With the price of ammo (when you can find it), my boys and I have moved to almost exclusively shooting black powder rifles and pistols. The rifle is a 50 caliber T/C Hawken I made from a kit I got from Fox Ridge Outfitters about 20 years ago. The pistol is a 45 caliber CVA Colonial I made from a kit I got about 40 years ago when I was a kid.

I typically shoot the Hawken with 80 grains of powder over a patch and ball. I’m more conservative with the pistol and only shoot 20 grains of powder over a patch and ball. Typically, I use FFG or the equivalent for both. I do have some FFFG for the pistol but it shoots well with the FFG. Both are equally reliable with #11 caps although I have a fair amount of #11 magnum caps for the rifle for hunting or situation shoots at the local rendezvous.

The rifle is very accurate. The pistol - well I have to admit I drilled the front sight hole slightly off center years ago so the sights are off a bit. Nevertheless, it is minute of bad guy at about 7 yards. Which is probably good for such a short barreled pistol. If anyone has an extra barrel for the pistol for sale (Ebay prices are way to rich for me) let me know. Anyway, we had another great time at the range yesterday. Now, if I could only get my daughters to go.

I Like It!

For a second there, I thought you had taken a piano to the range

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Well, we did play a little Country Western music while shooting.

Black powder is a ton of fun. I never thought I wanted a bp muzzleloader until I shot one. Now I have 7. The TC Hawken is fantastic looking and incredibly accurate. Too bad they stopped making them after S&W took over.

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I read today S&W is selling Thompson. Hopefully the new owner won't be an investment bank and will start production of the Hawken again.