I Couldn't Do It.
 

I was wondering how long I would make it with the Omega. Longer than I thought. I just sold it. The gun was perfect. Very accurate and reliable. It shot BH 209 and Thors perfectly, and with the scope I probably had a realistic 200 yd range for game. I kept telling myself that. It didn't work.

I love the tradition of muzzleloaders, and shooting sidelocks. I have to stay with that to be happy. So, i'm back to iron sights and a PRB for hunting. With my now really crappy eyesight. I'm going to have to get very close to take humane shots from now on.

It's ok though. I'll feel better when I get a kill now. :D

LOL when i saw the ad for the BH209 i was like, Uh oh! How much longer before i see the omega up for sale. Thats freakin funny.

So what sidelock do you have thats going to be the main hunting rifle?

You could always get a peep sight or fiber optic sights. Or you could make the greatest sin of all time. Scope a sidelock. I did it and don't reget it. My eye sight just can't shoot open sights.

The Renegade .54 with GM barrel. I figure my range is 75 yds now, so it will be plenty with a PRB. Elk/deer.

I can't see any problem with going back to traditional style rifles. Personally back in Feb. I ordered a Lancaster Style 50 caliber FL rifle to hunt with.

Yes I have a few Knight rifles. And I like them very much. And I especially like my Knight LRH. However that has nothing to do with wanting to hunt with a FLand PRB.

Personally I enjoy them both. I know that sounds a bit odd. But it works for me. And if you want to hunt with traditional rifles only, then by all means that sounds great also. Tom.

I like to go to BP shoots too. This way I can use the same gun for everything.

I'm getting a bit old to be lugging an elk from the high country. This might be my last year for elk.

I'll concentrate on muley's in heavy timber areas after this year.. No long shots needed. The PRB will be perfect. :)

I am looking for an article that will stop people from doing this if it's passed. I did not read the entire article but it stemmed around hunters with poor vision.

For example in Pa we are not aloud to use scopes in Muzzleloader season. There is an exception for Doe's only in October. The point is, people with poor vision should hafto use a scope. The reason behind the thinking is more humane kills. For most of the people i would agree.

Muley Hunter, this is not directed at you at all. You just reminded me of this and i hope to find it and have it scanned and put on the forum. You would be surprised what inexperienced people try to do with open sights.

I was just issued a special permit to use a scope during ML season. I wanted it for the Omega to take longer shots.

I'm fine with a sidelock and open sights to 75 yds. I won't ever take a shot that'm not sure I can take. I have all summer to decide if i'm still safe to hunt. I've never lost an animal that i've shot in 60 years. I want to keep that record.

I'm going shooting right now before the rain comes.

Laters

75 yards is great. We got people that are taking 200 plus yard shots with open sights. :sad:

I commend Muley Hunter for setting limitations for his rifle and himself. Also, the willingness to stick to them. And as for giving up the inlines, to be honest if someone wanted to purchase all my inlines, EXCEPT FOR MY WHITE RIFLES, I would be more then willing to sell out, and stick with traditional rifles.

I have always liked shooting and hunting with traditional rifles. And of course I am not faced with long shots like many of you experience in your hunting.

As for the unethical hunters who are taking shots well past their skill level. Don't ;i,it this to only eye sight and also shed blame on just open sights. I have seen scoped rifle shooters trying shots that they had slim to no chance of making. And why, because the animal was out there. Some hunters never think of... could I make that shot. They are hoping to make the shot and could care less if they wound.

I was once at a shoot black powder shoot. And after we punched paper, they set clay birds up at 100 yards for us to shoot at. It shocked me the number of people that not only missed the birds, but never even came close to hitting that with an open sighted muzzleloader. I missed free hand, shooting about a six inches low and a little to the right :(. But was able to hit using a support bench. But then I know my limitations. I would not shoot free hand at that distance at a deer. But still, some even were missing using a bench support. So what should be their limit on shots? Surly not 200 yards.

As far as limitations, I know mine and I set a requirement for my kids before they can hunt. My requirement for them is that they can not shoot at any distance further than what they actually practice at. They also must shoot a 3 shot group where all three shots are kill shots or they are not allowed to hunt. If they get 3 kill shots in a row then I let them hunt that trip.They have to repeat the process for the next hunt.

The truth is, a traditional rifle is a huge advantage shooting open sights.

As far as long distance, dont believe everything you read. I think big game animals are shot well below 100yds in the U.S. on an average. Even i setup sometimes on a field, but the norm is in the woods 15 to 100yds max.

I didnt set any limits for my son. I just put him in spots he could not shoot very far. It worked out well for him growing up. He was/is a much better shot then me. He actually could out shoot me at 12 years old.:(

Well, I just got back from shooting. I just beat out the snow.

