Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Fourth range visit with Deerstalker .54

Well, had my fourth range visit with the Deerstalker .54 percussion. Things are coming together!!! Thanks to everyone for all the ideas, advice and suggestions.

First of all, I discovered that .535 balls shoot a lot lower than .530 balls! Second, I discovered that this rifle absolutely *loves* a .535 ball, .01 ox-yoke lubed patch, and a wonder wad over 90 grains of Pyrodex RS. Here's a three shot group from the bench at 25 yards measuring just over .5 inches:


I also did some shooting with conicals, the TC Maxi, one of the Buffalo Bullet conicals, and also the Buffalo Ball-et. All shot well, but nothing approaching that .535 prb load.

I also started working on offhand shooting, which I haven't done in 20 years! It went okay ... I caught myself starting to flinch with the heavy conicals ... here is a target offhand at 25 yards with three shots of that prb load circled on top, and four shots with the TC Maxi on bottom:


Obviously, I have some work to do!!! I won't have a benchrest in the woods on my hunt, I know!!! But it's a start. I'll concentrate a lot on offhand and 'hunting situations' in my remaining 4 or 5 range sessions before elk season opens October 7th.

Again, thank you all for the help!!!

Respectfully,
Liam

Those Roundballs will do just fine I don't know if you want to or have to go to the Maxi conicals.

Also if the bore twist is slow (60's range) than it's made for roundballs - 20's are for conicals and 40's are compomise.

Spot