hot weather...

mauser06 · 07-15-2007, 08:12 AM

last weekend i took my TC 50cal hawken flinter to the range to shoot while my 22-250 barrel cooled. 25yds i shot a clover leaf. it was an inch-inch and a half high. 50yds, target was identical. 1-1.5" group and high. i know it was sighted in dead on at 50yds. i dont shoot past that with the flinter..the recoil was also more than i remember lol. never did i think a roundball "hurt" but it was whackin me good that day. it was 90 degrees out. i sighted in when it was 30-60 degrees..i cant remember but im sure it was cold out. i know pressures are higher with smokeless powder in hotter weather. is the same true with BP?? that would explain higher groups and heavier recoil...i didnt touch the sights...figured that was the cause and it was shooting well so i didnt touch them...just figured id check...i'll shoot more before the winter season, but just checking...

rem 700 · 07-15-2007, 08:47 AM

I would assume the same applies to BP.

nchawkeye · 07-16-2007, 10:29 AM

I have 2 custom built flint locks and shoot year round, in fact I shot Friday afternon and yesterday, it was in the mid 80s...I can't see a difference...I have tried different patches and lube and have seen this make a difference...

You mentioned the recoil, heavier recoil will kick the ball higher...Are you sure you are using the same powder charge, patching material and lube??? Also, do you clean between shots, the extra fouling can also give more felt recoil...

cayugad · 07-16-2007, 06:51 PM

Another difference people forget about when you think of recoil is, winter means winter jackets which due to insulation are padded. Summer means T-shirts which give you no protection from recoil.

I was shooting today and it was 84ºs. It was the first time in a long time that the scope skimmed/touched me. But a lot of the time that is more due to sloppy holding the rifle then recoil catching me.

mauser06 · 07-19-2007, 09:44 AM

cayugad...you are right...i didnt even have a shirt on! lol. i do a decint bit of shooting and still think it was shooting a little hotter...ive shot in t shirts before and dont remember a roundball load hitting me hard...then again it WAS the first time i shot the Scheutzen powder when it was summer time...id say that stuff is a decint bit hotter than goex.

will definently shoot again before the season..if i have to bring it down then so be it...no big deal..just curious because it seemed a good bit hotter than i remember...i wish i had a chronograph...some day i will get around to buying one...i could REALLY make good use of one..