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My wife kindly gifted my the above mentioned rifle for my 60th birthday...my first flinter, but I have had a Lyman GPR percussion for twenty years that I am quite proficient with, and have been trying to do my homework. I kept both in 54 caliber for consistency and supply ease.
I happily had the range to myself yesterday, and set up targets at 25 and fifty yards. I was going to start at 50 grains of FFF with the flinter, but my measure started at 70, so I figured I may as well start with my standard load of 80 that I shoot in the percussion. (.530 with a .015 patch). I use Bore butter on the patch, and swab between with Hoppes BP. First shot at 25 was an inch high centered! And it went off! Okay!
I moved out to fifty yards, well, the next three shots grouped at 2:00 four inches out and the same high, so I adjusted the sights over...I very much appreciate the nice set screw on the rear sight...much superior to the stock site on the older Lyman GPR. where with another jimmy or two to the sights I was able to quite quickly get a nicely centered group but still high. Unfortunately, the rear ramp wont go down any further, and most of my hunting is quite close, so the high shots are no good, so dropped the load to 70 grains. That worked to bring it down to about two inches above point of aim.
I got ten shots in and quickly learned alot. Just a bit of taping on the flint to resharpen (I got five initial shots before the supplied flint was dulled).
I guess it is a sense of "feel" for the edge, as to preparing the edge to avoid misfires. Otherwise I was very pleased. The "flashbang" was much more instantaneous than I anticipated, and I have always followed through shooting anyway.
Next outing I will set up to check impact at 25 through 75 yards. I am mainly a hunter....and my shots are close (northern woods). I was pleased at the easy clean up...same as my GPR percussion. I am a firm believer in a bucket of hot soapy water. I loved that the take down keys are pinned in place so you dont drop/lose them. I originally didint like the very tight curl on the first trigger, but in use it isnt as annoying. This week end I will get out again.
I happily had the range to myself yesterday, and set up targets at 25 and fifty yards. I was going to start at 50 grains of FFF with the flinter, but my measure started at 70, so I figured I may as well start with my standard load of 80 that I shoot in the percussion. (.530 with a .015 patch). I use Bore butter on the patch, and swab between with Hoppes BP. First shot at 25 was an inch high centered! And it went off! Okay!
I moved out to fifty yards, well, the next three shots grouped at 2:00 four inches out and the same high, so I adjusted the sights over...I very much appreciate the nice set screw on the rear sight...much superior to the stock site on the older Lyman GPR. where with another jimmy or two to the sights I was able to quite quickly get a nicely centered group but still high. Unfortunately, the rear ramp wont go down any further, and most of my hunting is quite close, so the high shots are no good, so dropped the load to 70 grains. That worked to bring it down to about two inches above point of aim.
I got ten shots in and quickly learned alot. Just a bit of taping on the flint to resharpen (I got five initial shots before the supplied flint was dulled).
I guess it is a sense of "feel" for the edge, as to preparing the edge to avoid misfires. Otherwise I was very pleased. The "flashbang" was much more instantaneous than I anticipated, and I have always followed through shooting anyway.
Next outing I will set up to check impact at 25 through 75 yards. I am mainly a hunter....and my shots are close (northern woods). I was pleased at the easy clean up...same as my GPR percussion. I am a firm believer in a bucket of hot soapy water. I loved that the take down keys are pinned in place so you dont drop/lose them. I originally didint like the very tight curl on the first trigger, but in use it isnt as annoying. This week end I will get out again.
