Got to shoot my Hawken yesterday at the range. The musket caps on the #11 nipple wasnt so bad. I have a musket nippleon orderso I improvised. I rested it on a bench. I am very happy with my new ML. She shoots great. Pretty accurate too. I was using my own cast bullets in a sabot. Idont have any PRBsyet.It wasnt tac driving but at 100yds, I am pretty confident. I was hitting jugs of water consistantly. I would like to add I shot my same cast bullets from my in-line and had the same results. Once I puta few an SSTs down range, with both riflesand it became obvious I shouldnt expect the same results with a home cast bullet. SSTs restored my confidence in my ability. The grouping shrank conciderably. Will a PRB keep a nice group or will the results be simular to the cast in a sabot? Now I am going to scope my in-line and use my Hawken for the extended ML hunt. Any sugestions? I have a T/C Omega. Should I mount my Wiliams Peep on the Hawken or is there a different peep I should use?
I am writing this a total novice when it comes to shooting PRB's from a 1/48 twist. If i were to shoot to 50 yards max - I would be pretty decent, but anything beyond that I struggle to stay consistent, but again I am just learning and I am probably not shooting the best powder for a PRB.
I'll make this blanket statement and probably get a lot of grief for it, but anything else that i shoot is far more consistent at the longer ranges than a PRB. Shoot, if you think about it a round ball really is not very areodynamic.
I had some really good shooting the other day but I am not sure I could duplicate it today if I were to shoot the same rifle and same load. I know there are lot of folks out there shooting 100+ yards with a PRB and doing ot very well.
The one thing I can say is, even though it frustrates me sometimes - i really enjoy the challenge of trying to get better with PRB's...
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
I forgot the whole point of my post. So, I was very carefull at first, setting the trigger. I knew it would be more sencitive after setting it so I was extra carefull. Well, I got a little complacent after my 10th shot or so and as I exhaled, I just barely rested my trigger finger gently on the side of the trigger like I do with all the rest of my rifles and, snap, flash, boom! Wasnt even settled in yet. So, I now have that setting just a hair more firm. Surprised the daylights out of me. Wish I had a picture of the look on my face.
I know all about that Powerfisher. Just wait until you take two rifles to the range, and then after shooting an hour or two with the set trigger you load up the second rifle that has no set triggerand automatically try to set it - another surprise boom.
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
Your rifle, once you get the right load for the patched roundball figured out, should shoot as good as your cast bullet. While they are not aerodynamic, they are very consistent. And once you learn their flight path the rest is kind of easy.
Now some people will tell you they shoot one inch group with open sights at 100 yards, with a PRB. Good for them. I'd love to spend a day at the range with them, observe them doing it, and learn their secrets to shooting. I can't do it, and I don't claim to do it. If I shoot a 3-5 inch group at 100 yards with a PRB I consider that my average day. Depending in the rifle, sometimes much better. Now twice, I did clover leaf three ball at 100 yards. But for someone that shoots five times a week, every week, that is not an average.
But a PRB is accurate once you find the right powder charge. As for the peep sight. A Williams Peep Sight is a good sight. I have seen them on T/C rifles, but I like the T/C tang peep for the older style Hawkins or Renegades.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
If I shoot a 3-5 inch group at 100 yards with a PRB I consider that my average day.
That would be a pretty good day for me.
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
Me too.... I've yet to get the new Hawken out for a test run with PRBs. I was going to yesterday after turkey hunting and as I was gathering my things up to go, about 12:30, the phone rings. It was Mom, in a pretty weak voice to come up the house, she fell down the cellar steps - about 7 of them and it looked like she broke the fall with her face. But thank the good Lord she didn't break anything (she's 76). After I got the bleeding stopped and accessed the damages, I got a bag of ice for her head/face and took her up the ER. Didn't get home untl 2:30 this morning cause they wanted time to observe her for a concussion.
Maybe later this week I will get out.
__________________ PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE RISING COST IN AMMO PRICES I WILL NO LONGER BE FIRING A WARNING SHOT.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
I'm not as good as I'm gonna get - but I'm better than I used to be. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Sorry about you mom Bronko. No breaks in circumstances like that is wonderful. Hope her recovery is swift.
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
Should the Hawken barrel be as tight as my T/C Omega? The sabots went down real easy in the Hawken. I thought they should be tighter. I was using my own cast .451 lead bullets in a red SST sabot. Will the crushed rib Harvesters be tighter? I have heard nothing but good things about the Harvesters.
OUCH! $70 for that peep. I may just leave it the way it is for now. My buddy told me not to mess with it. The open sights are just fine and I agree, I just like peeps. Not sure if I am going to scope my Omega though. I mean, how far can it shoot and retain enough power for a ethical shot? 200yds? If I have to go out that far, I will shoot a centerfire. Right?
Double Trigger
I rested it on a bench. I am very happy with my new ML. She shoots great. Pretty accurate too. I was using my own cast bullets in a sabot. Idont have any PRBsyet.It wasnt tac driving but at 100yds, I am pretty confident. I was hitting jugs of water consistantly. I would like to add I shot my same cast bullets from my in-line and had the same results. Once I puta few an SSTs down range, with both riflesand it became obvious I shouldnt expect the same results with a home cast bullet. SSTs restored my confidence in my ability. The grouping shrank conciderably. Will a PRB keep a nice group or will the results be simular to the cast in a sabot? Now I am going to scope my in-line and use my Hawken for the extended ML hunt. Any sugestions? I have a T/C Omega. Should I mount my Wiliams Peep on the Hawken or is there a different peep I should use? 
