First range trip, need some help

[Larry Akers]

I am a fan of Nock and Manton-type breeches both of which have small diameter channels from the main charge to the touch hole. I have found that if about 5 grains of the powder charge is trickeled into the breech before the bulk of the charge is dumped, the smaller diameter channel is more likely to be filled than if the charge is just dumped. Ideally, you should see powder grains immediately inside the touch hole. Giving the lock side a bump or two with the heel of your hand will also help move powder toward the touch hole. It has been proven, by high-speed photography, that mounding powder against the touch hole results in more fire entering the breech. This may not result in the fastest ignition, but it will be more reliable.

Your jag/cleaning patch combo may be too tight resulting in "spooge" being pushed to the breech and blocking the ignition channel. Your jag/patch combo should be loose enough to slide down the bore without pushing crud ahead of it. As the patch is withdrawn it will bunch up behind the jag and pull the crud out. A larger patch than you are currently using may be required.

 

[Road_Clam]

I don't think humidity was a factor, it was a cool fairly dry day. The more I digest the info from the experts, the more I believe I simply had excessive patch gunk jammed into my breech passageway. I plan on experimenting with severall suggested modifications to my load proceedure, and hopefully hone in on a consistient ignition. Thank God for your expertise otherwise this would have taken me months to figure out on my own. Probably would have jumped off a bridge in the process !lol

 

[Valkyrie]

My cousin has a TC Hawken and he would use so much patch lube and crap wiping the bore between shots at the range he would get maybe five shots and we would be pulling balls out with a ball screw on a rod.

His barrel was packed with gobs of burned crud. He went to using a light patch lube and windex for a wipe between shots and his problems disappeared.

My Late Lancaster TVM fires with as little as a few granules of 4F in the pan. My cousin and I couldn’t believe it. I kept reducing the charge just to see how reliable it was. Finally I was sprinkling a little in with my fingers and she would still fire.

 

[don hepler]

In response to your load of 12-15 grains. A large dia. bore, with a small charge, can cause the patched ball to obstruct the touch hole. A friend of mine did it on a .58 just a few days ago. Had to pull the ball.

 

[BigBoreBLR]

MY lyman GPR was unreliable much like your gun for a long time.

Then, I ditched the pre-lubed patches. Especially if it's the yellow goop.

I've used 2 or 3 drops of hoppe's #9, or even better yet Dutch shoutlz's system.

Too much lube is a bad thing.

My gun got better much better when I learned to clean the chamber. i use a 36 cal brush with a patch over it. I also use a breech face brush when cleaning the bore.

I swab between shots as well.

I was never really pleased with my gun until I bought dutch's system. Both reliability and accuracy. Now far as both are concerned, I feel my flintlock with the patched ball is as good and accurate as any modern arm I own....

Your own patches with your own lightly used lubricant.

Also, I open the flash hole to 1/16th inch. I don't even try a gun for the 1st time if a 1/16th brass rod pick doesn't go through the hole.

 

[Dr5x]

Fools Suphur.
I am a bit puzzled. You say you need help and then go on to show what progress you have anseem generally pleased.

I'm Happy for you but think you should be more specific about what help you require.

Dutch

 

[Kansas Jake]

On the Traditions rifle, the breach design would prevent the ball from covering the touch hole.

BTW, on my rifle I was using a slightly damp, not wet spit patch.