Hawken and GP today

frontier gander · 03-12-2008, 02:28 PM

Started off with the TC Hawken, 80 grains pyro select, 295 HP Powerbelt, 71 Yards. Didnt go so well with the first 3, i was ramming them down on a hot barrel and a HOT sunny day. Once i started letting the barrel cool between shots i shrunk it down to 1 1/2" groups.

Took the Great Plains out and had hell getting it to go off again [:@] Finally learned to fill the touch hole and then slightly tip it over and let it fill the pan with some powder. I was able to get off 14 shots after that. I have it sighted 1/2" high @ 71 yards and the 2 shots i took @ 71 yards were 1/2" apart. The rest of the shooting was messing around with targets and rocks out at odd distances.
I am going to drill the vent out to the next size bigger than the 1/16"th bit i used yesterday. After that,i'll order an RMC liner and if i still have trouble, Lyman will be getting a call about it.

After cleaning both rifles i wanted to try some Pyrodex P, 80 grains and the Powerbelt. Man! All over the place. Went and got the Pyrodex Select, took my time aiming and squeezing the trigger, The first 2 shots went into the same hole and the 3rd was a small hangfire and it went 1 1/2" high of the first 2 shots.

I am going to touch up the bluing on the front sight, its a little worn on the tip and i am getting some god awful glare when that sun breaks through the clouds.

With the Great Plains, 14 shots with goex, each one loaded nicely. I was shocked when i cleaned the ENTIRE barrel out with 2 patches

The first time i cleaned the Hawken, i had 7 shots with Pyro select, It to came clean with 2 patches.

I dont think i'll complain about that lol.

Now they get a hot soapy bucket bath to clean out the breeches.

Semisane · 03-12-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Finally learned to fill the touch hole and then slightly tip it over and let it fill the pan with some powder.

I'm confused, gander. Just what are you doing? I haven't tried, but I don't think I could get powder to move from the barrel, through the touch hole, and fill the pan.

frontier gander · 03-12-2008, 02:49 PM

I use 4f from my pan charger, hold the rifle on the side and then dump some powder onto the vent liner, tap it until it fills the touch hole and then just turn the rifle back over normally and its ready to fire. This is the ONLY way the rifle will go off.

Semisane · 03-12-2008, 03:04 PM

Man, that's a bummer! As I said in my post with the picture of the powder in the pan, mine is shooting fine with FFg in the pan. I don't put the powder next to the touch hole.

frontier gander · 03-12-2008, 03:12 PM

Ok heres what i just did. I took the next size drill bit, drilled half way into the 1/16th hole and then switched to an even bigger drill bit and coned that out pretty good. I am going to clean the breech end and then try a couple shots.

Semisane · 03-12-2008, 03:38 PM

I use a 1/4 x 36" dowel from the hardware store to clean the gunk out of the recess in the breech plug. Round the end, cut a slot with a hack saw, and use a piece of patch material.

frontier gander · 03-12-2008, 03:49 PM

I like to pump water through all my barrels just to get them cleaned out good.

I took 3 shots at 71 yards, a little over a 1 1/2" group. Rifle went off instant after i funneled the liner.

Things can only get better i would think.

Semisane · 03-12-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

I like to pump water through all my barrels just to get them cleaned out good.

Me too. But I swab the barrel and use the breech cleaner with Butch's Bore Shine or Windex as soon as I'm finished shooting. Then I feel more comfortable if I don't get to flushclean it for another 6 or 10 hours.