A friend had given me a fresh bottle of APP 3F. I haven't liked this powder when I tried it before, but that was always in a C&B revolver. I thought i'd give it try with my new lousy eyesight.

I also tried something else today since my eyesight got lousy. A small piece of tape with a small hole in it on my shooting glasses. It sort of like a really really cheap version of a peep sight. It does work though, and cleared up the rear and front sight, and the target some too.

So, I shot the standard Renegade barrel today. It's my hunting barrel. I like it better than the GM 32" barrel for woods work. The GM barrel is great for target work, but kind of a pain in tight quarters. The Renegade is the typical 1-48 twist shallow groove. I'm shooting a PRB from now on, and I don't want to push it too hard in the shallow grooves.

I started with APP 3F 70 gr with a .54 225 gr PRB at 25yds offhand. The first shot put the biggest smile on my face. Dead center and almost no recoil, but lots of smoke. I like smoke. Two more shot with the same load and I had a cloverleaf. All three shots fired with no delay, and loaded like I had a clean bore.

I was worried that the recoil was so light, that it couldn't have any power. I bumped it up to 90 grs., and moved the target to 50 yds. Naturally, the group got a little bigger, but was still consistent, and the recoil was still easy to take.
I shot that load the rest of the session, but went to 75yds. I also use offhand mixed with shooting off my knee which it what I use hunting. On my knee the group was pretty tight. Around 2". Offhand a little bigger, but not too much. Well within the kill zone.

I shoot primitive targets at my club shoot, and that's all offhand open sights. Otherwise I wouldn't even bother taking offhand shots. I give myself some slack when I shoot offhand, because I know I won't be shooting for a 10 ring. Just gong the target (animals) and it's good.

So, I know I made the right decision by doing everything with my sidelock. Today was just plain fun. Something I was missing when I shot an inline. I know the inline is a more accurate, longer shooting gun, and I don't blame anybody for using one. I guess at this stage in my life I try for as much fun as possible.

It's sort of the same for me with fly fishing. I use a bamboo rod, silk line, and tie all my flies with natural materials. It just feels better for me to do it that way. The traditional muzzleloaders are the same for me. It just feels better. (for me)

One thing is bothering me though. The APP powder. It goes against every traditional bone in my body. I was expecting to hate it. I pictured taking 2 shots and throwing it away. Not the case. I really like it. I never thought i'd put anything through my traditional guns except real BP. I'm not sure how i'm going to work this out. :( :confused0024: :confused:

Glad you happy now old timer. APP is a lot more consistent weighed. Ray

That's why I wondered if they changed the powder. This powder looks pretty consistent in size, and it flows from the flask I have. Even BH 209 won't flow from that flask.

I've been calling it kitty litter all this time, and i'm sure the 2F still is, but this 3F that's i've got isn't bad. I'm going to try it in my powder horn next. I will weigh it to see how it does, but i'm thinking because the way it flows it will be pretty accurate in weight. We'll see.

I still have a lot of Swiss powder left that i'm not ready to give up on, but the APP is not hard to like.

Muley Hunter ,

Would a peep sight be better for you?

Probably, but I can't use them at the shoot.

Surprisingly the tape with a hole in it on my glasses works almost as good, and it's legal in the club.

APP always shot well for me in Traditional round ball rifles. I never hunted with it though. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. That is the main thing. I have done that tape with a hole in it trick and glasses. It actually brings the sights into focus real well. Sounds like you have a good shooter.

Muley, you have any 50's at home? Gonna need one in order to shoot Thors.

No 50's FG, but no matter. It will be a PRB for me from now on.

Super cheap to shoot. I'm going to start casting my own, which will be even cheaper.

I shot the last of the Thors before selling the Omega.

what twist is the GMB replacement barrel? my old renegade 1:48 shot conicals a lot better than RB'S.

They seem to go one way or the other. Mine likes a PRB better. If I shoot from a bench rest it's almost as accurate as the Omega was.

GM is a 1-70 twist. It's a dream with a PRB, but too long to hunt with for me. I use it at the shoots. It's better than the Renegade barrel at longer distances, but not much to choose from up to 75 yds. They are pretty equal.

TC makes a good barrel.

Here are reusable sighting discs that cling to eyeglasses. :patriot:

http://www.clear2target.com/sighting-discs

When you shoot off hand, and at different ranges, which rifle was more accurate for you, the Omega or TC? I'm thinking the TC because of the way they just hang so steady. Oh, I forgot the Omega was scoped.

Without question the Renegade shoots better. The heavy barrel is much easier to hold steady. The Renegade with the 32" GM barrel is even better.

The Omega with that light barrel was waving all over the place for me. I think the scope makes it worse. You can see every little movement, and you try to correct for them. The more power the worse it is. You really need a rest for a scope. I do anyway.