Dumb? from a newbie

[daudisio]

Getting ready to order a .54 Lyman Great Plains...going to give muzzy hunting a try next year..Been doing some reading here and was wondering what a snail is Also would like some powder-cap suggestions for round ball starting loads..Thanks and sorry about the dumb question..

Domenic

 

[Goldhunter]

Domenic54, Welcome. Pull up a chair and share the campfire for a while.

The snail is the part of the breach that sticks off the side of the barrel, where the nipple attaches (on the lock side of the rifle). It resembles a snail in shape.

The manual that comes with the rifle will suggest the type of powders, etc. for your rifle. If you are looking for hunting loads, search this forum for hunting loads, GPR (great plains rifle) loads, etc. Check under the accuracy forum and hunting forum. There are quite a bunch! To get you started thinking, many prefer 3FFF BP, .015 to .018 think patch, .530 or .535 roundball, and any #11 percussion caps. And here is where it gets fun (or frustrating) and that is working up your loads. This forum will give peoples personal preference, but every ML barrel is different. The each have their own pet load. There is a great discussion on load work up in the accuracy forum, lots of good info and advice.

And ask questions, that is how we learn. Good luck.

 

[bwhoffman]

send me your email via private topic and I can forward you the Lyman manual that will come with your new gun.

you want to burn BLACK POWDER! probly 2F, 3F works as well, see which shoots the best for you and your various ball/patch combos.

(I)have good results with cci #11magnum caps, but each has there own preferance. some swear by rws caps, some favor remington ect.

Brett.
( I will let someone else address the snail)

 

[Goldhunter]

I haven't heard many call it a snail, but I think that is what he is talking about. I was leary about answering for the simple fact I hate being wrong. :redface: You are smart not to answer. :grin:

I used to really like those German caps, came in a silver tin with a read lable on the lid. Can't remember their name. Can't find them here anymore in #11, just in musket. :cursing:

 

[Zonie]

The German caps are "RWS" and prior to the introduction of CCI's "Magnum" caps they were the hottest cap available.
IMO, the "Magnum" caps are about the same and I recommend either if your shooting one of the new replica powders like Pyrodex or 777.


Speaking of those replica powders, they all have a higher ignition temperature than black powder so if you end up shooting one of them, be prepared for an occasional "miss-fire" or "slow fire".

Assuming your buying a percussion style gun you might want to remember the following:

If one of these "miss-fires" occures, wait at least 10-15 seconds before you begin to think it's not going to fire.
I've never had one take that long, but I have had a delay of up to 3 seconds before the gun actually fired.

I agree with the answer about the snail.
There are two common styles of attaching the nipple (where the cap goes) to the barrel.

The "drum" which is a cylinder sticking out of the side of the barrel is fairly common with original guns. The nipple screws directly into it, and it (the drum) is supported by the lockplate when the barrel is installed.
The breech of the barrel is sealed with a simple screw plug which has a integral tang for attaching the barrel to the stock.

The "snail" type breech plug is the other common style. With this style, the nipple screws directly into the breech plug and the flame from the cap travels thru a hole that goes down to the barrels bore.
Many breech plugs of this design are called "hooked breech plugs" because they have a hook at the rear which engages a seperate steel block with tang. This design allows the owner to remove the barrel by simply removing the barrel pins or wedges and rotating the barrel upward to disengage the hook.
Some of the breeches do have a snail design adjacent to the nipple and some just have a flat surface at this location without the snail.
Almost all of them do have something to direct the flame from the cap and powder discharge downward and away from the shooters face.

There is much debate as to which style is "best" and both have some advantages over the other.
I don't think this is the place to debate that issue and I hope this answered your question.

zonie

 

[dmills]

The GPR manual is available online:

Manual

For hunting with my .54 GPR, I am using .530 roundballs, .018 pillowticking (Wal-mart) patches that I have pre-cut and pre-lubed, Goex fffg 80gr, and CCI #11 magnum.

 

[cowpoke1955]

My load is exactly the same, except I use 2Fg and my pillow ticking is from Joann's. I'll have to try Wal-Mart next time.

