can someone help me?

[twotoescharlie]

I recently purchased a GM .62 cal smoothbore for my TC Renegade. I am using a .600 RB, .010 patches lubed with Moose snot. I have tried both 2f and 3f black (wano), patches look good not burnt through (look like they could be used again)
the maximun load that I've used has been 85 grains. I am getting a 8-10 inch spread at 50 yards off the bench. Is this the best I can hope for? I read about people getting small groups with these smoothbores but it is not happening for myself. I have been shooting BP for over 50 years but this one has me stumped. any and all help would appreciated.

thanks TTC

 

[RC]

try some over powder wads! :thumbsup: will make a diff!

 

[No Deer]

Or possibly a tighter patch.

 

[mmahlock]

My first thought would be you are using too much powder. I'd try shooting groups of 5 from a bench and sand bags with 5 grs less for each group and see what that does to the pattern. :wink: Some times less is more. :thumbsup:

 

[stalkerhawk]

I've got a GM .62 drop-in both smoothie and rifle.I have not shot the smothie,but did take my rifle out and I use a .018 pillow tic in it.I think roundball uses over powder wads and an .018 in his smoothie.If I remember right the tighter patch gives better groups.

 

[cptleo1]

I recently purchased a GM .62 cal smooth bore for my TC Renegade. I am using a .600 RB, .010 patches lubed with Moose snot. I have tried both 2f and 3f black (wano), patches look good not burnt through (look like they could be used again)
the maximum load that I've used has been 85 grains. I am getting a 8-10 inch spread at 50 yards off the bench. Is this the best I can hope for? I read about people getting small groups with these smooth bores but it is not happening for myself. I have been shooting BP for over 50 years but this one has me stumped. any and all help would appreciated.

thanks TTC

I never worry to much about the first trip to the range.

Get a little note book and KEEP NOTES.

Start with what you have now and use it as a baseline.

The wads usually help - try several different types.

When you find out which works best.

Try different patches.

I think 85gr of powder should be pretty close.

The deal is to only change ONE thing at a time.

There are literally hundreds of combinations to try.

Keep notes and keep trying.

This is the fun part.

A fellow who goes by "Roundball" will probably get in here soon enough. He is the resident expert on this barrel.

Good luck

 

[paulvallandigham]

Start with 75 grains, of FFg powder, and work up a load from there. I would not go above 90 grains, however. Others do. Do try OP Wads. You can order the 1/8" thick paper wads from Circle Fly, or Walters Fiber wads, and you can also try the more expensive Wonder wads, that are made of wool felt, and are lubricated with Bore Butter. I don't believe the felt wads are rigid or thick enough to provide a good seal, but they do a good job of lubing the bore, and softening fouling. I think you will see a more consistent velocity if you use the paper wads from Circle Fly.

Make sure you measure your actual bore diameter before ordering any wad, or ball. Use a caliper. Just because the maker says its a 20 gauge does not mean its bore dimension is .615". Mine is .626!, or almost 19 gauge. I have to use 19 gauge wads to get any kind of accuracy shooting round ball, or good patterns shooting shot, in my gun.

I don't use the lubed felt wads under my PRB in my smoothbore. Instead, I run a greased cleaning patch down the barrel on top of the PRB when I seat it, greasing the bore as I seat the PRB.

 

[jdstrang]

My first thought would be you are using too much powder...

I tend to agree. You say your max load was 85 gr., but didn't say what your minimum was. All other things being equal, I think I'd back down my starting load to 60 grains, and take it up in 5-grain increments to 75, if necessary. That's based on my having found 80 gr. of 2f to be ideal for my .69-cal. '42 Armi Sport... :hmm:

 

[Roy]

I had Doc's 16 gauge shooting great with 65 grains of 2F... Depends on a lot of different things. I like to hear a crack when I shoot... not a hollow sound. So I work up to I hear that and also play around with different patches etc. From what I have seen there is no steadfast rule that a certain caliber will shoot a pre-determined amount of powder. Heck dad has a .54 that shoots great out to 50 yds with only 45 grains of powder and sounds decent too. :youcrazy:

 

[bart_anastasi]

I have exactly the same set up but use a Traditions .010 patch with their Wonder lube. Shoots great like a rifle out to 50 yards or so.

I do not clean between shoots much just load and shoot.

80 rains of 2f should do it. I would try changing lube first and see if it works.

Patch material can be had at Wall Mart and you can buy samples in 6 to 12 inch lengths cheap enough see if a single kind works for you.

Also remember to de-grease your barrel inside the bore before you go shooting the first time to get out oils and preservatives left there by the manufacturer.

 

[Tinker2]

Mine shoots very well with 55 gr.



Tinker2

 

[Britsmoothy]

Just out of interest does that barrel fit well? Is it tight any where/binding on a wedge or something like that?
Is it loose as in can you move it in the stock?
Is any part of it touching the lock?
Just a thought :thumbsup:

 

[Cutfingers]

My 62 shoots extremely well with 70 grs of FFF, an over the powder card of 1/8" and a .600 ball with a .010 patch lubed with moose milk . At 50 yds it will group at 3" off the bench and at 25 yds I can clover leaf. I quit bench shooting as soon as I determined it shot well and now only shoot offhand. Have determined that the gun shoots much better than I do.