Thinking on a new rifle

[Mike]

I got to field test a Hepburn in 40/50 SS and I really liked it. Those are very nice rifles and to me that gun felt especially nice while shooting offhand. A .40/70 Hepburn could really tempt me for an iron sight silhouette rifle. I do have a highwall in .40/70 SS but that one is scoped. Also, I more recently got the .40/70 Hunter's Carbine and right now that gun still has the open sight on the barrel. I have given it just a couple of tries at the range, shooting the 330 grain paper patch loads with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F powder. My idea was to use it for hunting but I realize that peep sights are needed if I'm going to hit anything. I will say that the 26" barrel doesn't seem to slow the .40/70 down much at all. Of course, a chronograph should show the truth. I still feel that my highwall will be used on the range mostly while the carbine gets taken to the field.