Traditions Buckhunter Pro pistol accuracy

[Scotticus]

I've got a Traditions Buckhunter Pro in-line .50 cal pistol (stainless with 9 1/2" barrel) like this:
http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=P16103102
and I can't hit the broadside of a barn with it. It's got a 1:28 twist, so I am not surprised with the poor accuracy I get from patched roundball. I've tried 240 gr. .44 cal. bullets in sabot with 60-70grains pyrodex loose powder like the mfr. recommends to no avail. I rarely can hit one of those ~16" orange square 100yd sight-in targets from 20 yards offhand. I would like to be able to hunt whitetails from about 30-40 yards, but I'm no where close to that kind of accuracy now.
Any suggestions besides sell it?

 

[Chawbaccer]

I have the blued, walnut 12 1/2 barrel. I put a scope on it and am good for about two inches at 50 yards with a prb and 50 grs of Goex. I think it would do better if I spent more time shooting it. Overall I think they are a good gun,
I have taken two does at abut 25 yards with a stouter load.

 

[AntiqueCollector]

I think you're giving it too much powder. Back off on the powder a bit. I also think you should try something other than sabots, try a normal lead conical rather than a sabot and see if that doesn't help.

 

[Scotticus]

The 60-70 grains and 240gr .44 sabot was what Traditions technical department recommended when I inquired about poor accuracy. When I plinked with prb, I shot 40 grains (Pyrodex RS). I have tried a very few lead conical a long time ago. I think I'll give them another try. Also, I think I'll try a rest of some sort. It's sure a fun gun to shoot, but it would be nice to hit a target once in awhile too.

 

[Scotticus]

Well, I spent 2 1/2 hrs at the range today. Shot all kinds of loads and projectiles and used a bag rest. AntiqueCollector, you were right. My best "groups" (if you can call them that) were with 40 grains of the Pyrodex RS and a 245 gr Buffalo Bullet "Ball-et". If I used the 270gr. Maxi Ball-et and 60 gr. of powder that worked fairly well too. 40 gr. and prb were fair. Never did get the .44 or .45 sabots to hit anything with 40-70gr behind them.

Even with the best load I could come up with though, I still only have reasonable hunting accuracy half the time (and that was only at 20 yards)--not enough to make me feel comfortable about a humane kill-shot.

I understand the Buffalo Bullet is out of business now, though. That puts me back at square-one when I run out of ball-ets. Is there a source for light, short conicals?

 

[Misfire99]

I understand the Buffalo Bullet is out of business now, though. That puts me back at square-one when I run out of ball-ets. Is there a source for light, short conicals?

You might want to look into casting your own. A mold from Lee is about $19 and a pot can be as little as $25. But I would suggest you get the pro-pot for $45. It works well. Pure lead is best but you can use wheel weights from the local tire shop. If you bring an empty bucket with you they will usually give you their bucket full of old weights.

If you want to see what shoots first in your gun you can get bullets from Midway, as well as casting equipment. You can get lead from them also but it is usually cheaper to get it locally. Look in your phone book for metal recyclers. Linotype is very hard and is good for high speed bullets from rifles or IPSC type guns. Wheel weights are not as hard as Linotype and tends to work better. Pure lead can be found in many things, from shielding to old pipes, and is the best for black powder. The reason it's best is because it will obfuscate on firing and fill the bore.

Personally I enjoy casting my own bullets. You have a lot more control over what you get. I have heard horror stories of guys that have taken the lube off of Maxi-ball bullets to find that they have voids and are out of round. If you cast them yourself you can control this much better. And you can lube them with what ever you want. From Johnson's floor wax to SPG lube. Myself I am starting to checkout Johnson's Wax to see how it works. It is so CHEAP. If you do start casting the cost of the equipment will be covered in your first hundred bullets. From then on it's gravy.

 

[sundowner]

buffalo bullet is back to making bullets again from what I have heard .
Charlie

 

[GaZirra]

I have the BuckHunter Pro in the 12inch barrel with compensator, All Weather Finish, .50 cal.........
Am using the following for a load..........

55-60 grains of T7-FF
245 grain PowerBelt Hollow Point
CCI #11 Caps/stock factory nipple

With this load, I can consistantly hit a tennis ball out to fifty yards....free handed....open (factory)sights.

I do swab with a windshield washer fluid/alcohol patch followed by a dry one after each shot, although I have shot several consecutive rounds between swabbings with little ill effect on accuracy.

I have tried the Traditions XTP bullet/sabot combo as well.....they were not as accurate and had to darn near pound them down the bore....I'll stick with the PowerBelts.....they load far easier and punch through 8x8 pine timbers for me out to 60 yards, but I'm very comfortable with targets out to 50, so will keep it within those bounds.

I have tried heavier loads, up to 65 grains of T7-FF, but the recoil and fouling increase dramatically, so I keep it down to the aforementioned 55-60 grains.

I also find cleaning to be not such a bother.....the T7 cleans up easy.

Keep playing with the load....you will find one that works....and have FUN!

 

[ATAShooter]

I use the same load as GaZirra, and mine is deadly with open sights.