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.

 

[5MilesBack]

I have a buddy that shoots an old Hawken. I'm always amazed at the accuracy he gets with that thing.

 

[tracker12]

Is this a flint lock or cap? So you are using a oversized wad under your patched ball?

 

[30338]

This is a caplock gun. And yes, there is a .58 caliber wad over the powder. It must help protect my relatively thin patch. I use those under conicals in other rifles too.

 

[RedRidge]

My round ball gun is becoming one of my favorite to shoot. Best of luck with the tags!

 

[ihookem]

Does anyone make their own patches and round balls? I started about 6 yrs. ago and really enjoy it. Patches are fun in the middle of winter o a Friday night in Wisconsin when cabin fever sets in. On a nice spring morning , I might make 100 or so. I almost always shoot my 54 TC Renegade , but I have a TC Hawken with a Green Mountain barrel on it .

 

[long hunter]

This is a caplock gun. And yes, there is a .58 caliber wad over the powder. It must help protect my relatively thin patch. I use those under conicals in other rifles too.

Why would you run a wad under a round ball if you having burn through on the patches you need a thicker patch, 15 thousands thick cotton patch pillow ticking well washed is good material well lubed should do well a good lube is homemade with bees wax, olive oil, and crisco mixed together.

 

[Formidilosus]

Has anyone shot legit groups at 100 yards or so with PRB? I don’t mean a couple shots, or a 3 shot group here or there- I mean multiple 10+ round groups?

I’ve got a Kibler coming, and I am going to go all in on it and curious what people have done or seen.


It didn’t arrive in time for this season, but @longrangelead let me borrow his “Hawken”.
Just 5 shots to check zero yesterday as I was in a hurry, but seems to shoot ok.

 

[30338]

Good looking group. If I did 5 shots with irons and my eyes, I'd be satisfied with that group. Maybe I'll do that this winter just to see.

 

[Formidilosus]

Good looking group. If I did 5 shots with irons and my eyes, I'd be satisfied with that group. Maybe I'll do that this winter just to see.

I look forward to it.

I’m going to be treating this flintlock coming like a modern gun- the plan is 2,000 to 3,000 shots this next year through it. I want to know what can actually be achieved with them as far as group size and distance.

 

[30338]

Form, do you have a 50 or 54 coming from Kibler? They make a fine firearm and it should be as accurate as the sighting system and your eyes. Velocity does drop off rapidly on the roundballs and you'll have to determine what you are good with for max distance. I've killed stuff just over 100 yards with 54 and 58 balls, but I really like them around 50 yards and in. Very emphatic at those ranges.

2,000 rounds is a lot of black powder, be curious to see what you learn over that many rounds. Should be a fun year.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

This is going to be a hoot if you try 2-3000 rounds of black powder without cleaning the bore.

 

[Formidilosus]

Form, do you have a 50 or 54 coming from Kibler?

50cal.

They make a fine firearm and it should be as accurate as the sighting system and your eyes.

I’m hoping so. Sighting should not be an issue- I have a heavy background in iron sight shooting, and still use them to a relatively high level. My base goal is 7-8” groups at 150 yards on demand (historically rev war “splitting a man’s head at 150y”).

Velocity does drop off rapidly on the roundballs and you'll have to determine what you are good with for max distance. I've killed stuff just over 100 yards with 54 and 58 balls, but I really like them around 50 yards and in. Very emphatic at those ranges.

Yep, it will be interesting to see what happens. I’m not too concerned with wounds- a .5” hole is an .5” hole, and I expect runners a lot.

2,000 rounds is a lot of black powder, be curious to see what you learn over that many rounds. Should be a fun year.

A decent start.

 

[Formidilosus]

This is going to be a hoot if you try 2-3000 rounds of black powder without cleaning the bore.

Haha- no. I have been able to do 20+ shots before without swabbing.

Spit patch swabbing between shots yesterday-

 

[solarshooter]

I’m going to be treating this flintlock coming like a modern gun- the plan is 2,000 to 3,000 shots this next year through it. I want to know what can actually be achieved with them as far as group size and distance.

This is unhinged. Truly a side quest for gun nuts. Love it.

I'll be curious what your splits are with a flintlock.

Will you be donning period correct attire when you shoot it as well?