Lester Cox slug gun advice

RockingKJ · Nov 5, 2024

Almost a year ago I adopted this rifle. Recently I got a 10x Unertl, so a step closer to being able to attempt to shoot it. Any advice in the care and feeding is welcome. I’ve been a patched round ball shooter for years. Paper patched bullet shooting is foreign to me. It’s 1-15 twist, .357 outside bore diameter. With pristine bore. Nebraska is far from a hotbed of slug gun shooting so local knowledge is nonexistent. In search of appropriate bullet and data to shoot it.

RockingKJ · Nov 6, 2024

Are there any slug gun shooters out there? I have read reports they are a small and diminishing group.

nkbj · Nov 8, 2024

Hey there Rocking KJ.
You'll need this book by Ned Roberts.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015060544213&seq=7

I've never worked with a cross patch rifle. Single, double and triple layer paper patching but not cross patch.
Do you know yet what diameter of bullets you need? Does the patched slug get engraved any for the rifling during loading? I have one rifle that came with an engraving die that cuts grooves to fit the rifling but such probably isn't the case with yours. I'd be real surprised if your bullet plus the patch thickness was not about .001" to .002" less than the bore. Is the bore maybe .350" or so?
Looks like you have an awesome piece. I hope you'll have reports posted.

nkbj · Nov 8, 2024

PS,
Of late Lee has a pretty good spread on diameters for push-through sizers.
They might have something you'll need.
https://leeprecision.com/custom-breech-lock-bullet-sizer-punch/

RockingKJ · Nov 8, 2024

I’m thinking .350 will be a place to start. Noblade has graciously offered to provide me some to try. I do have the Ned Roberts book it’s a good resource

Uncle Miltie · Nov 8, 2024

RockingKJ said:
Are there any slug gun shooters out there? I have read reports they are a small and diminishing group.

I shoot slug and picket rifles.
Did you receive any tooling with your rifle and if so can you share particulars?

RockingKJ · Nov 9, 2024

Uncle Miltie said:
I shoot slug and picket rifles.
Did you receive any tooling with your rifle and if so can you share particulars?

Nothing beyond the bullet starter and the false muzzle. I would bet originally would have included a mold and instructions all which have been lost to time. The fellow I brought the rifle from was not a shooter of this type of rifle. He said he had bought it a number of years back on an estate auction. He hung it on the wall with starter and marveled at the ingenuity used in making the gun. I was tickled to find it for sale and having Ned Roberts book knew what it was. It’s heavy but could be shot offhand and not be uncomfortable. Drilled and tapped for iron sights too, unfortunately those are missing now also.

Uncle Miltie · Nov 9, 2024

Finding tooling will be a problem: likely needs to be made.
You will need a mould and/or swage and a washer to hold down the patches while loading until you fit the starter.
If the bullet mold is cut right you can get away without the swage to size them.
You can cut patches with a paper cutter and scissors or have a patch cutter made. But who makes this stuff today? I do not know, most everyone who used to do it has passed on or is too infirm to make tools.
Many years ago Lester Cox wrote a manual on building and shooting a slug rifle. Largely hand written it is difficult to find but Gerard DeVaudreiul authored a series of articles outlining the notes in Muzzle Blasts. I do not know when he did this.
He also donated a copy of the notes to the NMLRA who may have them available. It will take effort but it would be well worth your time to do so.

RockingKJ · Nov 9, 2024

Uncle Miltie said:
Finding tooling will be a problem: likely needs to be made.
You will need a mould and/or swage and a washer to hold down the patches while loading until you fit the starter.
If the bullet mold is cut right you can get away without the swage to size them.
You can cut patches with a paper cutter and scissors or have a patch cutter made. But who makes this stuff today? I do not know, most everyone who used to do it has passed on or is too infirm to make tools.
Many years ago Lester Cox wrote a manual on building and shooting a slug rifle. Largely hand written it is difficult to find but Gerard DeVaudreiul authored a series of articles outlining the notes in Muzzle Blasts. I do not know when he did this.
He also donated a copy of the notes to the NMLRA who may have them available. It will take effort but it would be well worth your time to do so.

Thanks. That corresponds with what little I have found on slug guns. A select few still shooting these guns. Guys like Lester Cox were machinists and made what was needed. Would love to get a copy of the notes he left regarding making and shooting slug guns. Ned Roberts book is interesting but to me seems to be stories and not a lot of technical information.

Grenadier1758 · Nov 10, 2024

RockingKJ said:
I’m thinking .350 will be a place to start. Noblade has graciously offered to provide me some to try. I do have the Ned Roberts book it’s a good resource

You might try to get the NMLRA's book, "Muzzle Loading and Shooting with the Champions". Sadly it is no longer listed on the NMLRA website.

