I went out today to shoot my Hot Rod Hawken again.
Last week I tried a new bullet that kicked azz. I got a RCBS 11mm mould. It pours a 409 grain bullet that is .446" with lead that is about 6 BHN hardness. I paper Patch them to fit my .451 Green Mountain Hawken.




I shot three shots no cleaning. They did good so I tried another but it went a little wide. My first 100 yard group last week was this one.




I adjusted my sights a bit and shot another 100 yard group that was even better.



I wanted to try some more that were a bit harder. So last week I poured up two new batches of harder lead. One batch was about 8.5 BHN and the second batch was 9.5 BHN hard. Today I only got to try the 8.5 hardness. I shot a group using 80 gr of Pyrodex P and no over powder wad. It was ok somewhere in the 3" range at 100 yards. I decided to try an over powder wad, so I adjusted my sights from last weeks group. I shot two shots and wow that was good. SO I cleaned the gun and this time I was shooting for group. I cleaned between each shot. In this picture The tape is covering the first two shots. This three shot group is .858" If I were to peel off the tape the group for all 5 shots would be still under 1" group.



I also had a Limb Saver recoil pad installed. I had a gun smith do this one because I wanted the stock cut and a part of the brass left in place.





This gives me a better length but also WOW it helps on the recoil. The next time I go out I plan to try the 9.5 BHN hardness bullets but I think I found the golden ticket. Ron

Ron: Those Green Mountain barrels shoot, and so can you! What kind of velocity are you getting with 80 grains of Pyrodex P?

I am getting 1420 feet per second. Ron

is green mt good on turn around i want to buy my father a barrel for his tc hawken maybe in 54 caliber with a round ball twist hes using the standard 50 cal 1-48 twist shoot alright with the tc maxie balls but not fantastic shoot round balls extreamly accurate but with moderate powder charges of 70-80 grains of powder im thinking a nice 54/58 cal slow twist barrel and 120-140 grains of ffg would be more like it.

I have never had any problem but I haven't bought one for a couple of years. Ron

Ron,

Your results with paper-patched bullets are always impressive on paper and on game. I started my muzzleloading career with a TC Renegade Hunter in .50 cal. It was death on deer with 350 grain maxiballs, but I didn't know anything about peep sights at that time so just used the factory sights. I am thinking about Colorado muzzleloader seasons. I know you hunt Idaho, but do you know if paper-patched bullets with an over-powder wad would meet Colorado's muzzleloading regs? Thanks for all your contributions to this forum. I have learned quite a bit from your posts.

Steve

Yes these are legal in Colorado as far as I know. A friend of mine used paper patched 500S&W bullets there a couple of years ago. You got to remember that the gun needs a rate of twist fast enough to stabilize those bullets. I have had luck with them in twists as slow as 1-32 but I have not had any good luck with them in 1-48 twists. If you need any extra info feel free to ask. Ron

Ron,
Thanks for the answer. I've got one of the earlier inlines, a Knight MK85 Hunter, with a 1 in 28 twist that I am thinking of using. This is a really well-built muzzleloader that was not very convenient to use with a scope. The scope sat directly above the nipple. This made it inconvenient to cap the nipple. Additionally, the smoke from the nipple would coat the bottom of the scope tube. A piece of milk jug created a shield to protect the scope. I have since removed the scope and mounted a Skinner Low Profile peep on the back of the receiver. I am considering a tang-mounted peep. Inlines are legal in Colorado so this should work. If I am successful in the draw I will have to start working with the paper-patched bullets. Steve

I have a tutorial on making these bullets. They should shoot fantastic in that knight. Knight barrels are made by Green Mountain. The same company that made my barrels. Your MK 85 would be a great rifle to use the paper patched bullet. Ron

Ron, I appreciate the vote of confidence for my MK 85. Starting out on this endeavor with the idea that it will work greatly increases my odds for success. I have never shot a paper patched bullet, but intuitively it makes perfect sense that they should work great in a front loader. I may yet be requesting that tutorial on making these bullets. Steve