Finally got around to firing this rifle for the first time today. It's about 15 yrs old but I got it last year from duck hunting partner on a trade. His ex had bought it for him and he didn't like smokepoles anyway. I lubed up some 455 gr Maxi's I bought thru DGW and set them over top 70 and 80 gr of triple 7 FF. Could not get any kind of groups at 25 yd. Even missed the paper 4 times! I figured rear sight might be loose. Nope. I shot some Hornady RB's with .015 patch and 80 gr 777FF and 1/2" group at 50 yards! All shots were from sands bags. Any thoughts?? I bought the rifle for small game with the GM .32 cal I bought from Dixie. It is awesome. Thanks for the replies. sduve

Have you checked the twist rate? It seems to like RB so the twist may be too slow for minies. The RB likes twists of 48 and slower, with in the 60s being best. Minies like a twist of 48 or faster. If your rifle is cut with a RB twist, of say 1:66, then it is no wonder it doesn't like minies. Fit a tight fitting patch on a jag and run it down the bore. Place a piece of masking tape on the rod at the muzzle and mark it in line with the front sight. Withdraw the rod and watch as the mark on the tape rotates around, following the rifling of the bore. Count the amount of revolution it makes (won't even be one full revolution most likely) and compare that to the length of the barrel to figure how far it must trave to make one full revolution. Say it goes half way around in 28 inches, then your twist would be 1:56, slow enough for a RB but a bit too slow for a conical. Likely, if you have a twist of 1:66, then you will not see the mark even get half way around the rod.

If your rifle has the usual TC 1:48 twist, then it should shoot both OK, so you might be using a bullet your rifle just doesn't like and you might try another. Also, IIRC, 777 may not be the best powder for a sidelock. Isn't it recommended to be used with hotter musket caps or 209 primers? If you have a 1:48 like I think you do, I would try some Pyrodex or BP before doing anything else.

Used to have a Renegade in .50 caliber. It didn't like any of the artificial powders - only BP FF. It shot RB's into 4.5 MOA and 365 Buffalo Bullets conicals into 3.0 MOA, both with 90 gr of FF. Didn't particularily like the saboted pistol bullets, either.

Big Bore, it is a 1:48. Don't think this rifle will adapt to 209's or maybe even musket caps. I look for some lighter bullets and bring out the Pyrodex next shooting. Thanks, sduve.

Finally got around to firing this rifle for the first time today. It's about 15 yrs old but I got it last year from duck hunting partner on a trade. His ex had bought it for him and he didn't like smokepoles anyway. I lubed up some 455 gr Maxi's I bought thru DGW and set them over top 70 and 80 gr of triple 7 FF. Could not get any kind of groups at 25 yd. Even missed the paper 4 times! I figured rear sight might be loose. Nope. I shot some Hornady RB's with .015 patch and 80 gr 777FF and 1/2" group at 50 yards! All shots were from sands bags. Any thoughts?? I bought the rifle for small game with the GM .32 cal I bought from Dixie. It is awesome. Thanks for the replies. sduve

Been my observation that 777 is 2f on steroids, the stuff should be reduced, try the maxi with 50 to 65gns volume of course, you may be pleased. Take care and have fun. Swany

Thanks all for the replies. I may stay with RB for now since this is only a backup to my Encore 209x50. I will continue at a future shooting session to look for that magic load!