 

[dmills]

I have seen references to Joanns on this board, but have not noticed any in this area, but then I haven't been looking either.

 

[Goldhunter]

Thanks for the clarification on the caps, Zonie.

That is why I have seen the light and no longer use Pyrodex. I had constant misfires in my T/C Hawken. The last time I shot it I still got a couple, but I'm working through it.

 

[daudisio]

Thanks for all the replies. :thumbsup: I’m getting very excited about this new hobby. Seems like black powder is the way to go... What accessories should I purchase? ie”¦ cleaning supplies ram rods, bullets removers etc..?? Will continue to read all that I can before asking anymore questions..Thanks again

Domenic

 

[renovato]

Hi Domenic, welcome aboard!

You can't go wrong with the GPR. My GPR's favorite hunting load is 90 gr. FFG Goex, .530 Hornady ball, .018 patch, dry lubed with Ballistol. It groups good and has plenty of oomph for hunting. The gun has another sweet spot at 60 grains and that's a good load for target shooting. I've also had good luck using Hoppe's black powder patch lube.

 

[bwhoffman]

Domenic,
Check out the thread in the GENERAL MUZZLELOADING section, topic# 199005

The same question was asked and a slew of good answers came back.

Brett

 

[daudisio]

Will do, thanks :thumbsup:

 

[walruskid1]

silver can with a red label - probably vorderlader zundhutchens. great caps, i get mine at the Log Cabin gun shop. they are made by Dynamit Nobel in Germany.

 

[shmrck1]

Domenic,
I think 'Plink's' advice is sound, but
I also think he will agree that every barrel
is different and you will need to work up your
own load for you barrel. That is really the fun
part, to me at least, finding out what your
barrel likes best. I really do like the CCI
magnum caps though. I use 80 grns, 3fff goex
with a .530 R/B lubed with moose snot. It's my
hunting and paper load.
snake-eyes :hmm:

 

[daudisio]

Is Goex a true black powder or a replica? I know everyone has a favorite recipe, just trying to avoid known failures. And yes I plan on doing lots of testing this next year before venturing out on a hunt next fall. Sounds like great fun, maybe even get the gun to fire once in a while.. :haha:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Goex is the real deal. They are marketing a sustitute powder called pinnacle, I believe, which is intended for black powder cartridges for revolvers and carbines, to be used in CAS, but the rest is true Black Powder. The company has recently added two new grades: Cartridge, and Express. Traditionally, it made and sold Goes Fg, FFg, FFFg, and FFFFg powders. the 4Fg powder is strictly for priming flintlocks, only. Most handguns use 3Fg powder, and many rifle shooters also use FFFg powder in all their rifles regardless of caliber. Others use FFg powder in rifles 50 caliber and above in size of bore. FFg. is also the primary powder used in Shotguns. Fg is marketed to be used in Cannons. Occasionally, you hear of someone who has a 2,4 or 6 bore shotgun that also uses Fg powder in them. The larger the grade of powder( Fg being the largest) the shower the burn, and lower the pressure and recoil. On the small bore shotguns, like 28 and 24, FFFg powder is often used. And, if you read the posts here long enough, you will find that many hunters prime their flintlocks with whatever powder goes down the barrel, either 3Fg or 2Fg, rather than carrying a second horn of 4Fg, for priming.

Simple, isn't it? Yeah, right.

Welcome to our sport.

 

[daudisio]

YEAH, SIMPLE.. :cursing:

What the heck is moose snot does it go in the snail? :haha:

 

[Goldhunter]

:rotf: No, that is snail snot. :grin:

Moose snot is a lube that a bunch of people here use. I was originally "invented" by on of the Moderators here, Stump Killer, or Stumpy. He posted his ingredients and method for making it. He also has some stuff called Moose Juice, good for shooting and cleaning. Both are very easy to make. Make some and see if your gun will like it. I use the moose snot as my hunting lube. I like the moose juice for long shooting sessions, like at the range.

 

[paulvallandigham]

No, Domenic, it doesn't go in the snail. Here is a posting where you can find Stumpkillers recipe:
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/198993/post/new/#NEW[/url]

Just scroll down on this topic to see his posting.

paul