RE: Accuracy problem
 

Thanks wabi, I'm going to give it a go again tomorrow. The heat is a killer. Tyler shot pretty good @ 50yds using open sights. I found a CVA wolf on clearance at Wal-mart last year and only paid $79.99 for it.:)

RE: Accuracy problem
 

I never dreamed that my optima pro was capable of a group this tight[:-] Two bullets from a three shot group were TOUCHING each other and the 3rd hole was only 1/2 inch from those. I really want to thank everyone for their help, especially sabotloader and wabi. I have a photo but can't figure out how to post it.

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Bigtimer

Here are your targets as you sent them to me... I think you found what you might be looking for. With the 100 grains of T7 you are pushing them out the barrel somewhere between 1850/1900 feet per second with 2000 ft. lbs. of energy - they will do the job - I can testify to that one. Get your shot placement in their and you will have one dead animal...

Congrats - mike

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Well Bigtimer,I guess you ought to be thinking about getting rid of that cheap ol' Optima. One of those holes isn't even touching the others.

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Damn thats some excellent shooting! It makes you feel great when you find the perfect load. I bet you feel like a million bucks lol. Excellent job.

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Now that's what groups should look like! I'd try another group or two with that load and if they stay like that I'd call that my hunting load.;)

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Thanks guys, the next group was a little wider but still less than 2 inches. I let my gun cool while Tyler shot his and when I tried again my group really started to open up. I'm certain that it was a combination of me, my back, and the heat. So I decided to try another day. I'm almost afraid to adjust my scope.

On the way home from the range, I stopped for gas and saw a guy that used to work for me and we got to talking. He said that he bought a muzzleloader 6-8 years ago but didn't like it because it had a side hammer. I think he said that it was a Hawkins. I asked if he would be interested in selling it and he said that he'd take $50.00 for it, so I'm probably going to buy it tomorrow. I've never shot one so that'll be my next project. Y'all have got me hooked on ANOTHER hobby.

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Bigtimer

Gees! that could be the steal of the century.... jump all over that thing - hope he has taken care of it....

Another factor, I'll bet you were anticipating the "boom" just before the "boom" happened....

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Good shooting there... that will be a fine hunting load. As for that Hawkins, I agree.. buy it before the person wakes up and realizes what a mistake he made...

RE: Accuracy problem
 

Well, the guy that was going to sell me his muzzleloader changed his mind and GAVE it to me. It's not a hawkens, it's a plainsman. The rifle looks like new. It has a few scratches around the nipple and the little screw just below it has some marks from a screwdriver on it. I tried to pay him but he insisted that he just wanted to git rid of it. The only thing that I dont like is the finish on the stock but I don't know what can be done about it. Get this, he also gave me an ammunition box that he said, had some junk in it.
Here's what I found:
4 boxes of round balls
a big box of maxi balls
2 lbs of goex powder
no.11 caps
brass powder measurer
brass capper
bullet puller
patch puller nipple wrench
patches and a bunch more "junk"

My LUCKY DAY!!:)