- Joined
- Aug 12, 2005
- Messages
- 9,993
- Reaction score
- 57
I wanted to shoot today. It was sunny, no wind, some bug juice handles that problem, but it was hot...
Being determined, I took out a .50 caliber Thompson Center Hawkin flintlock. This flintlock has a German agate in the jaws, and all kidding aside I bet I have over forty shots off this thing and there is very little wear and chipping yet. Never a misfire all day, but I did have one dangerous hangfire.
This rifle is a powder pig. I loaded 100 grains of 2f Graf's & Sons black powder, moosemilked a pillow tick cotton strip, and used cast roundball. The first shot on a clean dry barrel was encouraging to say the least. The target was only at 30 yards, so I expected this much. My hold is that black diamond resting on top of the front sight, buried into the buckhorn sight.
I was surprised the rifle was not fouling out. I did swab once. And for some reason got a dangerous hangfire. I actually pulled the trigger, raised my head, then heard the fizzle of the pan when it went off. Guess which one that was.
I wanted to see how the rifle acted on a hot barrel. I was loading and shooting very quickly. Like I said the rifle was not fouling out, but it was turning orange in the pan from the powder burns. And I learned that when your shooting this fast, and loading and such, that barrel can burn your hand. I mean to tell you, it was hot.
Over all for as hot as it was, as hot as I got that barrel, and I lost count of how many shots I fired.. (I had to go into the house for another strip of pillow tick and that is when I decided to swab the bore with Windex)... the gun did real well. With that kind of powder charge, I would hate to have that ball shot at me. No idea what the velocity would be in that kind of heat.
Also one thermometer said, 100 degrees but the other only read 93 degrees. But MAN!! it was hot. Thank goodness winter will be here soon.
Being determined, I took out a .50 caliber Thompson Center Hawkin flintlock. This flintlock has a German agate in the jaws, and all kidding aside I bet I have over forty shots off this thing and there is very little wear and chipping yet. Never a misfire all day, but I did have one dangerous hangfire.
This rifle is a powder pig. I loaded 100 grains of 2f Graf's & Sons black powder, moosemilked a pillow tick cotton strip, and used cast roundball. The first shot on a clean dry barrel was encouraging to say the least. The target was only at 30 yards, so I expected this much. My hold is that black diamond resting on top of the front sight, buried into the buckhorn sight.
I was surprised the rifle was not fouling out. I did swab once. And for some reason got a dangerous hangfire. I actually pulled the trigger, raised my head, then heard the fizzle of the pan when it went off. Guess which one that was.
I wanted to see how the rifle acted on a hot barrel. I was loading and shooting very quickly. Like I said the rifle was not fouling out, but it was turning orange in the pan from the powder burns. And I learned that when your shooting this fast, and loading and such, that barrel can burn your hand. I mean to tell you, it was hot.
Over all for as hot as it was, as hot as I got that barrel, and I lost count of how many shots I fired.. (I had to go into the house for another strip of pillow tick and that is when I decided to swab the bore with Windex)... the gun did real well. With that kind of powder charge, I would hate to have that ball shot at me. No idea what the velocity would be in that kind of heat.
Also one thermometer said, 100 degrees but the other only read 93 degrees. But MAN!! it was hot. Thank goodness winter will be here soon.
8)
