First off, started working with the 50 cal T/C Hawken flinter that I had the barrel bored out, sleeved and re-rifled with a 1:28 twist. I knew it was fairly well sighted in so I set the target up at 50 yds. I first shot at the center orange dot using 80 gr of FFg and 300 gr SW with black CR sabot. Not too awful bad for open sights. Next, 3 shots at the bottom target with 80 gr of FFFg. Again not too bad. Now let's see what happens with 90 gr of FFFg. Well it got a little worse. Ok, back to the orange dot with 80 gr of FFFg and this time with .429" 300 gr XTP and green CR sabot. Now we're talking. Much better. Next time out, some more experimenting with the XTPs.

OK, next up - my $80 45 cal T/C hawken. Set the target up at 25 yds. 6O'clock hold. All groups shot with70 gr of FFFg. First the PRB with pillow tick patch. Very snug but not overly tight once short started. Then the 45 cal 255 gr MaxiHunters, followed by home cast 230 gr Maxiballs. All 3 of these showed promise. But then again we're only talking 25 yds. So my hopes weren't too high yet. Even though 2 of the MaxiHunters went into the same hole at 25 yds I elected not to shoot them at 50 yds. At 50, I first shot the PRBs. Well that sucked. About a 4" groups. I thought they would do much better than that! Next the 230 gr Maxiballs. With the 6 O'clock hold the first bullet hit just above the bottom of the dot, second just a bit left of it and the third right into the second hole. Whew, I was impressed. I believe that was the best $80 I spent in a while.