Mowry rifle in .54cal - posting for a pal....

[TFoley]

An old Navy buddy of mine won a .54 Cal Mowry rifle in a raffle just before Christmas. He sent me the only pictures I have and asked me what load he should use for it. It has a brass frame.
Fellas, I have no idea. I have a total of zero experience with black power and all I know about Mowry rifles is that they were made in Texas by Bill Mowry.
He told me that there were Elk and deer hunts out where he lives that are blackpowder exclusive and he would like to use that rifle for them.
Any info you all can give would be greatly appreciated.

Any snippets you can come up with so I can pass them on?

Many thanks!

And a Happy New Year!

 

[Phil Coffins]

No photo.

 

[TFoley]

 

[Phil Coffins]

All I have.
IMG_0703 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[kh54]

I have a .50 caliber version of the same Allen & Thurber design by Mowrey. I don’t have the load data available right now but I don’t know how much my data would translate to the .54 caliber anyway. As I recall, using a nominal .50 round ball (.490 maybe?) with a pre-lubed daisy patch and 50 grains 2F Goex I was shooting 2-1/2- to 3-inch groups at 50 yards. I was pleased with that accuracy though some shooters on this forum can do far better I’m sure.

In my opinion that’s a very beautiful and desirable gun. And just for fun here’s mine.

 

[TFoley]

I have a .50 caliber version of the same Allen & Thurber design by Mowrey. I don’t have the load data available right now but I don’t know how much my data would translate to the .54 caliber anyway. As I recall, using a nominal .50 round ball (.490 maybe?) with a pre-lubed daisy patch and 50 grains 2F Goex I was shooting 2-1/2- to 3-inch groups at 50 yards. I was pleased with that accuracy though some shooters on this forum can do far better I’m sure.

In my opinion that’s a very beautiful and desirable gun. And just for fun here’s mine.

Many thanks for that information, sir. I have reposted it over on Gunboards.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Well, @TFoley, I really can't offer much help other than the usual suggestions to begin with load development. Even identical rifles from the same manufacturer may have slightly dofferent optimal loads. Best I can do is quote one of my old load development replies.

Before @Flintlock Whiskey buys a $70+ mold, he should buy a $25 digital Vernier caliper to measure the land to land diameter and the groove to groove diameter. Then subtract 0.010" from the land to land diameter for a suggested ball diameter close to the calculated diameter.

Patching will be groove diameter - land to land diameter and divide by 2. Add 0.005 to the groove depth for patch thickness and you have a good start to begin load development.

Calipers are a worthwhile investment for inside dimensions, outside dimensions and depth.

Suggested starting powder charge will be the bore diameter + 5 grains or about 60 grains for the 54 caliber rifle. I think that one should start low to confirm that groups decrease in size until the optimum powder charge is reached, then groups will begin to open up.

Patch lubricant can be most anything that has a bit of slickness and is applied to only dampen the 100% tightly woven cotton patch. Think of a mix of liquid dish washing soap and water. Half and half.
Your friend has a very nice rifle, and it should be capable of very good accuracy.