Well I made up my mind that I would hunt his year with the .52 especially for over 200 yard shots.
Now to get a gun ready and work up the right load and get the ballistics figured out is the goal during the summer . That way I'm ready come time to hunt.

I decided to go with the Mountaineer simply because its bare primer and Blackhorn compatible if I want to use it instead of triple 7.

I pulled out a 52 Mountaineer that had never been shot.
It had a Williams peep sight mounted on the back where the rear base goes.






I took the peep off it and mounted a Nikon Omega. I would prefer a different scope but that is what I had laying around .



Next goal is to sight it in, or at least get it on paper and somewhat close. I figure for that I will use the 325 gr ftx and around 100 or 120 gr powder, ( the bullet on the left )

Once I get it on paper then I will up the powder charge to roughly 130 or 140gr still using the 325 gr.

Next step will be move up to the bullet I want to hunt with , which is the 375 gr Barnes . ( the bullet on the right)
The reason for the 325 to start with is simply less recoil till the final stages of sight in.




Final step will be get it as accurate as I can with the higher powder charges and the Barnes 375.

That way even at 300 yards I should have 1400 fpe minimum.

That's the goal anyway

I also might change out the stock as I'm not much on the funky green color. But will definitely stay with the Thumbhole as I've grown accustomed to them.

Then I will report back after the hunt. s2: