Change sights.Get a good quality Fib.optic sight,I put a Williams on mine and I'm pleased.

ORIGINAL: CRANKMASTER

Big Tuna, Sorry but not interested in selling or trading. I bought a new .50 cal firestorm for my son to use last year but we never made it out. The firestorm is a nice gun. The only problem we have with it is the pan powder kept leaking out of the pan! You really have to keep it level at all times and check it frequently. Found that out this year in the early season. My renegade seals the pan pretty good, I can lean it up againt trees, lay it across my lap and walk around with it and the powder seems to stay in there.

quick fix for keeping the powder in the pan is to run a small line of RTV (or other silicone) around the outer edge of the pan... did this with my lyman and haven't had a problem keeping the pan full

Resisted temptation as long as I could. Wife says" bring one home, I want deer steak". A fat 7 point fell to the .50 caliber Traditions at 7:30 this morning. Spine shot, no tracking. Wife happy, all is well....WF

I'd like to buy a flintlock so if anyone has one they would consider selling, send me a PM.

ORIGINAL: CRANKMASTER

Those of you that shoot the powerbelts,has anyone ever experienced the tumbling effect of the slug when it leaves the barrel? I've heard some poeple say they tumble instead of spinning from the twist in the barrel.

 
Depends on the twist of your barrel.  Long, heavy projectiles will not stablize in slow twist barrels.  They need fast twist such as 1/28.  The Firestorm has a 1/48 twist and many flintlocks have 1/66.  Shorter, lighter projectiles will stabilize better in slower twist barrels.  The 245 Powerbelts are grouping great for me.  Anything over 300 grains will not group in my gun.

lol i'll let you know. i've thought about it before.

i'd hate to not have it incase i feel like getting into it again. i havent gone out with one in about...10 years though..but thats not saying i wouldnt ever again. if i decide i'll definetly let you know.

Dropped the hammer twice Saturday. Missed 'em both. I can group a 6 inch at 100 yards but I can't hit them at 30 moving. Had another one stand at 10 yards while a piece of my ramrod got stuck. Gotta shoot it out.

Homemade. I ran a patch fine but the second one got stuck. The rod that comes with the deerstalker is plastic, light, and very flimsy. Made some at a machine shop which are very strong but the end piece popped off. Time to take the gun apart and load her that way. When something gets stuck, I usually put the gun in a heavy vise, create a wick to the pan, light it, and run like hell. Fun Fun.

ORIGINAL: dpms

ORIGINAL: CRANKMASTER

Those of you that shoot the powerbelts,has anyone ever experienced the tumbling effect of the slug when it leaves the barrel? I've heard some poeple say they tumble instead of spinning from the twist in the barrel.

Depends on the twist of your barrel.  Long, heavy projectiles will not stablize in slow twist barrels.  They need fast twist such as 1/28.  The Firestorm has a 1/48 twist and many flintlocks have 1/66.  Shorter, lighter projectiles will stabilize better in slower twist barrels.  The 245 Powerbelts are grouping great for me.  Anything over 300 grains will not group in my gun.

 
How are you determining the amount of twist in the barrel of your muzzleloaders?
 
I have two Thompson Center .50 caliber Hawken flintlocks. Both shoot round balls well but I did not get the groups I wanted with sabots. I have checked the manuals I got with the guns when I bought them and I can’t find anything that states the amount of twist in the barrel nor is there any thing stamped on the barrel.
 
I am assuming they are at least a 1:48 twist but don’t really know for sure. In any event I think I am going back to a patched round ball this year.
 
R.S. Bodenhorn

ORIGINAL: RSB

ORIGINAL: dpms

ORIGINAL: CRANKMASTER

Those of you that shoot the powerbelts,has anyone ever experienced the tumbling effect of the slug when it leaves the barrel? I've heard some poeple say they tumble instead of spinning from the twist in the barrel.

Depends on the twist of your barrel.  Long, heavy projectiles will not stablize in slow twist barrels.  They need fast twist such as 1/28.  The Firestorm has a 1/48 twist and many flintlocks have 1/66.  Shorter, lighter projectiles will stabilize better in slower twist barrels.  The 245 Powerbelts are grouping great for me.  Anything over 300 grains will not group in my gun.

How are you determining the amount of twist in the barrel of your muzzleloaders?
 
I have two Thompson Center .50 caliber Hawken flintlocks. Both shoot round balls well but I did not get the groups I wanted with sabots. I have checked the manuals I got with the guns when I bought them and I can’t find anything that states the amount of twist in the barrel nor is there any thing stamped on the barrel.
 
I am assuming they are at least a 1:48 twist but don’t really know for sure. In any event I think I am going back to a patched round ball this year.
 
R.S. Bodenhorn

http://www.blackpowderjournal.com/archives/vol2no3/articles/BPJ23-5.htm

Ironhed

Even at 1/66 it should shoot a sabot pretty decent. I cant see the groups being that different to go back to round balls. I know alot of deer been killed with round balls but if you can use sabots its a easy choice. I have a Tompson and a traditions pretty sure both 1/66 and both shoot sabots pretty good.

anybody run Powerbelts through a flinter?

"I have two Thompson Center .50 caliber Hawken flintlocks. Both shoot round balls well but I did not get the groups I wanted with sabots."

Many years back, I had a TC 50 cal flinter, couldnt get it to shoot conicals, and it shot roundballs only "fair". A bud bought a Lyman 54 cal. deer stalker (1/48 twist) a while back and when he got it, i shot it at the range and @ 50 yrds it cut one jagged hole or at worst touching clover leafs consistently, using 400 grain maxiballs, and 90GR ffg. I bought one that year. Same deal, great shooter. Dad was impressed and put away his 54 cal renegade and also bought one. Same consistent accuracy. Another buddy of ours bought one for his wife. Same accuracy. Was surprised, thought thered be alot of variation between that many rifles... But not at all. We went and bought a maxiball mold and have hundreds of maxis. Great gun. Light and handles very well, not clumsy like some longer rifles. Id highly recommend them to anyone who would consider using one of the conical type bullets.

Hollow or Areo tip ?

ORIGINAL: dpms

ORIGINAL: psu_fish

anybody run Powerbelts through a flinter?

Yep.  After several years of doing alot of missing I decided to spend some serious range time this summer with my 1/48 Firestorm. 

Settled on 245 grain Aerotip Powerbelts behind 90 grains of loose FFG blackpowder.  Was getting a honest one ragged hole at 50. 

Aero Tips OA.