Patched roundball range day

[30338]

We ended up with some good blackpowder tags this year and shot distances could vary a bit, though always short for us. I had shot some during the summer and decided to do one more range trip just to confirm and confidence builder. The rifle is an old custom Hawken and I thought I would share trajectory info for anyone hunting with the antiques.

The load is Swiss ffg powder, wool wad, .015 patch and .570 ball. Sights are fixed irons. No adjustment unless you file and I sure don't need that.

Started at 25 yards and first shot was maybe 1.5" high. 50 yards was about 3" high. 75 yards was 3" high and slightly left. Wind was right to left though so maybe accounted for some of that. Then decided to test one at 115 yards. Dead center and maybe 1.25" low. This roundball is doing 1700 fps.

If we don't succeed it will be the Indian and not the arrow.

 

[sambo3006]

That ought to do the trick. Leave that powder measure right where it is set at.

 

[87TT]

I got a late season elk tag. going to use my .50 Flintlock SMR.

 

[30338]

Year or so ago I took my powder measure load that was working very well and weighed it. Now on most hunts I go ahead and weigh out exact amounts of powder to match that load exactly. Just have 12 tubes preloaded and ready to roll. Day or two before trip I'll put 4 patched balls in a loading block and some caps in a dispenser. Then the rest stays in the truck for restocking though its never been needed.

Colder temps on the morning walks and fall is starting to feel around the corner. Bruins up first then a host of others. Good luck to you all.

 

[Steve300xcw]

fwiw sometimes changing patch thickness can make a big difference. Both in accuracy and how hard the sumbitch is to load

 

[30338]

Agreed. For a .580 bore, I find a .570 ball and .015 patch to be very easy loading even after a number of shots. I prefer that to a tight combo. The target pic shows the various distances for each shot. If that was a 4 shot composite at the same range I'd be looking at options.