.50 cal Plains Pistol by Lyman

[JackAubrey]

Greetings Pittsburghhunter,I have a .50 cal.GPP which is sinfully accurate to about 25 yards.I use 60 grains of Goex 3f powder under a .495 PRB.Apparently Lyman has updated their min./max. load data since I bought mine in 1993.At the time I called Lyman and spoke to someone there who told me the min. was 30 grains 3f w/ a max. of 60 grains 3f.Good for me!I can keep all my shots on an index card w/in 25 yards so I have never questioned.I will admit however she is a firebreather!Substantial recoil aswell although I have never had any stockcracking issues I have heard mention of so oft by others.I think most of the recoil is dissipated into me as the muzzle flips to the vertical upon detonation,not firing,mind ye,detonation.Of course, there is no good reason the weapon would be less accurate w/ lesser charges.However I use it as a backup when hunting hogs so I admire the extra poke she has.Jack

 

[mec]

Flash! Yet another contradictory set of load data.
A circular form Dixie Gunworks just hit the door. Of the items listed for slight discount were the Lyman Pistols and Kits in 50 and 54 calibers. This time, they gave the loads as 30 and 40 grains respectively. I really think they just pull these loads off the top of their heads.

 

[Rat]

Naw TQ, I wasn't talking about staying within the published load data...yeah I'm both dangerous, AND irresponsible. I think I smell bad at times too. I often break the speed limit in my car. I take corners too fast on my motorcycle and spin the tires on my '68 Road Runner on public streets, which also has a very loud exhaust system that irritates the citizens...but I am a courtious driver...but you probaly would not like me! I am kind of a loose cannon.

:youcrazy:

Well I'm willing to admit, and give the debate to you, in that it may not be worth the trouble to match .357 ballistics, all things considered...but I'm not convinced that Lyman, or any other manufacture sets it's maximum loads within ten grains of dangerous and irresponsible pressures. I believe it's an "all things considered" thing, which is "ok". Perhaps it's all about the stock cracking.

Having said that, staying within the load data, and getting over 1000fps from a 177 grain ball is NOT chopped liver, and the FPE formula does NOT tell it all. I think the pistol is a very powerful sidearm, and the original poster should not feel too under-gunned compared to a .357, no matter what the FPE formula says. What does the Taylor KO formula say?

I sure hope no one gives up thier BP pistols for a cartridge gun!!!!!!! Shame on you Zonie.

:nono:

:cry:

Rat

 

[Rat]

Ahhhh...thank you Jack. You are the man.

:haha:

Rat

 

[Tahquamenon]

I do like you and I have also loaded beyond the MFG suggested loads.

I would say there is more than likely a generous range of safety above what is published for load data. But that would vary like the wind from one MFG to the next as not everyone manufactures to the same quality. The safety margin from one maker could be night and day to the next.

However, there are also folks that read here for information and may have little or no ML'ing experiences.
For that reason alone I feel a responsibility to refrain from suggesting to exceed published load information. But that's just me.

Granted, any public forum is just that public and when in doubt anyone should contact the MFG or a gunsmith if they are unsure of what they read here. Everything read on the net should be taken with a grain of salt anyhow.

eace:

 

[Rat]

Well you are probably right and of course the law of diminishing returns set in rather quickly with a pistol barrel.

I certainly don't load up like I used to many many years ago, and certainly don't suggest anyone loading up the plains pistol with rifle loads, such as 70-80 or more grains. With a roundball I believe 60 grains is about it for maximum power.

???

Now, if I only had one of them-there Plain's Pistolas...

Rat

 

[Old Charlie]

With 45 to 50 grains of Goex 3f and a 300 grain REAL bullet the thing beats my hands up to bad to shoot it that heavy many times.
Old Charlie

 

[alisal]

Jack-Your the kind that makes you feel welcome on this board. Always like your greetings.

 

[longhunter2]

For what its worth, I have gotten good accuracy from a Pedersoli Kentucky pistol,.50 cal, loaded with 50 gr of GOEX FFFg and a T/C Maxi ball. Don't know what the velocity was, but it shot 6 inches higher at 25 yards than a PRB with 30 grains of powder. It's a shame I cant use the pistol in Kansas for big game, I would like to see how that load would perform on a whitetail.

 

[Deadeye]

Pittsburghunter, I recently built one of their plains pistol kits in .54
and it shoots extremely well, much better than I expected.
I was out shooting a .54 rifle this morning and took it along. Here's a 3 shot group shot offhand at 25 yds. Your .50 should shoot equally well.

 

[Pittsburghunter]

I probably would shoot as good at 25yds as that but because of the accuracy of the thing my min for it is around 35yds or more.

I was just looking for some tweeking advice for making it a close quarters deer pistol and I feel 40g FFF under a round ball is not quiet enough. I found some 275g maxi-hunters that I am going to try in it to see if they will stablize. If they do I am going to try to work up close to 50g of FFF or T7. I feel this should kill well out to 50yds or so. (let me know if I am wrong about that)

I have yet to get any conical or sabot to stablize in the thing but have a good feeling about the 275g bullets.

My original comparison with the .357 was an accuracy side by side shooting of the pistols at 35yds and the Lyman blew away the Colt it was shooting against.

I am very happy with the twists and turns of this post good stuff guys. Glad everyone seemed to like the topic.

 

[Deadeye]

In shooting pistol competition for many, many yrs. I've found that it takes a full race, match ,modern cartridge gun to compete with an ordinary black powder single shot up to about 50 yds. further than that the cartridge guns will
usually take over. I can usually get about 4 or 5" at 75 with my .54 plains. a 30" twist should stabilize a 275 gr.conical and with 50 grs. 3F should be deadly on deer to 50 yds.

 

[mec]

AMEN!

 

[Rat]

The topic WAS a winner. Twisting and turning topics is half the fun!

I hope the 275's work. I would also try the 250 grain REAL, as they are usually a very short bullet and work well in the slower twists. I suspect they are good killers too as the nose profile cuts a very clean hole, the ones I have for my .58 have a very sharp shoulder, and truncated nose, and then a flat metplat.

Anyhow I think the pistol will kill a deer at 50 yards maximum, with the 275 and 50 grains of fffg. Save yourself some headaches, missfires and hangfires and forget the 777.

Well I can't stand it any longer so I bought the .50" Plain's Pistol that was in the classifieds. Was hoping it would arrive today...but I ain't seen no brown truck YET.

:curse: :cry: :curse:

Anyhow can't wait to join in on the fun. I plan to use Jack's 60 grain round-ball load.

Rat