Last week I reported on my rather disappointing range session with the .50 GM/LRH/TC Hawken
("Can't Shoot For SQUAT").
This morning I decided to give it another try, and stuck with one load for the entire range session.
300 grain .452 Speer Deep Curl
Harvester long black sabot (H5045SB)
85 grains GOEX FFFg
Remington #11 caps
After putting a target out at
50 yards I took five shots and got this.
That's not great, but better than anything in my last session. I can tell you - after shot #2 I was PUMPED. But #3 soon deflated me.
Feeling a little encouraged I put a fresh target out at
75 yards. The first shot hit the very bottom left hand corner of the target. THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT - I must have screwed up big time. Took another shot and
didn't even hit paper.
Now I know somethings wrong, and it's not me. Started inspecting the gun.
1. Wedge pin good and tight.
2. Tang good and tight.
3. Rear sight good and tight.
4. Front sight g. . . Uh-Oh!
When I barely touched the front sight it slid an eight of an inch to the right. Went to pull it back into position and it came completely out of the left side of the dove tail.
Walked back to my camp and got my little hammer and brass drift pin from the shooting box. Tapped the front and rear of the dove tail wings down a bit, and reinstalled the sight. It took firm taps of the hammer to get it in place. GOOD!
OK, back to the
50 yard line. Took five shots at a fresh target and got this.
NOW WE'RE IN BUSINESS!!! 
Smiling now - put a target at 75 yards and took five more shots.
That's acceptable. Gotta try
100 yards. Five shots later I had this one.
Well, I would have been happier with three inches, but three and three-quarters at 100 yards isn't too bad with iron sights (at least for me
). I'm sure the gun can do it, and I can too on some days. That shot to the right was probably my fault.
I kinda have the feeling the two shots in the bull represent the gun's ability, and the other shots represent my ability
. This gun and load may be my Opening Day partner next season.