Hi Folks,
I finally got back out to the range with the .54 smoke pole, and this time at a range with targets out to 200yds. I set up at 75yds, 50 being the furthest I'd show with the rifle so far.
The goal is accuracy for deer season, and I'm underwhelmed, but don't have something specific to blame it on.
I shot from the bench, using loose FFG Triple-7.
Projectiles: 230gr LRN .452's w/ red MMP sabots
.530 round ball with purchased pre-oiled patches (only 2 shots)
Targets were 50ft smallbore pistol targets, and I used a 6-o'clock hold, as much as I could claim to see so precisely at that range with round-topped open sights.
The first shot cut the bottom of the black at 5-o'clock. This seemed just about perfect to me. POA=POI. Things went downhill from there...
Every shot was on paper, but with like an 8" spread. There are what you could call groups if you discount a good number of disturbing fliers.
I changed my loading procedure slightly to improve ignition and consistency of friction in the bore. The procedure now stands as:
T/C Hawken .54, 1:48 twist
--------------------------
* Loading process:
1) snap cap on empty chamber
2) load powder
3) load projectile
4) cap & fire
5) blow thru tube on nipple
6) swab bore: dry, butter, dry, dry (2 actual patches, 2 sides each for 4 passes total)
One thing that's troubling me is I don't know if the fliers are me or the rifle/load. It's a big boom, hard butt plate, and I know it makes me jump. However, when using the bag and bench, I think I'm steadier than 8" at 75yds, and don't think I'm flinching that badly. Also, it would be the open sights. But I've shot nearly that well with a 6" revolver w/ open sights at 50yds, standing up (not *every* time...).
With the compromise rifling twist, my intuition says that round balls should be loaded light (60gr, smallest on my measure), and the sabots should be loaded hotter to get more RPM. I went up to 90gr. before running out of caps. Should I go higher?? The standard rifling twist for a .45acp is 1:16, much like a .22LR (and similarly proportioned bullets). Should I try the stash of 200gr Hornady XTP's? They might like the slower twist, and would probably be devastating on deer.
How about starting from scratch with a new powder?
BTW, the gun used to gum up and become unreliable around shot #5 or so. Fine for hunting, but inconvenient at the range. I started snapping an extra cap before loading each time to make sure things were clear, figuring my swabbing was pushing crud down around the flash hole. That worked pretty well until the end when I ran out of caps and had to pull the ball on a stubborn load.... I fired a total of maybe a dozen rounds. It's hard to learn anything when shooting so slowly and in such small quantities at a time.
I might have a chance to do more load development before deer season, but if not it looks like my max range with this gun is 75yds for now. :-(
At least I'm in New England and amn't likely to get longer opportunities.
-Daizee
I finally got back out to the range with the .54 smoke pole, and this time at a range with targets out to 200yds. I set up at 75yds, 50 being the furthest I'd show with the rifle so far.
The goal is accuracy for deer season, and I'm underwhelmed, but don't have something specific to blame it on.
I shot from the bench, using loose FFG Triple-7.
Projectiles: 230gr LRN .452's w/ red MMP sabots
.530 round ball with purchased pre-oiled patches (only 2 shots)
Targets were 50ft smallbore pistol targets, and I used a 6-o'clock hold, as much as I could claim to see so precisely at that range with round-topped open sights.
The first shot cut the bottom of the black at 5-o'clock. This seemed just about perfect to me. POA=POI. Things went downhill from there...
Every shot was on paper, but with like an 8" spread. There are what you could call groups if you discount a good number of disturbing fliers.
I changed my loading procedure slightly to improve ignition and consistency of friction in the bore. The procedure now stands as:
T/C Hawken .54, 1:48 twist
--------------------------
* Loading process:
1) snap cap on empty chamber
2) load powder
3) load projectile
4) cap & fire
5) blow thru tube on nipple
6) swab bore: dry, butter, dry, dry (2 actual patches, 2 sides each for 4 passes total)
One thing that's troubling me is I don't know if the fliers are me or the rifle/load. It's a big boom, hard butt plate, and I know it makes me jump. However, when using the bag and bench, I think I'm steadier than 8" at 75yds, and don't think I'm flinching that badly. Also, it would be the open sights. But I've shot nearly that well with a 6" revolver w/ open sights at 50yds, standing up (not *every* time...).
With the compromise rifling twist, my intuition says that round balls should be loaded light (60gr, smallest on my measure), and the sabots should be loaded hotter to get more RPM. I went up to 90gr. before running out of caps. Should I go higher?? The standard rifling twist for a .45acp is 1:16, much like a .22LR (and similarly proportioned bullets). Should I try the stash of 200gr Hornady XTP's? They might like the slower twist, and would probably be devastating on deer.
How about starting from scratch with a new powder?
BTW, the gun used to gum up and become unreliable around shot #5 or so. Fine for hunting, but inconvenient at the range. I started snapping an extra cap before loading each time to make sure things were clear, figuring my swabbing was pushing crud down around the flash hole. That worked pretty well until the end when I ran out of caps and had to pull the ball on a stubborn load.... I fired a total of maybe a dozen rounds. It's hard to learn anything when shooting so slowly and in such small quantities at a time.
I might have a chance to do more load development before deer season, but if not it looks like my max range with this gun is 75yds for now. :-(
At least I'm in New England and amn't likely to get longer opportunities.
-Daizee