Hi, all. I'm new here, and to BP, started last year, but have been putting together quite a kit - 5 long arms and a ML Pistol.
The first of the lot was a Bobcat that was picked up at Wal-Mart last year for $40.00 (Display model discount.) I spent too much time filing the front blade, and drifting the rear buckhorn sights. It shot, but PRB got tight fast with FF or FFF Goex, even with wet patch swabbing between shots. With that swabbing, there were MANY misfires, as I didn't know to dry it out. Trigger pull was much heavier than I like, and the fact that the half-cock didn't work when being 'let down' from a full cock was a BIG:: suprise. Hunting size loads of 85 - 95 gr FF or FFF kicked like heck too - the gun was light with a hollow plastic stock, so all the weight was in the front of the gun. In putting a narrow military sling on it (to help with sighting), the gun would do sommersaults off my shoulder every time I used the sling as a carry strap.
:hmm:
Today the sights are replaced with CVA adjustable sights that dropped into the dovetails. I ran across those at a small local gun store - MUCH easier to sight in. The lock was taken apart and polished following the directions in "Black Powder Gunsmithing" by Sam Fadala :master:; the lock-tumbler interaction was also very carefully polished.
Between shot wet swabbing stopped, and I've put 20+ shots through it using both PRB and 320 gr REAL bullets without an extra patch. 85, 90 gr. Goex FF. (I'm trying the gun with sabots tomorrow - 225 gr. Buffalo Bullet, lead HP, boattails - also some 285Gr. Buffalo Bullet lead spire point, HP, boattails.)
Trigger pull is nice - not too heavy, not too light, but CRISP! Probably 4.5+ lbs. For weight, I put a 1.5 lb lead ingot inside the plastic stock, moved it around until the gun balanced just in front of the breech, and kept the ingot in place with # 8 copper wire wrapped around, and drilled through the ingot, holding all that in place with "Great Stuff" expanding foam. Don't laugh - the danged thing worked, and IMHO, worked well, as both sighting and carrying were less of a struggle. I also converted to a musket cap nipple, and RWS musket caps. That worked great, and is probably what I'll use hunting, but I've gone back to the regular #11 caps after reading about dry, grease free bores - no more misfires. TC Wonderlube 1000+ is on every projectile put down the clean bore now. I may even try some on the bottom of the sabots' cups, as I read that plastic fouling can be a problem.
:hmm:
Results? 2.5 in. 5 shot groups at 90 yds. with 320gr REAL bullets, about 3.75 in groups with 177Gr. PRB and overpowder Wonder Wad.
Cost? Gun - $40.00, Sights - $20.00, Sling - $2.00 at a garage sale, Studs and swivels for sling - $8.00, used Lee mold for RB and REAL - $10.00, ingot and expanding foam - free leftover from other projects. About $80. - but the mold obviously isn't tied to this gun.
Is it a cheap hobby for me? Heck no! Like I mentioned, I've five other guns I'm fooling around with. In 50 cal alone, I've over 25 different projectiles, and 10 different brands or grades or types of propellants, three different ignitions, and five different molds. But, man is it fun!
Muzzleloading is to hunting what tying your own flys is to fishing - or so it seems to me.
This is a great forum, I've learned a lot here by lurking for a week or so. Sorry to be so long winded.
The first of the lot was a Bobcat that was picked up at Wal-Mart last year for $40.00 (Display model discount.) I spent too much time filing the front blade, and drifting the rear buckhorn sights. It shot, but PRB got tight fast with FF or FFF Goex, even with wet patch swabbing between shots. With that swabbing, there were MANY misfires, as I didn't know to dry it out. Trigger pull was much heavier than I like, and the fact that the half-cock didn't work when being 'let down' from a full cock was a BIG:: suprise. Hunting size loads of 85 - 95 gr FF or FFF kicked like heck too - the gun was light with a hollow plastic stock, so all the weight was in the front of the gun. In putting a narrow military sling on it (to help with sighting), the gun would do sommersaults off my shoulder every time I used the sling as a carry strap.
:hmm:
Today the sights are replaced with CVA adjustable sights that dropped into the dovetails. I ran across those at a small local gun store - MUCH easier to sight in. The lock was taken apart and polished following the directions in "Black Powder Gunsmithing" by Sam Fadala :master:; the lock-tumbler interaction was also very carefully polished.
Between shot wet swabbing stopped, and I've put 20+ shots through it using both PRB and 320 gr REAL bullets without an extra patch. 85, 90 gr. Goex FF. (I'm trying the gun with sabots tomorrow - 225 gr. Buffalo Bullet, lead HP, boattails - also some 285Gr. Buffalo Bullet lead spire point, HP, boattails.)
Trigger pull is nice - not too heavy, not too light, but CRISP! Probably 4.5+ lbs. For weight, I put a 1.5 lb lead ingot inside the plastic stock, moved it around until the gun balanced just in front of the breech, and kept the ingot in place with # 8 copper wire wrapped around, and drilled through the ingot, holding all that in place with "Great Stuff" expanding foam. Don't laugh - the danged thing worked, and IMHO, worked well, as both sighting and carrying were less of a struggle. I also converted to a musket cap nipple, and RWS musket caps. That worked great, and is probably what I'll use hunting, but I've gone back to the regular #11 caps after reading about dry, grease free bores - no more misfires. TC Wonderlube 1000+ is on every projectile put down the clean bore now. I may even try some on the bottom of the sabots' cups, as I read that plastic fouling can be a problem.
:hmm:
Results? 2.5 in. 5 shot groups at 90 yds. with 320gr REAL bullets, about 3.75 in groups with 177Gr. PRB and overpowder Wonder Wad.
Cost? Gun - $40.00, Sights - $20.00, Sling - $2.00 at a garage sale, Studs and swivels for sling - $8.00, used Lee mold for RB and REAL - $10.00, ingot and expanding foam - free leftover from other projects. About $80. - but the mold obviously isn't tied to this gun.
Is it a cheap hobby for me? Heck no! Like I mentioned, I've five other guns I'm fooling around with. In 50 cal alone, I've over 25 different projectiles, and 10 different brands or grades or types of propellants, three different ignitions, and five different molds. But, man is it fun!
Muzzleloading is to hunting what tying your own flys is to fishing - or so it seems to me.
This is a great forum, I've learned a lot here by lurking for a week or so. Sorry to be so long winded.
