Hello and glad to be here. Long time BP enthusiast, started very early (45 years ago) and have been at it on and off to this day. Work and life got in the way along the way but I always came back to the charcoal burners. Most of my BP shooting has been either percussion revolvers or metallic cartridges, including .45 Colt and .45-70 in a Springfield TD.
Recently got an itch to get a Hawken-style big bore (something I've never owned) and grabbed a .50 cal Pedersoli Lyman Great Plains Hunter. With less than 2 years to retirement I want to eventually get this in the woods and hopefully fill a tag. I took advantage of an unusually warm (60 degree) northeast December day to get out to the range today. This was a hurried trip, so I didn't get to focus on details, mainly just to pull the trigger and send lead down range, then back to the house. It felt great to get off a few rounds though.
This version has a fast twist (1:24) so I wasn't sure if it would do anything with a .490 patched round ball. Patches were pre-lubed .010" and were a little snug, but not overly so. Keeping charge weight down to 50-60 grains, it held "minute of deer" at 50 yards. Nothing great for sure (3 shots into roughly 4"), but this is just the beginning of what will probably be a long load testing sequence over time. I have a Lee REAL conical bullet mold on back order, and that's where I'm hoping it's true group potential will occur.
The Pedersoli I have has .006" rifling and a 30" bbl, fiber optic rear sight and brass bead front. No issues of any sort with ignition using Goex FFg and Remington #11's. I like it.
Recently got an itch to get a Hawken-style big bore (something I've never owned) and grabbed a .50 cal Pedersoli Lyman Great Plains Hunter. With less than 2 years to retirement I want to eventually get this in the woods and hopefully fill a tag. I took advantage of an unusually warm (60 degree) northeast December day to get out to the range today. This was a hurried trip, so I didn't get to focus on details, mainly just to pull the trigger and send lead down range, then back to the house. It felt great to get off a few rounds though.
This version has a fast twist (1:24) so I wasn't sure if it would do anything with a .490 patched round ball. Patches were pre-lubed .010" and were a little snug, but not overly so. Keeping charge weight down to 50-60 grains, it held "minute of deer" at 50 yards. Nothing great for sure (3 shots into roughly 4"), but this is just the beginning of what will probably be a long load testing sequence over time. I have a Lee REAL conical bullet mold on back order, and that's where I'm hoping it's true group potential will occur.
The Pedersoli I have has .006" rifling and a 30" bbl, fiber optic rear sight and brass bead front. No issues of any sort with ignition using Goex FFg and Remington #11's. I like it.
