- Joined
- Dec 3, 2022
- Messages
- 331
- Reaction score
- 309
Took my .50 caliber New Englander to the range today. I had high hopes for the HGP bullet but after some testing, I don't think this will be my round of choice. After some sight adjustments I did manage to get the holes touching from 50 yards. At 100 yards the drop was way more than I want to deal with. To be fair, with my aging vision and iron sights, the end bead covered up the entire target black, so it is difficult to know the true accuracy on a 100 yard target.
Accuracy was not as much of an issue as loading them. In my particular rifle, they were way too tight getting them started. So much so that I actually had to make a fist and pound the heal of my hand very hard on the bullet starter just to get the bullet down the first few inches. After that they went the rest of the way down the barrel easily. But getting them started in my rifle is a no go for me. I know not how much pressure it might require in other rifles, but for mine, they are not a bullet I want to force so hard to get started.
To sum this up, they are definitely accurate out to 50 yards from my rifle.
At 100 yards the drop is way more than I like. However, I never increased the charge.
As hard as it takes to get HGP bullets started in the barrel of this particular rifle, that sealed their fate with this ole boy.
Moving along, I had some Hornady XTP 240 grains left over from my last inline range session, so I shot a few of them from 100 yards. They start down the barrel much easier but are fairly snug all the way until they are seated. The only charge I used was 80 grains of 3F black powder. Accuracy appeared to be pretty good but again, the target I had was too small for the sights. Any time the sights cover up the target, its more/less a stab in the dark. There is little aiming precision to be had.
They shot pretty darn flat from 50 to 100 yards, which makes me happy. Definitely something to work on at the next range trip, except the next time I will have a larger target for better aiming. I do plan on increasing the powder charge. From my only other experience with the XTP's out of an inline I found accuracy increased with an increase in powder charge.
I still have a few more PowerBelts left over and I'll most likely give them a try out to 100 yards but I have my doubts with those. They do load nice in this rifle.
So, I am on the hunt once again for a bullet that suits me, as well as my New Englander.
Accuracy was not as much of an issue as loading them. In my particular rifle, they were way too tight getting them started. So much so that I actually had to make a fist and pound the heal of my hand very hard on the bullet starter just to get the bullet down the first few inches. After that they went the rest of the way down the barrel easily. But getting them started in my rifle is a no go for me. I know not how much pressure it might require in other rifles, but for mine, they are not a bullet I want to force so hard to get started.
To sum this up, they are definitely accurate out to 50 yards from my rifle.
At 100 yards the drop is way more than I like. However, I never increased the charge.
As hard as it takes to get HGP bullets started in the barrel of this particular rifle, that sealed their fate with this ole boy.
Moving along, I had some Hornady XTP 240 grains left over from my last inline range session, so I shot a few of them from 100 yards. They start down the barrel much easier but are fairly snug all the way until they are seated. The only charge I used was 80 grains of 3F black powder. Accuracy appeared to be pretty good but again, the target I had was too small for the sights. Any time the sights cover up the target, its more/less a stab in the dark. There is little aiming precision to be had.
They shot pretty darn flat from 50 to 100 yards, which makes me happy. Definitely something to work on at the next range trip, except the next time I will have a larger target for better aiming. I do plan on increasing the powder charge. From my only other experience with the XTP's out of an inline I found accuracy increased with an increase in powder charge.
I still have a few more PowerBelts left over and I'll most likely give them a try out to 100 yards but I have my doubts with those. They do load nice in this rifle.
So, I am on the hunt once again for a bullet that suits me, as well as my New Englander.
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