GM drop-in 54 cal. 32" 1-70 -range report

[dbutch]

range report..

54 cal. Green Mountain 32" 1-70 twist drop in barrel 15/16's mounted on T/C Hawken stock.

65-70 degrees 20-35 mph cross winds
benched.
load 90 gr. FFF-Goex
.023 40 cotton duct patch purchased at JoAnne's Fabrics(washed twice-dried once)
lubed -Hoppe's black powder solvent and lube.
Patches were wet!
.530 home cast round ball.
CCI #11 caps
--------------------------------------------------
started this range test with just the patch....3 shot group

next.. shot the patch with 1 Circle Fly 24 ga. 1/8" Nitro Card-....3 shot group

3rd ...shot patch and 2 Nitro cards... 5 shot group

The intent of this range test was to work up a hunting load as accurate as I could find..

This load with 2 Nitro cards = 2-2.25 " at 75 yards..My comfort zone(eyes) of 75 yards.
This barrel requires a tight patch..nothing else.

Very impressed with the rise of impact using the Nitro cards..I'm talking 5" at 50 yards and 8 to 9" at at 100 yards.
Will chrono this load next time out..looking forward to seeing the change in velocity!

My turkey season turned me into a turkey!.. but I salvaged it with this report.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Looks like you have the load there! I've always liked the heavy canvas patch. I have some .023" and .027" cotton canvas and some .020" linen canvas and one of those materials always seems to do it. The .020" linen seems to load about as tight as the .027" cotton since the linen doesn't compress like cotton.

 

[smo]

Very Intresting!!!!!!! :hmm: It looks like i need to do some more testing myself. How hard does it load with that thick of patch? short starter,hammer?

 

[dbutch]

Very Intresting!!!!!!! :hmm: It looks like i need to do some more testing myself. How hard does it load with that thick of patch? short starter,hammer?

Smo..the Circle fly cards fit tight.the patch fits tight.the the patch is wet lubed..it takes a medium wack to start his ball-patch load..not a hammer but not a slip in either.I need to take some 400 W&D paper to smooth the muzzle out some..it wasn't till I used this thick patch that the groups came together. Willing to send some of the Nitro cards if you would like to test.

Want to chrono this load-also need to try a grease patch to test.

 

[dbutch]

Looks like you have the load there! I've always liked the heavy canvas patch. I have some .023" and .027" cotton canvas and some .020" linen canvas and one of those materials always seems to do it. The .020" linen seems to load about as tight as the .027" cotton since the linen doesn't compress like cotton.

CJ..For some reason my rifles really like this patch.
paid 5.59 per yard on sale..
I have some .022 linen patch(very tuff stuff) I will test next..the patches held together using the Nitro card behind..not so-much without.

 

[Walks with fire]

Nice shooting and great post of your load testing.

 

[smo]

Thanks for the offer of the Nitro cards but the only .54 i own is 1000 miles away from where i am and i don't know how long it'll be until i see it again :cursing: Great report and even better shooting in that wind :thumbsup: I shot 193 out of 200 in our clubs shoot in March in similar conditions :grin: That was from the bench as well. :wink: Shooting a .50 cal T/C Hawken 1 in 48 twist factory barrel,55grns of FFFG Goex,Oxyoke spit patch& .490 Hornady R/B. You know what they say,"Even a blind hog will find an acorn sometimes" :idunno:

 

[dbutch]

SMO sounds like an awesome day at the range...I chuckled when shooting at 100 yards with a 30 mph wind I would get 0 to 13" drift :rotf:

I can see here the guys in open country would really need to get the drift stats down pat.

SMO ..from my findings any cal. would work with the nitro cards..have been using OxYokes wool wads in the past.

Ye Olde-Battle-Axe has me high stepping today with her gardens .. should get out in a week to spit shine this load...Enjoy your day....Dan

 

[dbutch]

Nice shooting and great post of your load testing.

WWF..Thank You..I have been here just over a year on the forum..many members have shared their experiences...willing to share my own..only add what has worked..hope this helps someone getting started.

Enjoy your day...Dan

 

[dbutch]

here's the same load..


90 gr FFF-Goex
.027 cotton duct patch
2 Nitro cards 1/8th " Circle Fly
.530 home cast round ball
Hoppe's Black Powder solvent and lube(wet patch)
CCI percussion caps

50 yards benched wind...15-25 mph

this is my load verification test next day

5 shots--POA at bottom or 3" shootnc

all my front sights have been filed to a point at the top and very thin..aim small.. shoot small works!

 

[nkbj]

Found a yard of the duck in the scrap bin at a JoAnnes during a trip to Dallas. It was like half price so I figured it had best go home with me.
If only my new barrel would come up the road...

 

[Swampman]

Good shooting but it should shoot great without the cards.

 

[dbutch]

Take your rifle and shoot it at 50-75-100 yards just patch load--then do the same with the patch and nitro cards and see what the differance is.....try a wool wad...for this barrel it did help....I found that each barrel is it's own animal. You'll never know till you try it. Good Luck

 

[smo]

....I found that each barrel is it's own animal. You'll never know till you try it. Good Luck

I couldn't have said it better myself. I find that true with alot of the guns i own. It's a challenge to figure out what each one likes. Can you post a pic of that filed front sight? Is it a blade or a bead? I shoot mostly beads but have thought about filing one or those to a fine point.

 

[dbutch]

SMO..here's what it looked like before filing too a point on top.

bead facing shooter

front of sight towards muzzle

I believe this sight came off a GM 1" drop in barrel.
filed the rounded bead flat on the sides and tapered it to a point on top..The brass bead did not stay on the sight. My camera will not take a good picture of that sight sorry..the sight basically is thin and tapered to a point.

This one is a Ted Cash front sight-from TOTW
.080 wide filed to a point on top...this one I filed a groove down the center of the back ..painted it flat black and scuffed the paint off the back so only the groove has a black line from top to bottom with the point..My front sight picture is two thin silver lines with a black center leading to the point on top.this has helped also.

SMO front sights are cheap..file one to a point and try it..It's all in the eyes!

 

[dbutch]

here's the best pic...of the filed sight it's thinner than it looks,

 

[GaCop]

here's the best pic...of the filed sight it's thinner than it looks,

I gotta give that a try on my TC Hawken and Investarms front sights..... :thumbsup:

Tom

 

[dbutch]

I filed the sight while it was off the barrel..
You will lose the brass insert(bead)when that thin.
Just did not care for that large bead covering up the target.
This is on a 32" bbl so the front sight was still visable for my eyes.
Good luck....dan

 

[George T.]

I was wondering if you had tried it with out cards? I have never tried them but I get pretty darned good accuracy without. It seems that sighted in with them you would be loicked in while hunting! Geo. T.

 

[Elkeater]

What is an op card?