Percussion rifle for round balls

[burlesontom]

Get a used T/C .50.
Cheaper than a new anything else and is the best quality factory gun out there.
Lots of used ones available. Make sure the bore is not pitted like so many used muzzleloader barrels are.

Good advice. And if the buyer isn't happy with the way it shoots he can get on the list at Track Of The Wolf and get a Green Mountain replacement barrel when they come in or get My Hoyt to rebore it to a different twist.

 

[Billy Boy]

In my opinion (which is worth what you paid for it) if you want patched round ball accuracy at 100 yards you need the slower twist of around 1:60.

In .50 caliber I have compared 1:48 twist to 1:60 twist. Both will shoot excellent round ball groups at 50 yards. At 75 yards the 1:48 groups begin to fall behind the 1:60. At 100 yards there is no question the 1:60 shoots better groups.

I've made the same comparison with .54 caliber rifles with 1:32 twist and 1:60 twist. At 50 yards both will shoot 5 shot groups that are one ragged hole in the target. At 75 yards the 1:32 begins to suffer, and at 100 yards there is no question the 1:60 does significantly better.

You can also drive them faster, if you should ever want to, in a slower twist barrel.

 

[PaulF70]

I should've mentioned I do already have one "PRBaller," a Traditions Deerhunter. Bought it for the boy last year. It's 1:48 of course and while I never shot it "seriously," I was impressed with what it could do at 50Y with little effort.

We shot only 50 grains - "minimum load" - he was only 12 then.

(I never considered this a "serious" PRB rifle though due to the very short barrel.)

Certainly a lot of gun for the $260 new I paid.

 

[DuncNZ]

You can also drive them faster, if you should ever want to, in a slower twist barrel.

That is the real advantage of a slow twist over a fast twist ,The early gunmakers found that in long barrels using a slow twist with a heavy load the round ball is less likely to, what they called , strip, than with a fast twist , this is more so in 50+ calibers where heavy charges are used more often . Pistol barrel twists can be as fast as 1/22" This is why barrel makers today make slower twists as the caliber increases .
eg: Colerain make 1/ 48 for .40 , 1/56 for .45 & .50 , 1/66 for .54 & .58

 

[Crockford]

You don't need adjustable sights to shoot out to 100 yards. I have shot several deer over 100 yards. All you need to do is adjust your hold. Sight it in at around 75 yards. Then just hold a little high at 100> yards. I prefer a 1 in 60 twist or slower. I usually shoot a .495 with .015 patch in front of 95 grains of 2F. 100 yards is no problem.
The Great Plains rifle is hard to beat for a production gun in my opinion.

 

[PaulF70]

This was already covered. Nobody is objecting to using holdover.

(I don't even adjust glass for range; would never think of doing it with open sights.)

 

[Graybeard2A]

How would ya'll rate a 1in 70 twist on a Kibler 45 cal.? I just finished it & wondered what I should expect.

 

[LME]

In my opinion (which is worth what you paid for it) if you want patched round ball accuracy at 100 yards you need the slower twist of around 1:60.

In .50 caliber I have compared 1:48 twist to 1:60 twist. Both will shoot excellent round ball groups at 50 yards. At 75 yards the 1:48 groups begin to fall behind the 1:60. At 100 yards there is no question the 1:60 shoots better groups.

I've made the same comparison with .54 caliber rifles with 1:32 twist and 1:60 twist. At 50 yards both will shoot 5 shot groups that are one ragged hole in the target. At 75 yards the 1:32 begins to suffer, and at 100 yards there is no question the 1:60 does significantly better.

It is hard for me to believe someone else has gotten the same results as i?

You don't need adjustable sights to shoot out to 100 yards. I have shot several deer over 100 yards. All you need to do is adjust your hold. Sight it in at around 75 yards. Then just hold a little high at 100> yards. I prefer a 1 in 60 twist or slower. I usually shoot a .495 with .015 patch in front of 95 grains of 2F. 100 yards is no problem.
The Great Plains rifle is hard to beat for a production gun in my opinion.

When I was testing different loads I found 80 grains was the best load for a .54 cal ball in a slow twist rifling and 60 grains for a .50 cal. with a 1 in 48 twist rifling.This doesn't mean higher load are terribly inaccurate it means that you will have a hard time shooting one hole groups. What I have found and am sure others have as well is you can go down in charge and keep accuracy though the arc will change but going over charged the ball will start to open up groups.

