Author Topic: Muzzleloader pistol (Read 734 times)

Kates · « **on:** July 08, 2005, 02:42:53 AM »

I have been considering a muzzleloader pistol. I would like some feedback on accuracy and what owners or previous owners have to say

rickyp · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2005, 10:03:29 AM »

I have had an 209X50 contender barrel and now have a 15 inch 209X50 encore barrel that I will be working with.

The 209x50 contender was from bullberry, it was very accurate from the bench when I did my parts. I have yet to do any real work with the encore barrel.

Darrell H · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2005, 12:42:23 PM »

I have owned 2, a 15" factory Encore barrel and a 14 1/2" Bullberry 209 X 50 barrel. Since I no longer have either one of them I guess that I was not impressed with their performance. I harvested three hogs with the Bullberry barrel and I sold it to keep from ever using it again after the last one. Very sloppy....

If you were going to use it for a hunting pistol, I would suggest that you spend your dollars on on a good 209X50 rifle barrel so as to generate enough velocity for good bullet expansion. When I shoot game with my 26" barrel it falls over dead, just like it's supposed to!

Just my $.02...

Good luck!!

X

Chris · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2005, 01:39:14 PM »

Kates:

What do you want to shoot with this pistol? :?

...Chris

Kates · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2005, 03:56:45 PM »

I will be using it for whitetails, my shots are usually no more than 100 yards

rickyp · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2005, 03:49:56 AM »

When you use a black powder handgun for hunting you must pay close attention to bullet selection and placement.

A 14 or 15 inch barrel with 100 grs of powder is close in performance to a 44 mag. If you keep this in mind you will be OK.

as for bullets you really have to watch what ones you get. if you get normal muzzle loading bullets they will not expand as good on a deer.
You will have better luck buying your own sabots then getting bullets designed for lower 44 mag or upper 44 special loads

with mine I have killed several deer, missed quite a few and I have shot a few that I did not recover due to no blood trail. I am not happy about the uncovered deer but I know I did my best to find them and make a good shot.

The lack of a blood trail doesn't bother me that much any more because, This past season I shot a doe at about 75 yards with a 12 ga slug and she ran off with out leaving a drop of blood for me to follow. the only way I knew she was killed is I heard her fall about 100 yards behind me and recovered her with a double lung shot. I also shot a buck at 10 feet with my knight LK93 muzzle loader rifle. the damage was very bad in fact nothing was left in the chest that wasn't mush. the deer ran about 50 yards and died. I didn't find any blood at the site I shot him but I was able to see him fall.

Darrell H · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2005, 12:50:44 PM »

Quote

with mine I have killed several deer, missed quite a few and I have shot a few that I did not recover due to no blood trail.

Ricky, please believe me when I say that I'm not bad-mouthing you or your weapon. You have the right to hunt with whatever you want to, but your experience and mine with the 209X50 pistol are exactly the same. This is why I quit hunting with mine. I personally can't accept this type of performance.

X

rickyp · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2005, 01:39:23 PM »

I have had the same prerformance using my bow , 12 ga shotgun slug and muzzlel laoding rifle. This is hunting and nothing will work 100 % , 100 % of the time. I shot a doe at 10 yards with my bear whitetail @ boe set at 60 lbs. The arrow did not pass trough and just stuck in her side. I never found her.

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2005, 03:23:15 AM »

I have a Kahnke M82 single shot muzzleloading pistol with a 14" .50 caliber barrel. It is quite accurate and has a good "feel" to the gun. I have shot and killed one wild boar and one red deer hind with it. As pointed out, bullet selection is crucial.I used 100 grains of H777 with a 250 grain TC sabot. The animals dropped with a few yards after being hit.

I think you would like this pistol.

Chris · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2005, 04:45:12 PM »

Kates:

I found a like-new .54 TC Scout not so long ago. They come-up for sale every now and then on the most popular auction sites. You can load the Scout dang-near like any BP rifle and it is a handful when it goes off.

Yes, you can shoot it out to 100yds but it isn't easy keeping it on target at that range with open sights...even sandbagged. At 50yds you can keep them all in a 6" circle without any problems...plenty of gun if your area allows them for use.

Traditions also sells a big BP handgun. I bought one from Bass Pro through the mail and returned it the next day. It isn't finished very well...rough as a cob. Some say it will place shots where you want them every time...I didn't give it a chance.

My two cents...

Good Luck! ...Chris

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2005, 04:03:25 AM »

I've had a TC Scout .50 pistol for many years. It is a very effective hunting (deer) handgun. Of course, you still have to realize the limitations you place on yourself when handgun hunting. My favorite hunting load is a 350gr Maxi-hunter over 90gr of Pyrodex P and YES, it is a handfull. It is the only handgun ( including my 45-70 Contender ) that took my hat off my head when fired. I quickly learned to let it come up, pivoting my arms at the shoulder instead of the elbow. If memory serves, I shot 3 whitetails with it and as GB so eloquintly stated on another thread, it was...Bam!!!...Flop. All three were 50yd or less and presented good shots. Unfortunately the Game Commission here in Virginia rewrote the BP rules a few years back and inserted the word "rifle" where it had said "weapon" and effectively outlawed BP handgun hunting. I was told that it was not intentional and if I made a request it would be changed back. I did so but nothing ever came of it. Surprize!!!
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

rickyp · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2005, 08:26:50 AM »

Quote from: Hopalong7

Unfortunately the Game Commission here in Virginia rewrote the BP rules a few years back and inserted the word "rifle" where it had said "weapon" and effectively outlawed BP handgun hunting. I was told that it was not intentional and if I made a request it would be changed back. I did so but nothing ever came of it. Surprize!!!
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

don't give up keep sending in letters every year. I have done this and I have seen what I request come to life, not everything I ask for has happened but I hope it will

Keith L · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2005, 01:00:38 PM »

I wrote asking that my Scout pistol be legal for deer hunting here in Wisconsin and was told by a warden who answered the letter that he has no interest in black powder pistol hunting. I assured him that his opinion was not important to me, wrote to my elected reps, but so far no luck. Some day...