MountainDevil54

I got to try some 50/50 mixed round balls today at 50 yards. SUPER happy with the accuracy!

I used 80gr Pyrodex P, .020" patch lubed with Frontier's Shoot Out! lube.

50 yards I put 3 shots touching. I will have to adjust a wee bit to the right, but first I will try my anti-rust hunting lube before making adjustments.

I even had the old man out there and my brother with his 54 Hawken. Everyone was ready to shoot!

I mostly wanted to see how my dad did with the St.Louis Hawken as I've planned on getting him a new sidelock. After all the shooting he mentioned his shoulder was sore. I agree, even my shoulder is sore lol. We emptied my powder horn, so that was a ton of shooting today.


Now, its time to clean, one rifle at a time.

Next balls up will be balls that I cast the other day with 75% soft lead.

cayugad

When you say 50/50 mix ... what were you mixing? Lead and? Wheel weights or something?

Great shooting by the way.

MountainDevil54

50% soft lead to 50% chilled lead shot I melted down.

Ordering some new nipples now to get ready for the season.

falcon

That's good shooting.

MountainDevil54

Alright! Got out today with the St.Louis Hawken and tested my first shot, clean bore accuracy at 100 yards with my current load listed on the target. Shes all set! Follow up shot on a fouled bore was perfect as well. The orange bulls eye is 3" diameter, just to give you an idea on group size.

I'm going to take some Jim Shockeys Gold 2fg out next time and give it a try.

Overall, She is 100% elk ready!


I also recovered a couple of the balls from my 100 yard sandbank. Excellent expansion and no weak spots like with my pure lead ball.

bronko22000

I cast some 405 gr bullets with a mix of 75% shot and 25% wheel weights. I got a hardness of 10.7 BHN. My 50/50 mix of pure lead and wheel weights gives me a hardness of 8.7. Those with the 8.7 I sized a few down to .451" to try in my 1:30 .45 caliber Hawken.