The .45 Kentucky; first shot of 2018

Beauty Day, got the chores done by noon so it was time to open the range and "Make Smoke".

I took the .45 CVA Kentucky out, using .45 swaged Balls and the Butler Creek Poly Patches (Ball Sabot) I bought a few years back.

If you're interested see this old thread for info on them. (https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...5-Poly-Patches)

Today goal: confirm the consistency and accuracy of the powder/patch/ball at 25 yds and 50 yds.

I'm shooting open sights (blade) using a barrel rest. The target paper gives me a 2" black square for Bull.

I should add, for those that don't shoot open sights, at 50 yds you don't see the black square, it's covered by the bead on the front sight so you're essentially shooting at an invisible target.

Anyway, I'm pleased with the groupings for the first day out, surprised again how much more accurate for this gun got when I switched to the Poly Patches.

Specs:

.45 cal 125 gr. swaged ball
60 grs of Pyrodex

First Group at 25yds:

https://i.imgur.com/NpHD7yyl.jpg


A note of interest I didn't increase the powder charge and kept the same point of aim between the 25 and 50 yds distances. The drop was only about an inch, nice to know.

https://i.imgur.com/LrLq92Bl.jpg

I also found I need to get into shape...LOL.....walking back and forth 100 yrds to target board to take the pictures after each shot got my heart rate up enough to affect my shooting...felt like a Biathlon shooter. The first two shots where good then I started to have to control my breathing more. Sucks getting old :)

https://i.imgur.com/OjXvBBEl.jpg

Good shooting Mike. Absolutely nothing wrong with that load.Nice tight grouping, it's dead...

Looks like it is shooting well.

Nice tight pattern, look really good, maybe too good, watch out for that close shot :)

I have been thinking more about your first 2 shots at 50 yards vs 3, 4 and 5. Do you clean between shots? Might be worth trying, those first 2 are awesome then it starts to open up. I know this is a round ball at 50 yards but 1 and 2 vs 3-5, quite a bit further out in the group.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

quite a bit further out in the group.

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I don't think in the world of 'Patch and Ball' that 1" is considered 'quite a bit'.......LOL.

That drift is just me, after shooting equivalent to x20 'slug' rounds that afternoon my shoulder was getting sore and as i said earlier,my heart rate was up from walking back and forth..not the best for accurate shooting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fratri

Nice tight pattern, look really good, maybe too good, watch out for that close shot :)

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Thanks...yes I'm impressed that this gun can produce a tight grouping....I had a heck of a time trying to get any consistency with it when I first started shooting it using the lubricated patches. When I switched to these Poly Patches it sure tightened it up.

A 2" groupings at 50 yds with a 'slug' gun and open sights is OK by me....Heck I have a 10" Pie Plate as a target :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I don't think in the world of 'Patch and Ball' that 1" is considered 'quite a bit'....

That drift is just me, after shooting equivalent to 20 'slug' rounds that afternoon my shoulder was getting sore....LOL..

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3 and 4 is a 3" spread, so 6 MOA, as I said before, I am not sure of round ball accuracy but was just wondering about cleaning, lots of people claim they need to swab the bore between shots and the long range black powder guys use hoses to blow into the bore to softening the fouling.

Shot 1 and 2 are touching, is that just luck or is that what that 45 is actually capable of?

I sighted in all the deer rifles on the same day last year, I know what it is like when things get sore, 8 rifles, 2 ended up being properly dialed in and the other 6 were close enough to stay in the cabinet for the week, the next day was rough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

3 and 4 is a 3" spread, so 6 MOA, as I said before, I am not sure of round ball accuracy
Shot 1 and 2 are touching, is that just luck or is that what that 45 is actually capable of?

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Ahhh starting to see the misunderstanding...the target is the 2" square...and 4/5 shots are touching it..that is good shooting in the world of Black Powder shooting with Patch and ball.

Discussing of clover leaf groups are for guys with scoped center fire guns ;)

I don't think in all my years of discussing shooting of forums for Side Locks I have ever heard the term 'MOA' when discussing accuracy....:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

Shot 1 and 2 are touching, is that just luck or is that what that 45 is actually capable of?

