.50 caliber Huntsman that came with a 20 gauage shotgun barrel. I paid $175 new for it.

I took it out on Saturday. I haven't shot iron sights in YEARS, and was leary of how well I'd do. I have an elk hunt in 4 weeks. Yes, I know, a bit late for breaking in a muzzleloader, but I was/am confident !

Anyway, I chose 90 grains of powder and I believe Hornady sabots with 250 grain bullets. This takes the 209 primers and I loader her up. 45 yards to the target, using a 5 gallon bucks for a rest and the target was a 4" x 4" wood chip on a cardboard backdrop.

First shot - nearly dead centered it ! Next two shots ? Within 2" of the first. I backed up to about 85 yards and my shot was about 4" high and to the left - not bad at all. We shot a bit more and the consistancy held.

I was VERY impressed with the accuracy I got with this gun. Handles great. I like the breakdown action, and though the funny primer holders are odd they work well enough. Cleanup is pretty easy, much more so than the old cap locks.

Negatives ? Don't overtighten the breech plug. I had a boar of a time getting mine off the first time but not afterwords. Also, the ramrod is cheesy. If you push a patch too far down (where the barrel tapers into the nipple/fire area) it'll get stuck - not good. So to combat both problems I bought a $15 brass rod set, and marked the rod so as not to go that far down when field cleaning. I called NEF and asked about the flimsy looking fiber sights and they sent me a rear and front sight FREE in case I ever need it.

I'm tickled with this gun. Right price, shoots very accurate, light, handy ..... great gun with the option of a shotgun barrel to boot. The Handi-rifles are probably real darlings ! Get a better ramrod, backup sights just in case and thats about it.

To the range a few more times between now and my elk hunt too. yes, I know sabots are illegal in CO, but to sight a gun in they work well enough. I'll try some TC Maxi balls this weekend.

What are you saying about patches getting stuck?

I have a T/C Renegade, just a regular hammer gun. After several shots, fouling accumulates in the breech area, and if you run a patch down all the way, it will tend to get stuck. So, if that's your problem it is normal. BUT, you do need to thoroughly clean this area. I do this by running patches down gradually, a bit further each time, until the breech is clean. I'm sure you did something along those lines too.

A good range report there. I have read a lot of posts about the Huntsman and the only bad thing they ever talk about is the flimsey ramrod.

Get yourself a fiberglass replacement rod. Get one that has holes on both ends. Then get the Thompson Center T-handle short starter. The one part can be taken off and screwed into the end of your ramrod turning it into a power rod.

Also Uncle Norby has a good point about swabbing. Never push that straight into the barrel. Best way I know of to get the patch stuck. If you scrub in short stroke increasing the travel down the barrel until you reach the breech you get more fowling out and less chance of a stuck patch....

You might want to order some No Excuse Conicals in the 460 grain range. They are great shooting projectiles. I also believe they fall within the guidelines in Colorado. I shoot them with 80 grains of FFFg and they will shoot fantastic groups out of my Black Diamond XR.....

Good luck hunting.