Made smoke today
 

I took my recently finished Hawken stock with the new GM 1:66 flintlock barrel on it (.50 cal) to the range today. I was just doing some initial shooting to sight in and see what ball/patch combo worked best. It appears that .015" patches and .495" balls are just right. Going to try .490" balls with .018" and .020" patches next time out.
All in all it was a good day. The barrel is really accurate with 90 gr of FFFg putting the balls within about 1 1/2" groups at 50 yds. But it was hard to see the brass bead on the front sight. Going to have to put some white fingernail polish on it to brighten it up prior to next shoot.

One and a half inch 50 yard groups? Sounds like a winner!

I'm no fan of those brass beads either. I replaced mine with a wide flat topped black blade like the ones on Lyman Great Plains rifles.

I bet you had fun! I really like shooting a flintlock. How was that Hawken stock on your shoulder?

A .50 cal shooting a PRB (about 180 gr.) with 90 gr of FFFf - recoil is hardly noticable.
Now the .54 with a 425 gr conical and 100 gr of Pyro RS is something I'm not looking forward to!!! :s8:

I believe you are correct Semi - I can't wait to get a peep sight on it. I may take the one off my .45.

that is good shooting and I bet a nice handling rifle.

Yes Dave that extra 4" of steel (28" vs 32") seems to make the rifle balance better when shooting offhand. This morning I took my .45 Hawken off the rack and installed the rear open sight aligning it with the existing T/C tang peep then remove the peep and reversed the process on the new .50 round ball barrel.
I am sure the increased sight radius will help improve the accuracy of this barrel by helping to eliminate a bit more of the human error involved in the aiming process. And Lord knows we all suffer some of that.
I would have loved to get out again today and try it but some weather came in and it looks like we won's see the sun here until next week sometime... grrrr.
Well at least we didn't get the tornadoes like in AK. God bless them and my prayers go out to them.

Bronko,

I think you mean AL (as in Alabama, not Alaska), but we forgive you. I spoke with my Sister-in-law this evening who is from AL ( now re-married and living in NY) and she said most of the damage was north of where her property is. Either way it's a bad scene and my prayers go out to those folks as well.

BPS

I know all about the weather that is headed your way. It dumped four inches of snow on us and more snow tonight... then a few days of rain and snow. Also watch out for the winds in this storm. They were 50 mph gusts in it.

For the love of God and Sonny Jesus.... when is this #$%@$# winter gonna end?

BPS