4th try at posting my target

[William]

Shot with my Mongrel built .54 plains rifle, 85 grains of 2f Goex and a PRB as well as the Great Plains bullet, same powder charge with the target at 50 yards.  These are both bench rest as well as off hand.  I'd not hesitate to shoot deer or elk with either RB or conical based on what I see here.

The shots outside the inner circle are actually from my .50 flintlock, all the ones that tore out the bullseye were launched from my .54.

[pilgrim]

         

[graybear]

But can you get the .54 to hold a good group? I'd say, you've got a good shooter there. Of course, we expect nothing else from a Mongrel gun.

[gunmaker]

Looks like all you need now is a big fat critter a standin' in front a that thing.   Good one William.  ....Tom

[William]

I managed to put at least 4 shots right on top of each other but you can't quite see that the dark spot in the middle of the target is the chair showing through and not the black of the target.  What I noted when shooting the .54 is that the 15 mph gusts that were blowing right to left yesterday did not seem to have much effect at 50 yards while it did catch the .50 RB to the tune of about 3 inches.  Realize though that I was using 85 grains under the .54 and only 60 grains with the .50.

Even though I pretty much only shoot RB's now, I was impressed with how my 1:48 ROT Lyman barrel handled the Hornady Great Plains conicals I put through it.  If I needed to dispatch a buffalo sized animal I might use these conicals, but would do so only after a fouling shot as after getting past the  first three inches at the muzzle, the bullet just dropped into the breech without any resistance.  After one shot and not swabbing I would be confident that they'd stay put on the powder charge though.  I might also add a lubed Wonderwad to the mix as it's been my experience that these most often improve accuracy when used with conicals.

[Hanshi]

Don't know how much better that target could be shot.  Fine shooting with an accurate rifle. 

[William]

One of the reasons I had this rifle built around the Lyman Trade Rifle barrel is because it was so accurate in it's original factory form. I think only the barrel (sans breech plug) trigger and trigger guard are original but it all works in unison.

[Watauga]

OH YES!

[William]

An update after today's shooting match.  The silhouette stage of the match had steel cut-outs at 20, 40, 60 and 80 yards and we were required to shoot at each target then the 5th shot was our choice.  The 20 yards turkey cut-out was worth 1 point, the hog was 2 points, bear was three points and buffalo was 4 so with the 5th shot hitting the buffalo you could score up to 15 points.  Using my Mongrel built .54 caplock I was able to score 15 points and came in first with the second place totaling 13 points and a tie for 3rd place with 10 each.  I must say that it is a very satisfying sound when that lead ball hits the steel target and this rifle will do that all day long.  We had very high humidity today which just seem to add to the amount of fouling after the shot, which everybody commented on.

Other comments included compliments on the cherry stock that Mongrel carved to fit me perfectly.  One of these days I hope to take it hunting and I will be sure to let you guys know how she does. 

[pilgrim]

     Congratulations on taking 1st place.  I'd have to say that both the rifle and the shooter are a perfect match for each other.