I've been away from ML long guns for many years. I bought this GP not because I particularly wanted it, I was looking for a left handed flintlock in 50 caliber. This percussion in 54 came available and I bought it, then let it set in the closet unused for many years. One of the previous owners had removed the rear sight and installed a peep sight. By the time the rifle came to me the peep site was gone but included was a loose buckhorn rear sight that the seller said he though should work. I installed the rear sight as close to center as I could but didn't actually fire the rifle.
This spring I drug this rifle out of the closet and found the set triggers would not work properly. I've no experience with set triggers but people on this board kindly talked me through cleaning and adjusting of them and now they work!. I also had no 54 caliber projectiles but bought a bullet mold from a member here. This fall at a gun show I found several boxes of .530 and .535 RB at a good price. The seller threw in two packages of TC patches lubed with WL of unknown vintage.
I've not hunted deer for a long time. We have 7 acres in southern Ohio with lots of deer sign and decided I may try Ohio ML season. I should point out that my step son usually gets at least one deer off of that land every year with a bow. I drug out my ML rifles, a 50 ca LH flintlock I built in the 70's, a mule ear, 50 and a Navy Arms Morse 50, along with this Lyman GP 54. Much to my dismay I found that the Layman is the only one that I can clearly see the sights. Cataract surgery is scheduled for January.
Digging though my stash of stuff I found a 75 gn powder measure and an adjustable measure. So this morning I set off for the range with the Lyman and required accessories in hand. Actually the accessories were in a very nice shooting box made by Spiderman.
Since I had no idea where the sights were set I started out on the 25 yd range. Using the .530 balls and 75 gns of FFFg the first three shots were 10" left and 6" low. But much to my surprise two shots were touching with the third opening the group up to 3". A bronze drift, small hammer and small file adjusted the point of impact to an acceptable location.
At 50 yds the group opened up to fist sized and required a little more file work to raise the POI, but I'm happy with the results. I'll be in a stand and the maximum shot will be <45 yards. I did find that I had to swab the bore after 3 shots or the balls got very hard to load. I think the rifle itself may need a little tweaking. sometimes I had to push the front trigger forward to get it to set properly so it may be rubbing wood. I suspect this rifle started life as a kit. Maybe this summer I'll experiment with different lubes and powder charges but for my purpose of a close range deer rifle this combination seems to be working.
This spring I drug this rifle out of the closet and found the set triggers would not work properly. I've no experience with set triggers but people on this board kindly talked me through cleaning and adjusting of them and now they work!. I also had no 54 caliber projectiles but bought a bullet mold from a member here. This fall at a gun show I found several boxes of .530 and .535 RB at a good price. The seller threw in two packages of TC patches lubed with WL of unknown vintage.
I've not hunted deer for a long time. We have 7 acres in southern Ohio with lots of deer sign and decided I may try Ohio ML season. I should point out that my step son usually gets at least one deer off of that land every year with a bow. I drug out my ML rifles, a 50 ca LH flintlock I built in the 70's, a mule ear, 50 and a Navy Arms Morse 50, along with this Lyman GP 54. Much to my dismay I found that the Layman is the only one that I can clearly see the sights. Cataract surgery is scheduled for January.
Digging though my stash of stuff I found a 75 gn powder measure and an adjustable measure. So this morning I set off for the range with the Lyman and required accessories in hand. Actually the accessories were in a very nice shooting box made by Spiderman.
Since I had no idea where the sights were set I started out on the 25 yd range. Using the .530 balls and 75 gns of FFFg the first three shots were 10" left and 6" low. But much to my surprise two shots were touching with the third opening the group up to 3". A bronze drift, small hammer and small file adjusted the point of impact to an acceptable location.
At 50 yds the group opened up to fist sized and required a little more file work to raise the POI, but I'm happy with the results. I'll be in a stand and the maximum shot will be <45 yards. I did find that I had to swab the bore after 3 shots or the balls got very hard to load. I think the rifle itself may need a little tweaking. sometimes I had to push the front trigger forward to get it to set properly so it may be rubbing wood. I suspect this rifle started life as a kit. Maybe this summer I'll experiment with different lubes and powder charges but for my purpose of a close range deer rifle this combination seems to be working.
