I just aquired a 58

[steady eddie]

I just aquired a 58 cal. Green mnt . T/c renegade with an l and r lock . What should I start shooting for a load?. How far should I start from? I have been reading a lot and from what I can see is most start with 80 gr of 3f at 25 yards . But I wanted to get some input from more seasoned . From what I was told twist is 1 in 70.

 

[ord sgt]

Green Mountain did cut the rifling twist rate at 1/70. I have several of their barrels. Good shooters. How does the bore look? Clean or rust?
Start with 60 grains FFFg and see how well it shoots. Change the amount of powder if needed. Good luck with your new (to you) rifle.
Make sure that the barrel is empty, nothing left hiding inside.

 

[steady eddie]

It has never been shot.

 

[ord sgt]

Take your new rifle to a safe spot and shoot it. Patched round ball will work best.

 

[steady eddie]

Yes I have 10 patch and 570 Hornady balls . It came with 5 lbs of goex 3f . I hope that is enough

 

[Art Caputo]

The 58’s I worked with over the years all shot well with a .570LRB, .015” patch, 70-80grs FFFG. Being a new rifle, I’d start at 25 yards, mostly to make sure the sights are aligned.
My favorite hunting load:

 

[steady eddie]

15 ..... Well I guess see what happens with 10 first. I just know that I'm probably in for some frustrating sessions until I find out what it likes to eat

 

[BullRunBear]

I have a couple of the Green Mountain drop in barrels for my Renegade, although not in 58 caliber. They are darn accurate. I've had my best results with a round ball .010 less than the caliber and a .015 lubed patch. I started with a powder load ten grains less than the caliber and increased it until I was happy with the accuracy at 50 yards. Strictly trial and error.

Jeff

 

[steady eddie]

Yes but it's cold here in Vermont and I really want to just shoot..... But I don't want to waste powder. I think I will wait until it gets to in the 30s before I start

 

[Grimord]

My 58's have a 1:66 gain twist rifling, and seem to prefer a .575 ball with a .015 mink oil lubed patch over 90 grains of 2f. I get 1.5-2.0" groups at 75 yards off the bench. That is my deer hunting load, I don't use the .58 for target shooting except to check the zero before hunting season.

 

[Semisane]

You'll likely be pretty happy with that barrel. I have one that I bought about ten years ago. It's a caplock, mounted on a TC Hawken stock. I did a lot of load work shortly after I got it. Below are some of the ballistics info I worked up, along with some 50 yard (from the bench) targets with loads of FFg and FFFg from 85 grains to 115 grains.

Those four targets were with FFg powder. The next four were with FFFg.

 

[steady eddie]

Oh yes...... Thank you

 

[Art Caputo]

You'll likely be pretty happy with that barrel. I have one that I bought about ten years ago. It's a caplock, mounted on a TC Hawken stock. I did a lot of load work shortly after I got it. Below are some of the ballistics info I worked up, along with some 50 yard (from the bench) targets with loads of FFg and FFFg from 85 grains to 115 grains.

Those four targets were with FFg powder. The next four were with FFFg.

Good info!
What barrel length was used in these tests? Thanks.

 

[Sparkitoff]

I have that barrel in my flintlock. I use .530 balls, .018 patches cut at muzzle, 7:1 ballistic/water lube dried. 80 grains Goex 3F.

less powder opens the the group. I’ve started at 55 grains and stopped at 80 because the accuracy was same hole at 50 yards. I’ve planned to try more powder but have yet to.

 

[Sparkitoff]

I have that barrel in my flintlock. I use .530 balls, .018 patches cut at muzzle, 7:1 ballistic/water lube dried. 80 grains Goex 3F.

less powder opens the the group. I’ve started at 55 grains and stopped at 80 because the accuracy was same hole at 50 yards. I’ve planned to try more powder but have yet to.

I misread the caliber. My apology.

 

[Josephg]

I use a .570 ball and .015 pillow ticking spit patch, over fifty grains of GOEX FF in my GM 58. Will clover leaf at fifty yards and recoil is mild.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes I have 10 patch and 570 Hornady balls . It came with 5 lbsof goex 3f . I hope that is enough

It's certainly enough if you have the flints and an adjustable powder measure. The 3f GOEX will be suitable for pan powder.

The 0.010" thick patch will be a little thin for best accuracy on target as there will be gas cutting of the patch. Take a look at the recovered patches. You don't want to see shreds of patch material. You want something resembling the patch you loaded with some black scorching at the circumference of the ball. Patching material is cheap, so get some 0.015" patching that is not pre lubricated. You can lubricate the patch before loading with cooking oil, dish soap, spit or some exotic lubricant for muzzle loading. Your GM barrel should perform best with a thick patch. Use the 0.010" patching for cleaning.

Get some dental flossing picks to pick the touch hole to control fouling in the flash channel.

 

[Robby]

Green Mountain makes excellent shooting barrels, and the .58 is an excellent caliber. Enjoy working out your best load, don't be frustrated, enjoy the ride. I use a .022 pillow ticking patch for that caliber and sometimes denim cut from the un-worn part of old jeans which is in the .025 area.
Robby

 

[hanshi]

I no longer own a .58 but did have one many years ago. GM barrels are as good as anything you can find today; I have two. Like Robby I use thick patching, mostly heavy canvas compressed to .023" to .024" in several rifles.

 

[Semisane]

Good info!
What barrel length was used in these tests? Thanks.

Barrel is 32".