Update on the rifle:
I've been shooting it with the traditional "buckhorn" style rear sight, having determined after finishing the rifle to give that style a fair shake. While I didn't dislike it, and was able to shoot just fine with it, I finally decided to replace it with a more "modern" Patridge style flat topped rear sight.
The "buckhorn" just seemed to me to kind of dominate the back half of the rifle, appearing at times like more or less an afterthought. That, and it always seemed rather "snaggy", just looking for things to catch on. So, I acquired a second rear sight and simply cut the "horns" off of it.
I like it. It just fits the rifle better, at least to my eye. And it is still "period correct", as many shooters of the day didn't like buckhorns either.
With the buckhorn:
Without the buckhorn:
Oh, and by the way, I'm starting on my third box of .535" round balls (100 to the box), so over 200 rounds through it already. I've settled on two loads.
My "plinking" load is that round ball with the cut on the muzzle .015" thick pillow ticking patch lubed with Goop, seated over 50 grains of Swiss 1.5 Fg. It shoots to the sights at about 60 yards, 4" low at 100. No idea what velocity might be, and really don't care.
My "hunting" load is the same ball, but different patching. I use a commercially cut .015" thick patch pre-lubed with Wonder Lube over a similarly pre-lubed 1/4" thick felt wad (I use this different patch material, lube, and additional felt wad because the pillow ticking/Goop combination blows through with this stiff powder charge, resulting in occasional flyers). This is seated over 100 grains of Swiss 1.5 Fg for almost 2,000 fps at the muzzle. This load is dead on the sights at 125 yards, and about 2" high at 100, dropping about 4" at 150 yards.
Both loads have proven to group at about 2 MOA out to as far as I've shot it, which is about 150 yards. I can load the "plinking" load all day long without ever having to wipe the bore, and I can load the "hunting" load over a dozen times before I have to wipe.
To say I am happy with this rifle would be a massive understatement. I am, admittedly, somewhat jaded after a lifetime of playing with all manner of firearm, so it is the very rare example that manages to exceed all expectations. This one has done so, in spades. I think it's a keeper...