Effective Range - Question

[Stonebroke]

I"m having a discussion with some bowhunters on the effective range of a .50 Caliber Hawkens loaded with a sabot with a maximum load of powder... no scope - open sights. What do you all think the maximum effective range would be for a hunter with average shooting ability?

[DinkKiller]

I have a hard enough time seeing the paper targets at the range of 100yds. In an ideal hunting situation, with no wind, no weather and a calm animal standing broadside, I'd have to say with open sights, 75 yds would be about the end of the spectrum for me, and I do alot of shooting with the frontstuffer.

[Stonebroke]

I shoot a Hawkens with the sabots..... I consider myself a decent shot. I'm not an expert by any means, but I can shoot pretty well. I feel comfortable at 75 yards, but accuracy really starts to fall off at 100 yards. The discussion with the bowhunters is this......they are saying a Hawkens with Sabots is effective out to 150 with iron sights. I disagree but have only my personal experience to base that on.

[.358 MAN]

I shoot a Hawkens with the sabots..... I consider myself a decent shot. I'm not an expert by any means, but I can shoot pretty well. I feel comfortable at 75 yards, but accuracy really starts to fall off at 100 yards. The discussion with the bowhunters is this......they are saying a Hawkens with Sabots is effective out to 150 with iron sights. I disagree but have only my personal experience to base that on.
If you can hit the target out at 150 it will be affective.

[rooster52]

Shooting at the range,I can get a 6 inch group at 200 yards,but in hunting situatons I have never shot an animal at more than about 60 yards,usually closer.

[Stonebroke]

Shooting at the range,I can get a 6 inch group at 200 yards,but in hunting situatons I have never shot an animal at more than about 60 yards,usually closer.

You can shoot a 6 inch group at 200 yards with a .50 caliber Hawkens and open sights?

[sammyd95]

I have a hawkins cougar 50cal.and can consistently shoot clay targets at 110 yds,with open sights(targets not in flight)took a 10 point buck several years ago at between 110-120yds using sabbots.I dont believe 200yds would be out of the question,though not sure I would try that distance.but do believe it would be realistic.

[oneshot 1]

I killed a Buck last season with a 54Cal. Patch and Ball open Sights,longest shot ever 100 yards.Killed him no problem.

Most my shots are 25-50 yards.With any Firearm.

oneshot

[rooster52]

You can shoot a 6 inch group at 200 yards with a .50 caliber Hawkens and open sights?

No,that is with my Omega topped with a 3-9x40 Nikon scope.Did not read the begining post about using open sights.

I am lucky to shoot a 6 inch group at 100 yards with my 54 Renegade with open sights.

[tddeangelo]

My dad took a doe at a measured 140 yards off-hand with a Lyman Plains Rifle and a patched round ball. My longest was 100 yards offhand with my T/C Renegade and a patched round ball.

With slugs (minie/maxi balls or sabots), both those rifles can do well enough to maybe reach 150-ish ranges, IF the shooter can do it. Shooting a flintlock isn't the easiest thing in the world to do, for those who've never tried it.

Inlines I like to limit to 150-175. 200 is just too far, imho. I don't shoot 150gr of powder, though, either.

[ColtWKnight]

Depends on how well the rifle is made, how good the shooters loading and gun care skills are, and how good a shot the shooter is.
Lot of factors here.
If the shooter can't use iron sights past 50 yards, its a 50 yard gun.
If the gun wont group past 75 yards then its a 75 yard gun.
If you the shooter can lob bullets out to 200 yards effectively then its a 200 yard gun.
Most Hawken style muzzleloaders made in the last 20 years are just cheap guns, and can't be compared to meticulously crafted and hand fitted hawken rifles.
I think a lot of muzzleloading skills have been lost the general hunting population over the years, so we don't consider them long range hunting tools.

[RAMJET]

Stonebroke,

I have a Traditions Kentucky rifle w/leupold scope .50 Cal.
At 100 yds. the round balls I'm shooting just won't pattern.
At 50yds. I can get 3" groups. The sabots pattern a little better.

I think coltwknight has hit the nail on the head with the quality issue.
Some are good, some are junk, mine is a wall ornament, unless I start hunting armadillos.

:-)

Ramjet