 

[TDM]

I have several in 1 in 48 and one in 1 in 60. They all work as had been said. But if your strictly looking to shoot PRBs, the 1 in 60 will give you heavier load potential. With my eyes now and open sights a 100 yards may as well be a 1,000.

 

[Bullit]

I have several in 1 in 48 and one in 1 in 60. They all work as had been said. But if your strictly looking to shoot PRBs, the 1 in 60 will give you heavier load potential. With my eyes now and open sights a 100 yards may as well be a 1,000.

So I guess now you're a long range shooter no matter what the yardage. Them's the perks of old age.

 

[Bullit]

My Lyman 50 GPR is a tick licker. It's a 1:66

 

[PaulF70]

Well, I received the Traditions rifle I'd ordered today. I used an online retailer I have never used before (I usually use Midway who is great).

I just sent them this:

I am writing to tell you that I have received the rifle below and I am pretty unhappy.

First, it was packed improperly - there was no padding in the box, and so the inner box, holding the rifle, was free to bounce around. And it certainly did, as evidenced by the front of the inner box being completely crushed.

Worse, the rifle is defective. It will not cock, half-cock or full. This means the lock is defective or at least has to be disassembled and adjusted. That is not something I am willing to do.

I am an experienced black powder shooter, own numerous inline and percussion rifles and shotguns, and have never experienced a brand-new rifle with a lock issue like this before.

Finally, though perhaps this is not your fault, while the page describes the rear sight as adjustable, in reality it is adjustable for elevation only, not windage.

Due to the lock issue I see no alternative to returning the gun.

Some will probably tell me I should just adjust the lock. It's kind of a principle thing - also, I have no experience at all with that.

I've never before returned any BP gun I've bought, or had any desire to. I think I'm near 10 now counting the revolvers. I'm not that kind of guy.

Wish I could buy a new Lyman 50 GPR.

Not sure if I'll get another Traditions or go for the Pedersoli next...

 

[UndeadPoet]

Sorry to hear about your poor experience. Good luck!

 

[PaulF70]

Maybe I should finally try a flinter... these are in stock! And look at that - it turns out Pedersoli makes them.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...840+Lyman+Great+Plains+Rifle+50+Caliber+Flint

 

[PaulF70]

I have to admit a silly reason for avoiding the Pedersoli - it won't fit in my gun cabinet. I waited a year for this gorgeous Amish cabinet. Why didn't I get the tallest height?!

 

[deermanok]

Maybe I should finally try a flinter... these are in stock! And look at that - it turns out Pedersoli makes them.

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...840+Lyman+Great+Plains+Rifle+50+Caliber+Flint

Sorry to hear about the rifle.
I'm liking the Lyman Trade Rifle, flintlock. Not sure if I would get the 50 or 54.

 

[Shadowalker164]

I have 3 cap locks, a Traditions Kentucky pistol 50cal at 1 in 24, she likes 25 grain and a round ball best. A Pedersoli Kentucky long rifle 50cal at 1 in 48 and she seems happy at factory recommended 70 grains and a round ball and then there’s the Hammer! Pedersoli’s Bounty Hunter in 50cal, a 17 inch barrel with a birds head pistol grip at 1 in 18.She wants Conicals and as much powder as I can hold onto! I am very happy with all 3.

 

[TreeMan]

I should've mentioned I do already have one "PRBaller," a Traditions Deerhunter. Bought it for the boy last year. It's 1:48 of course and while I never shot it "seriously," I was impressed with what it could do at 50Y with little effort.

We shot only 50 grains - "minimum load" - he was only 12 then.

(I never considered this a "serious" PRB rifle though due to the very short barrel.)

Certainly a lot of gun for the $260 new I paid.

I have an older Lyman greats plains in 50cal that I was thinking of selling. If you’re interested send me a message and I’ll take some pics of it tomorrow in the daylight. It’s clean and has a pristine bore.

 

[oldwood]

I've shot 1 turn in 60 twist custom barrels for 50 + years. .490 ball w/80 gr's fffg. Very consistent performance to 100 yds.

 

[PaulF70]

I have an older Lyman greats plains in 50cal that I was thinking of selling. If you’re interested send me a message and I’ll take some pics of it tomorrow in the daylight. It’s clean and has a pristine bore.

PM sent.