I was looking at the shelf and trying to guess what rifle needed shooting the most. I then saw my T/C PA Hunter sitting there. So off the shelf it came.
The PA Hunter is percussion cap. It has a 32 inch barrel with a 1-66 twist. A single hunters (excellent I might add) trigger, and wood stock. The card said 85 grains of black powder and a .490 patched ball. So I gathered up my stuff and out to the range I walked.
I set the target at 50 yards and started shooting. I marked the first and last shot. I had to stop because company showed up at the house. But it was nice to get out and shoot the PA Hunter rifle. For a 50 yard rifle I would be somewhat confident of hitting my target.
I was not swabbing the bore of the rifle. And I could tell by shot #6 that things were getting kind of fouled in there. But I wanted to shoot the rifle dirty before I swabbed to see how much would come out of it. Company showed like I said, but it was ready for a swab.
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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."
Dave, My friend had one of them PA Hunters. And it shot just as well as yours with the PRBs. But you ought to give the Hornady PA conicals a try if you can find them. those things were awesome out of his. But with open sights at 50 yds, it would be awful hard to beat that target. Good shooting.
__________________ 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."
I remember when those PA hunters came out. But I thought when they came out they were flint locks?? I remember TC initially designed them to be used in the PA season which was flintlock only.
I never saw one in Percussion. But I don't doubt they made them. It seems like I remember them having the half octagon half round barrel?? Or am I mistaken?? And an extra long barrel?? Tom.
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West by God Virginia.
We need to stop using these terms today, "Sniper Rifle", "Tactical", "Assault Weapon".
Head your are correct about the flinter and I believe the barrel configuration. Not sure if it was totally round or 1/2 and 1/2. And obviously they made a percussion cause Dave has one.
__________________ 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."
Mine is the half and half barrel. The only reason I purchased it was because it was a Pennsylvania Hunter and I did not have one.
Do you think the 245 grain Buffalo Bullet ball-ets would work in this slow twist? I guess I will have to try them. But that means more shooting. Good thing my powder arrives tomorrow, I am almost out!!!
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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."
There's something about 85 grains of black powder that's magic for patched balls. That's a darn fine group with iron sights at 50 yards. Especially with no swabbing between shots.
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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.