TC Hawken, a muzzleloaders only uses FF

[Fishtales]

Im not sure why but my barrel seems narrower in the middle too, when the balls get stuck they always get stuck mid way, once i get them past that they slide down easy even with the fouling, but the fouling always causes em to get stuck mid way, maybe its where the fouling gets deposited most ?

I managed to "hit" the target at 100 yards using the iron sights, but that was 1 hit out of 4 attempted. and it it didnt hit the center mass. At 50 yards though i was within 3 inches of the 4 shots in the 8 line on my target. At 25 yards i was bulls eye dead center, all 4 shots tore a giant hole in the center the paper was gone they almost flew into the same hole each time. Surprised myself and a bunch of a people at the range lol

Interestingly enough this gun is more accurate than my Henry 44 magnum big boy. That gun seems to throw rounds all over. I just wish i could get hits at 100 with iron sights. But most of it is inexperience, and my vision is terrible, at 15 yards out my vision starts to get very blurry and i havent gone to the eye doctor lol. Have a hard time even reading fast food menus at a drive through. My dads old army glasses work perfectly for me, but i dont bring them in fear of losing them as he died when i was 12 over 23 years ago. Although my 1874 sharps using 45-70 regular ammo, i can hit 100 yards with iron sights within the black 7-8 lines..

I just need to stop putting it off and get some glass's lol

Don't put off the glasses like I did. When I got them I was surprised at how much more (including other hunters way out in the distance) I could see.

 

[4v50 Gary]

If you do use FFF, reduce the volume.

 

[dave951]

Im not sure why but my barrel seems narrower in the middle too, when the balls get stuck they always get stuck mid way, once i get them past that they slide down easy even with the fouling, but the fouling always causes em to get stuck mid way, maybe its where the fouling gets deposited most ?

If you're shooting patch round ball, you need to wipe between every shot from your description. That may or may not change if you use a different brand of powder like Swiss which is the cleanest burning one out there.

I managed to "hit" the target at 100 yards using the iron sights, but that was 1 hit out of 4 attempted. and it it didnt hit the center mass. At 50 yards though i was within 3 inches of the 4 shots in the 8 line on my target. At 25 yards i was bulls eye dead center, all 4 shots tore a giant hole in the center the paper was gone they almost flew into the same hole each time. Surprised myself and a bunch of a people at the range lol

Get the powder, lube and bullet size right and wonderful things happen if you can halfway shoot.

But most of it is inexperience, and my vision is terrible, at 15 yards out my vision starts to get very blurry and i havent gone to the eye doctor lol. Have a hard time even reading fast food menus at a drive through. My dads old army glasses work perfectly for me, but i dont bring them in fear of losing them as he died when i was 12 over 23 years ago. Although my 1874 sharps using 45-70 regular ammo, i can hit 100 yards with iron sights within the black 7-8 lines..

I just need to stop putting it off and get some glass's lol

I'm with you on the glasses. At my age, presbyopia has been leaving my arms too short to focus on a book. For shooting purposes, I use 1x readers to keep the front post in focus. I put one of these on the 1x readers- https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015167397

Sadly, it's been discontinued as the gentleman who made them passed away. But this is still available-
http://www.champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx?p=ItemDetailOptions&item=393

With the combination of a 1x reader and this diopter, the sights are in focus and all I have to do is shoot straight.

 

[MEHavey]

Merit is apparent back in business.... (thank the gods)
http://www.meritcorporation.com/orderform.html

 

[Lnf Crzr]

FFg in my 58 double kodiak- worked up to 75 grains with a prb and I was slamming the bullseyes.

Havnt tried more, don’t need to

 

[Armored farmer]

Dayam Armored Farmer. Anticipate the British returning for Act III?

I ordered that for myself and several guys in my bp club. It was a group order.

 

[candymancan]

Im also not using sandbags to steady ny gun... Im using my left arm to hold it up while sitting and standing... So the gun is less stable. I kinda think putting your guns on a sandbag or board is cheating. But thats just me sorry.

Went to the range today again. oh also my targets are smaller than alot of people. Like an 12x18 sheet. All white and black doesnt help either.

So i added some orange stickers to see better. Got my dads glasses on too.. and i didnt bother with 25 yards its too easy. Did 50 and with the glasses and orange center. I could see the target and the first 4 shots were 1 inch from dead center. 2 shots on the right center line both in the same hole of eachother. And 2 left on center line both in same holes as well.

Tried 100 yards.. i hit the target maybe 6 outa 10 times.. but all 6 were in various positions. 100 yards with regular iron sights. Even with glasses all my target looks like is a blip. I dont see how you can get center hits or in the same hole with a target that small with iron sights... but again im using my left hand to stabilize the gun .. Im not using sand bags to lay the gun on. Need more practice.. at least im hitting it at 100 now. Before i missed every shot.

The sand bag or gun mount i can get for rifles.. but tbh it makes me frown when people use them.. Or use em with pistols. But thats just me. I guess ima weirdo.

Id like to see more people shoot the guns standing up with only their arms as support... Not brag about their shots sitting down with a tripod mount for the gun. Seems kinda silly to me when people show up at the range.. have these fancy full mount tripods to adjust..they dont even hold the gun the mount holds it stationary like a artillery peice.. lol.. then pull out a calculator with their scopes.. and then go wow look at my shots.

I mean cool. Now lets see how good of a shot you are actually holding the gun with both arms. Thats just what goes through my mind when i see that

 

[paul harm]

Off hand is fine, but if you're gonna sight in a gun then use the sandbags. Also, I wipe between every shot. You want to do away with any variables. Sometimes matches are done with a " string measure". That means they measure between shots and keep a running total. Everything better be the same from shot to shot. There are different types of matches - bench rest, buffalo sticks, and off hand. Rest shooting is a test of the load you worked up, loading the same every time, and how good a barrel you have. Buffalo sticks are the same but you're sitting on your butt on the ground, not at a bench. Off hand is more of a test of how steady you are. Each game has its own merit and following. Don't knock one until you've beat some of them who've been doing it for 10 or 15 years. JMHO