"coned" muzzle for quick loading

[redwing]

So true. I had a .50 Cal JBM that had been coned. The JBM is not the most accurate rifles ever made but this one was worse. I had the barrel cut and crowned, it was much improved.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Years ago I learned that a center fire rifle barrel properly recrowned will never hurt and often it will improve the accuracy of the rifle. For this reason I'm not into coning of ML rifles. Corespondence with the Bevel brothers (muzzle Blasts magazine) they advised they cut off a little of the barrel and recrown when the accuracy startes to drop off on their chunk guns.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

If GM tells me that crowning one of their barrels after it's made will hurt accuracy.

I'm going to believe them, and not some back yard gunsmith.

 

[nchawkeye]

At one time in our history ALL gunsmiths were backyard gunsmiths...

 

[Pete Gaimari]

I know I am, but who listens to me? :rotf:

 

Now this has been very interesting info. Thanks to everyone for their input and information.
Great bunch here.

 

Very interesting information above. thanks to all for their input.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I talked with L.C. Rice on this and he recommended his medium radius crown rather than coning the muzzle. I can thumb start a .530" ball in my .54 barrel with a 0.018" patch. That works well enough for me.

 

[Many Klatch]

All my shooting is offhand. All my loading is from the pouch. All my rifles are coned, because it makes the reloading easier and I don't have to use a short starter. One more thing I don't have to carry.

I assume that I gave up some accuracy for ease of loading, but since all my shooting is offhand I can't tell the difference.

Many Klatch

 

[rabjr]

All this is moot when the gun your shooting is more accurate than you can hold it...

 

[hoochiepapa]

All this is moot when the gun your shooting is more accurate than you can hold it...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[BrownBear]

All this is moot when the gun your shooting is more accurate than you can hold it...

I resemble that remark!

And moreso every year!!! :rotf:

 

[Rat Trapper]

I find it nice to know that my rifle will stack those round balls in one small hole. Having a rifle that stacks them all over from the bench will not improve my off hand scores. Only accurate rifles are interesting.

 

[Semisane]

I find it nice to know that my rifle will stack those round balls in one small hole. Having a rifle that stacks them all over from the bench will not improve my off hand scores. Only accurate rifles are interesting.

:thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

I find it nice to know that my rifle will stack those round balls in one small hole. Having a rifle that stacks them all over from the bench will not improve my off hand scores. Only accurate rifles are interesting.

So don't I and thats exactly what I'm able to do with my .58. :thumbsup:

 

[Snow on the Roof]

All my shooting is offhand. All my loading is from the pouch. All my rifles are coned, because it makes the reloading easier and I don't have to use a short starter. One more thing I don't have to carry.

I assume that I gave up some accuracy for ease of loading, but since all my shooting is offhand I can't tell the difference.

Many Klatch

Many Klatch, are you using pre-cut patches or cutting at the muzzle?

Snow

 

[shortbow]

Personally, I've never used a short starter nor conned muzzles. I'm not the greatest shot for sure, but I've won my share of matches and put more deer and other game in the freezer with the front stuffers than with modern guns.

A ball and patch combination that is just loose enough to allow thumb starting has always worked great for me, just as it did for thousands of shooters for hundreds of years.

One of the most entertaining aspects of using muzzle loading guns for me is to try as much as possible to emulate the technology and methods used at the time these guns were in general use. Just for me personally, conned muzzles and banging away on short starters doesn't contribute to what I'm after in using these old-timey rifles.

 

[Many Klatch]

I don't care for precut patches. I cut mine at the muzzle. It is quicker than fumbling for another precut patch.

Many Klatch

 

[ord sgt]

If GM tells me that crowning one of their barrels after it's made will hurt accuracy.

I'm going to believe them, and not some back yard gunsmith.

I'll have you know, I am not a backyard gunsmith. I am a garage gunsmith!!! :haha:

I coned a Green Mountain barrel and got better accuracy with my first flinter.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

Go figure. :idunno:

To be honest. I coned mine by hand too, and I don't notice any difference, except it loads nice now.

I just wanted to see what GM thought about it. Of course they don't want anybody messing with their barrels.