Traditions Pioneer Pistol Kit

[coyotejoe]

I've always admired the lines of this pistol so I finally bought a kit and slapped it together. Nice barrel with 8 narrow lands which mic .451" and wide grooves which mic .461", fast twist.
 The lock is a POS. Traditions doesn't offer a really good lock and the one supplied with the Pioneer is their cheapest, with no fly or bridal to the tumbler. It does have a screw to limit sear engagement but if adjusted for a light pull the hammer will drop into half-cock. That issue is compounded by the trigger location too far ahead of the lock. The sear bar is bent forward to reach the very back end of the trigger blade, thus leverage is all wrong for a light trigger pull.
 I also didn't care for the sights supplied, a thin brass blade front and a tiny V notch rear. I opened up the V with a 1/8" chainsaw file and replace the front with a steel blade from my junk boxes.
 The first outing offered some surprises. Surprise number one came when the first shot was in the 10 ring of the six bull rifle target at 25 yards. The sights had just been knocked into their dovetails to look about centered on the barrel, I lucked out on that, no adjustment needed. That was followed by three more in the 9 and 10 rings but then the fifth shot dropped low, just out of the bull.
 Next surprise was when I checked the chronograph. Those first four averaged 902 fps. Surprising because I was shooting only 15 grains of 3f Goex! It would take 30 grains to match that speed with one of my .44 C&B revolvers. The chronograph also told a tale of that fifth shot, it clocked only 798 fps. Why that one shot was so slow I have no idea but that does explain why it dropped out of the group. The first four were in 1 1/4" CTC and even including the slow fifth shot the total group is only 2 1/4" which ain't too bad for a first try with a new gun. I was shooting a .440" home cast ball and .022" cotton canvas patch lubed with spit. Next time out I'll try a larger ball and thinner patch. That combination is generally better for a bore with shallow grooves. Anyhow, she does seem to want to shoot.
 Oh yeah, I added a belt clip fabricated from spring stock.

[coyotejoe]

Some progress. Today I tried three loads, two with a .451" ball and .014" muslin patch, one each with Goex 3f and Pyrodex "P". Not so good, both went about 3", the flimsy muslin material was blowing out. So I reverted to the .440" ball with 15 grains of 3f but with an .018" pillow ticking patch. That was much better at 1.7 inches.

[wormbobskey]

How about I send you my jukar and see if you can't wring that type of accuracy out of it. Those groups indicate to me that you are doing everytrhing right to get a pistol shhoting the way we all want our pistols to shoot. Good shooting.

[coyotejoe]

That's nothing exceptional, given a decent bore, good sights and a reasonable trigger, groups under 2" are the norm for a patched ball singleshot. Getting accuracy from a revolver is a bit more challenging. If I could just shoot those groups while standing up on my hind legs, that would be something I might brag about.
I'll emphasize sights and trigger, I never could shoot with the sights that came on the gun. You just can't beat modern pistol sights for accuracy and consistency of aim. A flat top, black steel blade up front and a wide flat top rear with a square or deep U notch permits holding the gun level, not canted, and gives a consistent reference to center the front in the rear notch. A shiny brass blade front and a tiny V notch rear will just frustrate your efforts, shooting to different places in different light and just too hard to see in any light. And if the trigger pull is so hard it causes your hand to tremble, well that is hopeless.

[Rangr44]

I hope this "new-to-me" T/C Patriot .45, similar in format, is as accurate.



I also intend to start with .440" RB & red stripe ticking - with Holy Black FFFg, of course................   

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