50 PRB speed over a chrono

[BillKilgore]

I had the chrono set up at the range to check some evil black rifle rounds, so I thought, what the heck.

I use Hornady 0.495 pure lead balls with an average weight of 182.5 grains. 0.018 pillow ticking patch and Track's mink oil patch lube. Powder was Schuetzen FFFg. I also swabbed and dried between rounds.

My rifle is an early Lancaster with a 42" Rice swamped Southern Classic barrel and a Chamber's large Siler lock.

63 gr = 1460 fps average
1473
1479
1427

72 gr = 1579 fps average
1600
1558

97 gr = 1858 fps average
1835
1973
1762

Fun times.

 

[Gonetocamp]

I ain't no expert but I suggest you reconsider the weight of your .495 roundball stated in your post.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Thanks for the data Bill.

 

[Eterry]

I had the chrono set up at the range to check some evil black rifle rounds, so I thought, what the heck.

I use Hornady 0.495 pure lead balls with an average weight of 282.5 grains. 0.018 pillow ticking patch and Track's mink oil patch lube. Powder was Schuetzen FFFg. I also swabbed and dried between rounds.

My rifle is an early Lancaster with a 42" Rice swamped Southern Classic barrel and a Chamber's large Siler lock.

63 gr = 1460 fps average
1473
1479
1427

72 gr = 1579 fps average
1600
1558

97 gr = 1858 fps average
1835
1973
1762

Fun times.

Here's a serious question.
How far do you place your skyscreens from the muzzle on your muzzleloader? Last time I used mine with black powder I got aberrant readings.
Thanks.

PS. Your readings look perfectly fine, I'm wondering where you place your screens to get yours to work properly.
Last time with mine I was getting about 500fps with 80grs fffg.

 

[DixieTexian]

I ain't no expert but I suggest you reconsider the weight of your .495 roundball stated in your post.

Maybe he has a special alloy of lead that's 50% more dense than normal lead?

 

[William Sublette]

It's just a typo.


I swear people here would stand in line for a chance to be obtuse.

 

[Eterry]

Guys, let's stop concentrating on the mouse under the chair, regarding bullet weight.

 

[LongWalker]

There are some awful wide spreads in the velocities logged there. I've chrono'd a _lot_ of rounds from MLs and typically got such wide spreads when the screens were a bit too close. When I set the screens at 25' I usually get velocity spreads of ~30fps.

 

[BS]

Try just using the readers, with out the screens. It works on my Oehler 35.
6 to 12 feet. I test it with a 22.

 

[pacanis]

Good info on the screens/distance.
I chrony'd some BP cartridges in my 45-60 and I thought my loading procedure was the culprit for the extreme ES.

 

[Eterry]

Good info on the screens/distance.
I chrony'd some BP cartridges in my 45-60 and I thought my loading procedure was the culprit for the extreme ES.

I have the BPCR Primer by Venturino and Garbe. They say the cartridge must be full of powder, or filler, for low ES.

I'm not gonna break my own rules discussing cartridge arms again... on this thread.

 

[Eterry]

Let's just pretend he meant to type 182.5 grains.
Any further discussion of wrong weight will be removed as superfluous.

Beating that horse isn't helpful.

 

[pacanis]

I have the BPCR Primer by Venturino and Garbe. They say the cartridge must be full of powder, or filler, for low ES.

I'm not gonna break my own rules discussing cartridge arms again... on this thread.

Thanks.
It was (filled and slightly compressed).
That's why I'm thinking I had the chronograph too close after reading this thread. Plus I seem to remember getting powder/soot on the face of the chronograph and even moving it away some, but not 25'.

Just something to try next outing.
I was very meticulous on the cartridges and didn't know why the ES was... well, extreme

 

[BillKilgore]

Hi everybody.

Apologies for the typo. The lead balls were 182.5 grains. I have corrected the original post.

 

[Eterry]

Hi everybody.

Apologies for the typo. The lead balls were 182.5 grains. I have corrected the original post.

Bill, how far were your screens from the muzzle?

 

[BillKilgore]

Bill, how far were your screens from the muzzle?

The chrono was 15-20 yards from the muzzle. A little farther than where my patches were landing. I had to move it our after testing the evil black rifle rounds.

 

[DixieTexian]

On a more serious note, in chrono'd my .50 Pedersoli Scout (28 inch barrel) last fall with the same schuetzen 3f powder, and I had to use 100 grains just to get into the 1300's for FPS. It looks like the extra barrel length really makes a difference.

 

[kyron4]

Not sure how accurate this can be with all the variables when shooting black powder but thought some might find it interesting. It's a velocity calculator for black powder.

P-Max black powder internal ballistics

 

[mmb617]

On a more serious note, in chrono'd my .50 Pedersoli Scout (28 inch barrel) last fall with the same schuetzen 3f powder, and I had to use 100 grains just to get into the 1300's for FPS. It looks like the extra barrel length really makes a difference.

I don't know what I'm missing but 100 grains of 3f to reach 1300 fps with a 28" barrel seems way off to me.

I've shot my .50 caliber Traditions Deerhunter flintlock over the chrono a total of 13 shots using only 50 grains of Schuetzen 3f and averaged just a little over 1300 fps. And that rifle only has a 24" barrel.

 

[M. De Land]

There are some awful wide spreads in the velocities logged there. I've chrono'd a _lot_ of rounds from MLs and typically got such wide spreads when the screens were a bit too close. When I set the screens at 25' I usually get velocity spreads of ~30fps.

I think the ab berate readings are coming from patch expulsion irregularity. I know this has been an issue at times in other chronograph use with muzzle loading rifles.