It has a 10 page chapter on shooting slug guns and offers a lot of insight into the loading and shooting of these rifles. One point is made very often in the chapter is that the load description of what works for one rifle may not work at all for your rifle.

Of particular interest for you is the paragraph for the Les Cox rifle.

"Shooter: Mike Tucker: rifle by Lester Cox. Weight 14 pounds, Caliber 41, two piece bullet, hard nose, pure lead base. Twist 1 turn in 15 1/2". Bullet weight 398 grains, charge 84 -90 grains. Side hammer with cap ignition. Patch, paper 0.002" thick. Scope 20x Unertl."

RockingKJ · Nov 10, 2024

Grenadier1758 said:
You might try to get the NMLRA's book, "Muzzle Loading and Shooting with the Champions". Sadly it is no longer listed on the NMLRA website.

It has a 10 page chapter on shooting slug guns and offers a lot of insight into the loading and shooting of these rifles. One point is made very often in the chapter is that the load description of what works for one rifle may not work at all for your rifle.

Of particular interest for you is the paragraph for the Les Cox rifle.

"Shooter: Mike Tucker: rifle by Lester Cox. Weight 14 pounds, Caliber 41, two piece bullet, hard nose, pure lead base. Twist 1 turn in 15 1/2". Bullet weight 398 grains, charge 84 -90 grains. Side hammer with cap ignition. Patch, paper 0.002" thick. Scope 20x Unertl."

Thank you. Will search for a copy. Appreciate the info.

Uncle Miltie · Monday at 7:08 PM

I looked for the Lester Cox notes and found my copy.
This was given to me around 30 years ago by Rich Hicks, a friend and mentor who helped me learn the gentle art of shooting a slug rifle.
This is an original copy of the notes with 11 pages plus one page from 1978 by Rich Hicks. 12 pages in total.
I can post all of them to you in a message or post them here, but I don't want to hog bandwidth for something most will never read.
This is page 1.

RockingKJ · Monday at 8:24 PM

Uncle Miltie said:
I looked for the Lester Cox notes and found my copy.
This was given to me around 30 years ago by Rich Hicks, a friend and mentor who helped me learn the gentle art of shooting a slug rifle.
This is an original copy of the notes with 11 pages plus one page from 1978 by Rich Hicks. 12 pages in total.
I can post all of them to you in a message or post them here, but I don't want to hog bandwidth for something most will never read.
This is page 1.

Very cool and great of you to find the notes. If you would like, can email to me. Or if you’re willing to copy and mail and copy I would be happy to reimburse you. Thanks.

oldschoolhunter55 · Tuesday at 12:12 AM

RockingKJ said:
Almost a year ago I adopted this rifle. Recently I got a 10x Unertl, so a step closer to being able to attempt to shoot it. Any advice in the care and feeding is welcome. I’ve been a patched round ball shooter for years. Paper patched bullet shooting is foreign to me. It’s 1-15 twist, .357 outside bore diameter. With pristine bore. Nebraska is far from a hotbed of slug gun shooting so local knowledge is nonexistent. In search of appropriate bullet and data to shoot it. View attachment 360099 View attachment 360100 View attachment 360101 View attachment 360102 View attachment 360103 View attachment 360104

Dang thats a nice. Honestly ive never seen or heard of a slug gun like that!!! I like that!!!! Wonder how far its accurate? Hope when u shoot that sweet gun you will post about it. Thanks for showing

Grenadier1758 · Tuesday at 8:36 AM

A slug gun should hold 1 minute at 200 yards or 2" groups.

Uncle Miltie · Tuesday at 9:01 PM

Grenadier1758 said:
A slug gun should hold 1 minute at 200 yards or 2" groups.

Ten shots at 300 yards on this one.

oldschoolhunter55 · Tuesday at 11:21 PM

Grenadier1758 said:
A slug gun should hold 1 minute at 200 yards or 2" groups.

Wow. Thats accurate danggg. Thanks for answering

oldschoolhunter55 · Tuesday at 11:22 PM

Uncle Miltie said:
Ten shots at 300 yards on this one.

Wow. Thanks for posting

rrebuck · Wednesday at 10:50 AM

Grenadier1758 said:
You might try to get the NMLRA's book, "Muzzle Loading and Shooting with the Champions". Sadly it is no longer listed on the NMLRA website.

It's available as used book on Amazon.com for about $40.

RockingKJ · Wednesday at 5:07 PM

rrebuck said:
It's available as used book on Amazon.com for about $40.

Lucked into a copy for $20 so looking forward to reading when it comes.

Lester Cox slug gun advice

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