As most of you know Mitch built me a Christian Springs style flintlock. I took delivery of it 4 week or so ago. I have been wanting to get out to shoot it, but lots of other things got in the way. When I could go, it was windy or rain.
So, last night I got out to shoot it.
I set up my bench at 15 yards. No use getting frustrated.
My first shot was the bulls eye. I looked through the spoting scope and thought, "that was lucky" , so I decided to give it a second try. So, with two holes cutting the bull, I moved back to 50 yards.
I shot around 35 shots last night at 50 yards. The rifle was shooting a couple of inches to the left so I was trying to slowly drift the front sight.
I ended up drifting the sight left and right, I could not seem to get it to center, but popping out on one side or the other. I was also playing around with how much priming powder to use, to pick or not to pick.
The picture of the group was I think my worst group. In addition to playing with the sights I was also playing around with 70 or 75 grains for my vertical center.
With everything I was doing and playing with I am very happy with my less than 3" group at 50 yards.
Next trip to the range I will get it locked in at 50 (I hope) and then see what happens at 100 yards.
The ignition was really good. I never had to do anything to the flint. The rifle seems to like a full pan vs a half a pan.
It is a .54 cal, used a .015 patch, with a .535 ball. This load is fairly tight. I started at 70 grains of 2f swiss. I have very good luck of simply changing my powder load for the various yardages.
I am a very inexperienced flintlock shooter and I have quite a bit to learn yet.
I think I will keep the rifle.
I love a beautiful and accurate rifle.
Fleener
