Thanks Taylor.
Trying to be civil here, sometimes it's difficult - pain does that to me.
Fella's, you have to know "sydney" better - he welcomes someone to attempt to prove" his opinion" is wrong, until they do offer that which he seems to seek - then he refuses to acknowledge that "his opinion" might be wrong. It happens on the nitroexpress forum as well. This forum, this topic, is no different. Ask him how many shots he's actually fired from a muzzleloading rifle - with any sight.
TOF - a 1/2" hole in a target is NOT a 1/2" group - a group requires more than 1 shot - ie: GROUP - more than 1. Groups are measured Centre to Centre of the two farthest distanced shots in the group. That is the group's measure.
I guess Taylor's and my 2 1/2" groups at 200yards are also not possible - well, perhaps you need more practice - with a muzzleloader.
I will totally agree with your statement, sydney, that the average shooter cannot shoot a 1" or 1 1/2" group at 100yards with open sights. One gun rag many years ago, noted that about 4" was what the "average" shooter could do with open sights. I think they were referring to modern rifles with modern coarse sights VERY close together, not rifles with fairly long barrels and good sights.
The open sights I use on that 9 1/2 pound rifle really shot well for me, for many years. I actually practiced with it all one winter, just a few winters ago. I used it in 5 matches at Hefley Creek that August and won 5 first places. I'm not bragging - please don't think that - what happened is fact, pure and simple- THAT is an amazing rifle that is easy to shoot well, IF you can soak up a bit of recoil. According to my program, the recoil of it's accuracy load was around 64 FPE. The recoil speed is slow, but the gun does move a bit- moves you too- but- it shoots.