Maxiballs in sidelock
 

You know I was shooting my MLs today and one thing I definately notice.

A 350gr maxiball with 90gr of goex ffg out a of a hawkin with hard metal pad kicks much harder IMO (felt recoil) than any of my inlines with 125gr of 777 loose ffg and 250gr barnes expander.

Anyone else thinks so?

I am ready for Oct. 20th early season. Got my t/c hawken hitting 1" groups at 25 yards for around my house where shots are never over 35 and my knight elite 2" groups at 100yards for the swamps.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

I never put anything under the maxi ball or maxi hunter, but I always did think they kicked pretty good out of the sidelocks. Especially my Renegade. Something about the shape of the stock on those rifles. You get pounded in the cheek and jaw. They have to be one of the works of all the rifles I shoot when you have a large charge in them.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

OH yeah!! I have a CVA Bobcat and shoot the 370 Maxi Ball (or did you mean Maxi Hunter, cause that one is 350 grains, the Maxi Ball is 370). Anyway, I shoot the Maxi Ball on top of 80 grains of Pyrodex or Goex 2f, and can hit the same POI with every shot. That load is pretty stiff. 90 I can barely control, and 100 grains really rocks me to the point that I can't make a 6" group at 50 yards!!

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

In my T/C Hawkens, both .50 cals., I shoot 275 gr Maxi Hunters behind 100 gr of FFFg in the percussion and 250 R.E.A.L. bullets in the Flinter same charge. Recoil isn't bad at all and accuracy is good (less than 2" at 50 yds.)

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

Well bron, recoil isn't bad in most ML's compared to some heavy recoiling rifles like I shoot like 300RUM, but was noticing several folks always mention "don't shoot 150gr powder, cause the recoil is bad, or several others". I think its bascially they couldn't get them to shoot, so if you use it, they feel kinda bad. But who knows. But was comparing the percieved recoil of my hawkin to my knight elite, and was wondering if anyone else seen this. My point was I wouldn't let recoil keep me from trying 150gr loads in a modern inline.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

Your point is well taken, BC. The stock design on the Renegade and Hawken type rifles makes it painful to shoot loads with heavy charges. My 22" T/C Black Diamond barely weighs 6 lbs; and yet is more pleasant to shoot (with the same load) than my Hawken - which weighs almost 9 lbs. The Hawken wants to get under my cheekbone lift it up. The buttstock was also designed, it seems,with pain in mind. If you haven't done so already, you might try the new Simms Limbsaver recoil pads. They are a great upgrade on the in-line guns.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

Funny that others are confirming what I always thought about the recoil from traditional MLs...at least the ones I've shot. I sold my TC Renegade (50 cal) 9 years ago because after comparing its recoil of a 90 gr PRB load to the TC Firehawk (now the Black Diamond), there was absolutely no comparison in my mind that the Firehawk was far more pleasant to shot.

I couldn't figure this out since the Renegade had at least a pound or two in weight over the Firehawk. Shouldn't heavier guns recoil less all else being equal? :eek: Yes, they should, but in my case all else was not equal...the shape of the Firehawk stock must have somehow mitigated felt recoil.

I've considered getting back into shooting PRBs and some here (Cayugad or Roskoe, maybe) have suggested I consider purchasing a new traditional ML instead of getting a 1:48 barrel for my Encore from FoxRidge. However, my vivid memories of that jack-hammerin', mule-kickin', sledge-slappin' (sorry, running out of metaphors:D) Renegade have discouraged me from doing so. Yeah, even with the give away prices of the $59 Bobcat at Walmart, I can't get over the felt recoil thing with the traditional MLs.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

I agree Roskoe. Excellent upgrade. Knight elites already come with a real nice pad.

I wouldn't want to add a pad to a Hawkin.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

If you want to take the bite out of the CVA Bobcat.. take the butt plate off and put some lead in there. I put a rag down in mine first, then I vacuum sealed #4 buckshot twice. I rolled it to form fit the stock and put another rag on top of that and replaced the butt plate. What a difference it made in the recoil and over all balance of the rifle. My load of the rifle is 80 grains of Triple Se7en a wonderwad and a patched roundball. Very accurate, but until I customized the stock, it would kick the snot out of you.

RE: Maxiballs in sidelock
 

I had thought about putting some form of weight in the stock of mine, but have never really looked into it seriously. I may try some #4, that is pretty easy to come by, and cheap. Thanks for the tip.