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Well considering that 5/6 shots are touching at the 25yds range I can say, yes this gun, with these polypatches, is accurate enough, but you'd have to be able to see the target. As stated earlier, the 2" square is completely hidden behind the bead on the front forsight at 50yds.....so just hitting is the challenge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Ahhh starting to see the misunderstanding...the target is the 2" square...and 4/5 shots are touching it..that is good shooting in the world of Black Powder shooting with Patch and ball.

Discussing of clover leaf groups are for guys with scoped center fire guns ;)





Well considering that 5/6 shots are touching at the 25yds range I can say, yes that is what the gun is capable of.

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Cloverleaf looks to be possible with that at 50 yards, was just curious, I do not see 6 on the 50 yard target, is it out of frame or was this taken before shot 6?

I wonder how much curve happens to the round ball, throwing a ball or shooting a ball has some really unpredictable movement, would be fine close up but the further away the curve can do weird things. I guess if there is not much spin imparted on the ball by the rifling this type of effect may occur.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

I do not see 6 on the 50 yard target, is it out of frame or was this taken before shot 6?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Well considering that 5/6 shots are touching at the 25yds range I can say, yes that is what the gun is capable of.

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Only 5 shots at the 50....

You'll have to spend some range time with your new ML to get a feel for how accurate the lead ball/patch shot is. Hollywood had us believe that Jethro Bodine could shot the wings of a fly at 100 paces....reality , not so much..LOL...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Only 5 shots at the 50....

You'll have to spend some range time with your new ML to get a feel for how accurate the lead ball/patch shot is. Hollywood had us believe that Jethro Bodine could shot the wings of a fly at 100 paces....reality , not so much..LOL...

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I was doing some internet digging at lunch, some guys shoot round ball on steel at 300 yards :O

I will be very curious to find out what mine can do, probably some load development just like the rifles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fox

I was doing some internet digging at lunch, some guys shoot round ball on steel at 300 yards

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Not likely very well with a Kentucky long rifle with open sights....LOL...

A 125gr ball with an MV of 1400ft/sec has a -185" drop at 300 yds.....You'd have to aim at a spot 15' into the air...be like shooting a mortar and have the ball land on top of the target....LOL..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Not likely very well with a Kentucky long rifle with open sights....LOL...

A 125gr ball with an MV of 1400ft/sec has a -185" drop at 300 yds.....You'd have to aim at a spot 15' into the air...be like shooting a mortar and have the ball land on top of the target....LOL..

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Not saying I saw it happen, just that guys are claiming at vintage shoots to be hitting steel at 300 :P

Good stuff Mike. The accuracy is a bonus. Just getting out to make smoke is the best. I was out at the range with my .50 flinter the other day. Took a .308 and a 30-06 as well. Now.......how about a pic of that Kaintuck????...........................Daniel

Hi Daniel..

I picked this .45 CVA ML off a guy on the forum a few years back. I was looking for a percussion cap for back yard plinking at a cheap price...it fit the bill.

I refinished it with a 'Outers' Stock Kit...but really not that fond of the 'orange' look it took on. I may redo it one day...

This is the kit layout for a day of shooting using Lubricated Patches and wads...

https://i.imgur.com/8EbVvOnl.jpg

Looks like you got everything you need there Mike.........except a Flintlock. LOL They are another ball of wax.:thumbup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I also found I need to get into shape...LOL.....walking back and forth 100 yrds to target board to take the pictures after each shot got my heart rate up enough to affect my shooting...felt like a Biathlon shooter. The first two shots where good then I started to have to control my breathing more. Sucks getting old :)

https://i.imgur.com/OjXvBBEl.jpg

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I hear you MikePal the only thing worse than getting old is rotting LOL!!!

re: Sucks getting old. Mike, the heart is the least of your worries. Wait until you're seriously worried that you might soil yourself during that 100 yd walk! You'll be wearing diapers to the range.

Mike,
Good shooting.
I use a six o'clock hold with open or peep sights. It has been a while since I last had my GPR flintlock out.

HA

Holy Crap..I was just asking Golden Lake Pete about you HA, been wondering if anyone had heard from you. It's been a long while.

I picked up a new target from Champion that may solve the problem. I'll post some pics later.

Great to hear from you!!