Bruce in WV
11-10-2020, 08:21 PM
I've had a great reminder this month that I need to match the gun to my needs.
I inherited a NIB 54 cal T/C Black Mountain Magnum rifle last month. The gun included a box of .530 RBs, a box of Buffalo Bullets 338gr HP/ HB bullets, a number of 250gr sabot'd JHP bullets, and a couple pounds of FFFG Swiss BP (2f would be much better), and 2 tins of musket caps. Very cool package, and I was looking forward to hunting with it this year.
The T/C load manual show BP load in the 80-120gr region with very respectable velocities, useful for everything from medium game to apex predators...
...but its too much gun for my area of the Mid-Atlantic Appalachians. I shot 10 rounds today using the 80gr loads for the RB and 338gr Buffalo Bullet bullets, the lowest listed loads, to see if I can adapt it to my deer hunting needs. The ergonomics are pretty good; it would be a nice shooter from a stand or blind, but its heavy for a stalking rifle. But, the problem is that those low velocity loads aren't particularly accurate with the lighter bullets and the 1x38 twist. Its got go down the road, maybe send it to a gun shop I know of in Idaho, where a big gun like this belongs.
I have the same problem with my beautiful 54 cal repro 1770's flintlock longrifle, which is why its a wall hanger. I'll keep it for sentimental reasons because of who gave it to me, but I suspect I won't shoot it more than one weekend a year at the gun club BP Jamboree.
I wish I hadn't given my 45 cal T/C Seneca (with an extra 36 cal barrel and all the T/C factory molds for RBs and maxiballs) to a local scouting program charity auction! That outfit did everything I needed...oh well, it was a good cause and all that...
Time to start haunting the small town gun shops around the area and see what else I can find before BP season.
I inherited a NIB 54 cal T/C Black Mountain Magnum rifle last month. The gun included a box of .530 RBs, a box of Buffalo Bullets 338gr HP/ HB bullets, a number of 250gr sabot'd JHP bullets, and a couple pounds of FFFG Swiss BP (2f would be much better), and 2 tins of musket caps. Very cool package, and I was looking forward to hunting with it this year.
The T/C load manual show BP load in the 80-120gr region with very respectable velocities, useful for everything from medium game to apex predators...
...but its too much gun for my area of the Mid-Atlantic Appalachians. I shot 10 rounds today using the 80gr loads for the RB and 338gr Buffalo Bullet bullets, the lowest listed loads, to see if I can adapt it to my deer hunting needs. The ergonomics are pretty good; it would be a nice shooter from a stand or blind, but its heavy for a stalking rifle. But, the problem is that those low velocity loads aren't particularly accurate with the lighter bullets and the 1x38 twist. Its got go down the road, maybe send it to a gun shop I know of in Idaho, where a big gun like this belongs.
I have the same problem with my beautiful 54 cal repro 1770's flintlock longrifle, which is why its a wall hanger. I'll keep it for sentimental reasons because of who gave it to me, but I suspect I won't shoot it more than one weekend a year at the gun club BP Jamboree.
I wish I hadn't given my 45 cal T/C Seneca (with an extra 36 cal barrel and all the T/C factory molds for RBs and maxiballs) to a local scouting program charity auction! That outfit did everything I needed...oh well, it was a good cause and all that...
Time to start haunting the small town gun shops around the area and see what else I can find before BP season.