First Time Out

[djw]

Found a nice .50 Sidekick (7/8" breech plug, pallet wood) at a pawn shop a couple weeks ago, and finally got out yesterday to try it out.  This is my first muzzleloader, and I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated by the whole venture.  With the help of info here, a friendly fellow shopper at the local shop, and the guy at the next table at the range, I was able to actually put rounds down range.  Can't say I actually got a group, more like a pattern, but they were all on the paper.  Didn't feel too bad about it, though, as it was towards dusk, open sights, and offhand.  Now to get a scope on it, and get a few more rounds through it.  Having a blast!

BTW, I was shooting 240gr XTPs with sabots, Winchester 209s and 80gr of Pioneer(?) powder.  I imagine I'll try a few more loadings, maybe at 90 and 100 grains, or open to recommendations.

TIA,
Don

[Jal5]

Try a few different loads/sabot combinations and you will get it! I really like mine and feel very confident shooting it.

[Keith Lewis]

If you continue to have poor grouping you might want to try some Pyrodex powder as the Pioneer powder seems to be relatively prone to inconsistency for some. Pyrodex has been around for a long time and is pretty well known as consistent. A little dirty and way more corrosive than Pioneer but if cleaned well immediately after shooting not a problem.

[djw]

If you continue to have poor grouping you might want to try some Pyrodex powder as the Pioneer powder seems to be relatively prone to inconsistency for some. Pyrodex has been around for a long time and is pretty well known as consistent. A little dirty and way more corrosive than Pioneer but if cleaned well immediately after shooting not a problem.

Keith,
I'll certainly consider that, but it's way too early to tell given all the other variables that were present in my first outing, particularly the open sight/off hand thing. My eyes aren't nearly as good as they were not that long ago.
Don

[petemi]

My .50 Huntsman really likes a big (470 gr. Maxi-Hunter) cast bullet and two 50 gr. Tripple Seven Pellets.  I've shot it well with 2 pellets at 200+ yards and 3 at 300 yards.  Just takes some tinkering with.  IMHO the longer, heavier bullet stabilizes better.  Busta will know for sure.  Sabots don't seem to shoot worth a poop out of my rifle, and I am prejudiced about them.  Why reduce your rifle from .50 cal. to .45   If you want a .45 rifle, get one, load it up with a big cast .45 bullet and poke it down range.  I guess the other thing is I'd prefer lead fouling to plastic.  Just an opinion.

[djw]

My .50 Huntsman really likes a big (470 gr. Maxi-Hunter) cast bullet and two 50 gr. Tripple Seven Pellets.  I've shot it well with 2 pellets at 200+ yards and 3 at 300 yards.  Just takes some tinkering with.  IMHO the longer, heavier bullet stabilizes better.  Busta will know for sure.  Sabots don't seem to shoot worth a poop out of my rifle, and I am prejudiced about them.  Why reduce your rifle from .50 cal. to .45   If you want a .45 rifle, get one, load it up with a big cast .45 bullet and poke it down range.  I guess the other thing is I'd prefer lead fouling to plastic.  Just an opinion.

Pete,
I'm sorry you don't have strong feelings about this topic .
Where do you get these monster cast bullets?  As I said, I'm brand new to all of this, so I'm open to suggestions.
Don

[beerhunter]

Just make sure you clean the barrel with HOT soapy water after you shoot it and spit patch it betten shots. (in-lines like to be clean for descent groupings)

[beerhunter]

Try to find find some 240 saber tooth's, or use hornedy SST in 240 (stay away from power belts they tend to brake up when thy hit a deer) I like to use 90g of ffg lose powder in 777.

[petemi]

Don, I bought a used .50 Hawken a few years ago and it came with 3 boxes of T/C 470 gr. Maxis, T/C number 7685.  I don't even know if they still make them.  Until last year, I always shot traditional MLs with patched round balls.  When I got my huntsman, I decided to try them, and I really like them.  I'm hoarding them and using them for serious hunting and shooting other stuff for fun.