[dkasprzak]

What cal and what gun?

TC Hawken, 50 .cal