Author Topic: sighting in for Hunting. (Read 576 times)

New Hampshire · « **on:** May 11, 2004, 12:09:29 PM »

OK, folks. The last and final piece of the puzzle is on its way. The CVA mountain rifle I resurrected is finished but for the new sights that are in the mail. I picked up a set of Williams adjustable firesights for the octagon CVAs. The old sights were too crude for my bad eyes (that thin blade front, even in good light, just seemed way to thin to do much for me :grin: .) Once they are on its time to get serious about making some smoke and preparing for the woods this year. So I have a question about sighting in for hunting. What distance should I set my rifle in for, and how far is the "MAX" distance I should consider shooting at? I think I remember reading in Mr Fadalas BP manual that the .50 cal. should be kept to within 50 yards for whitetail, correct? If so, Im thinking that 25 yards would be a good sight in distance with plenty of practicing out to 50 without adjusting sights?Also, I am thinking of using T/Cs borebutter heavily in my shooting. They claim it makes cleaning easier and you can get more shots between cleanings, which would come in handy during the sighting in process.
So now I just gotts run down to the gun store for some patches, lead balls, caps and either some BP or (dare I say the nasty word) P...P...PPPP.....Pyrodex :-D ! I tell ya, when I shot that sabot to clear the bbl so I could scrub it down it only fueled my excitement to really get serious! One shot hooked me (and I didn't even hit anything

) so I cant begin to fathom what a full day of shooting will do to me!
Thanks,
Brian M.

Ramrod · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:43:16 PM »

New Hampshire,
You could sight in at 25 yards, but you got an easy 100 yard gun there! If you have to sight in at 25 yards because thats all the range you have, leave her about an inch high, you would be a little higher yet at 50, on around 75 or so, and a little low at 100. You don't need a blackpowder gun sighted dead on at 25 yards unless its a handgun, or your hunting tree rats.

HWooldridge · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2004, 01:10:47 PM »

Once you get very consistent groups at 25 yds (one ragged hole should be the goal) move out to 100 and zero the rifle dead in the black using a solid rest. Then see how high she hits at 25, 50 and 75 and you'll have a real good understanding of the ball's arc from "here to there".

Edgewood NM · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2004, 01:10:52 PM »

That old CVA Mountain Rifle is a good 100+ yard rifle. I had one back in the mid 70's and I still kick my self for letting go of it. .490 round ball and .15 linen patch and 95 grains of old Dupont as I read from my notes of that era where what I took my last elk and mulie with that particular gun. This was October and September 1978. The 1:66 would not shoot those back then new TC Maxi balls worth a darn but a round ball or Minnie it was a tackdriver!!. Good gun and don't let go of it.

Chuck

Roger_Dailey · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2004, 01:43:54 PM »

Quote from: New Hampshire

....Also, I am thinking of using T/Cs borebutter heavily in my shooting. They claim it makes cleaning easier and you can get more shots between cleanings, ....

Sometimes "more is better" is a good plan. However, I'm a firm believer that with patch lube; "less is better". I used to confuse cleaning with wiping between shots. Then someone pointed out that cleaning is what you do before storing a gun. Wiping between shots is just "dressing" the fouling. That way the same set of conditions are in play for each shot. For a heavy grease lube like bore butter, I just gently wipe the patch over the butter.

New Hampshire · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2004, 02:12:55 PM »

Thanks guys. I did not realize I could touch a deer that far with this gun. Maybe Ill set for 50 yards instead and then practice closer and farther. In reality most of the shots will be under 50 yards anyways. Good ole New England hunting, if you see a deer its probably close enough to kick ya! Still havent decided yet how Im gonna approch this type of hunting. Ive got the climbing tree stand, but still hutning is the more traditional style round here. But I got plenty of time (and lots of scouting) till then to figgre her out :grin: !
Brian M.

crow_feather · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2004, 02:40:21 PM »

New Hampshire,

You get that deer in yer picture ta stop movin, I,ll finish it off fer ya!

I think that your limiting factor will be more your eyes, than your rifle. I remember sighting in a 58 Enfield once. After I got it in the woods, I couldn't see the sight against the darker target. Good luck with your shootin.

C F