Frustrating Dilemna!

[Billnpatti]

Yep, there is no doubt in my mind that you need to get a copy of Dutch Schoultz' accuracy system. It is how you will find the ball, patch, lube and powder combination that will have you cutting Xs with that GPR. Those are good guns and capable of amazing accuracy IF you have the right combination of powder, ball, patch and lube. Dutch will get you there in the least amount of time. http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/

 

[smo]

My accuracy was still suffering. As a result, I lowered my powder charge to 75 grains of 3F black to see what would happen. What happened is my last three shots were touching one another.

RD I have a .54cal GPR flinter as well. I've had issues with cut, torn, burnt patches too. Everyone said "just keep shootin; it ,she'll break in after a couple hundred rounds". Well I've put several hundred rounds through it and was still having problems occasionally with burnt,torn patches. I switched from fffg to ffg and it has helped a lot. :idunno: If you have any ffg it might be worth a try. :hmm: I'm shootin' 100 grns ffg with spit patch pillow tickin' for general shooting and plan to use a lightly pure virgin olive oil coated patch for hunting. Both shoot well for me.

 

[Roguedog]

RMO,
My initial testing showed that my gun seemed to prefer 3F over 2F, however, I didn't run my gun through the full testing with 2F. For this season, I think I will stick with the load I have but come offseason, I will likely get a copy of the Dutch method and start my testing again. I figure 75 grains of 3F should shoot through a deer just fine. Thanks for your input.

Jeff

 

[Dr5x]

I did all my early experimenting with 3Æ’Æ’Æ’ and was getting a pretty beat up shoulder so I gave 2Æ’Æ’ a try- same number of grains and found that the only difference wa a lot less shoulder abuse.
I had thought that I would have to up the amount of grains for the 2Æ’Æ’ but the groups stayed where they had been with the 3Æ’Æ’Æ’.
Your experience may, of course, vary from that.

Dutch

 

[Dr5x]

For a .54 your load of 100 grains seems a bit much which might n 'splain your ripped and burnt patching.

Drop back to 80 grains and see if things don't level out within 5 grains above that.

I don't know what your other variables are but I think that might be worth a try.

The way to judge your patching is to see what kind of groups you are getting. If they are burnt and ripped and the groups are tight, who cares?

Dutch - just a thought

 

[Roguedog]

Thanks Dutch. By moving down to 75 grains, my shots were touching one another and like you said, a lot pounding on the shoulder. I think 75 grains should kill a deer as well as 100 grains. Dead is dead.

Jeff

 

[smo]

No doubt about it 75,80, I've killed em' with 60 grns. in a .50 cal. It's all about what the rifle likes and what you are trying to accomplish. With the 100grn load I have found it shoots pretty much the same point of impact at 100 yards that it does at 50 yards. And as Dutch said it's easier on the shoulder than the fffg. :wink:

 

[Roguedog]

I had hoped to have my load developed before now. I have been shooting a lot starting in late summer through now. But, I don't feel too bad. This is my first year with a flintlock and their is a bit of learning to do when your converting over from percussion to flint. The good news is that I feel really comfortable with my rifle and ignition time is excellent. I think I am ready to get out there and harvest a deer now.

Jeff

 

[Dr5x]

People believe that more power the more certain kill.
Placement of the shot is usually more important.
I thought it was included in myeBook but apparently it isn't buy I had a story about a somewhat alcoholic subscriber who killed a deer at 30 or so yards with a .32 caliber rifle with a twenty something load of 3Æ’Æ’Æ’.
He hit the deer between the eyes and about an inch high. Deer dropped in its shadow.
He was squirrel hunting and came around some shrubs and there was this deer looking at him. Without thinking he fired.
Had he been thinking he would have realized this was ordinarily too weak a ball and powder charge to use on a deer and the other thought was that deer season was a week away.
Placement did the job. Power wasn't too much involved.

DUTCH

 

[smo]

Jeff. This will be my first year to hunt with my GPR flintlock too. I have been shooting flinters for awhile now but never felt comfortable enough to hunt with one. From a lot of help here on the Forum and several shots fired I finally feel like I'm good to go. I think you will be fine as well. Good Luck come Saturday I hope you get a big un'

 

[Roguedog]

Hey buddy,
Same to you. For some reason I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas morning this year. I am so excited about trying to kill a deer with my flintlock. It sure has put the fun back in it for me.

Jeff

 

[bearcreek1956]

Quite a quandary indeed. Since the load chain remained the same when you had sighted her in, I would say there must have been some variance in the patches themselves, considering it's harder to have this variance in your powder/ball elements of the load chain. Also, assuming your bore was relatively in the same shooting state, I see this as another possible variable. Let us all know if the situation arrives that returns you to patch reading nirvana!