Plains Rifle Fun!

[Black Hand]

There is a point of diminishing returns - Back your powder down (start at about 50gr FFFg) and work your way up to where it shoots accurately (likely around 75-80gr FFFg). You'll find the sweet spot - the groups will tighten then start to open again, back down to where they stay tight. There is a chance you are blowing unburned powder out of the barrel and beating yourself needlessly.

 

[Danny Ross]

I know when I got my GPR rifles they came with Max recommendations for powder charges for both 3F and 2F powder charges. I imagine there IS a reason for that. Going over a little is one thing going over that much is something else. DANNY

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The max load is 100 grains of 3F. I didn't think 120 would have been much different, but it was. Strong recoil and blew the hammer to half cock. The cap flew off to God's knows wheres. Not cool!

 

[meanmike8665]

I am glad you learned something! I use 2f in most of my .50 cal stuff, most you ask? I use Swiss 1 1/2 in a light bench gun I have, works great, but expensive.

Michael

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks.

Did some more shooting today with 80 grain charges of 2Fg Graf's powder:

So much fun!! Was ringing the 6" gong at 20 paces or better. Just breaking in that sharp rifling right now and getting a feel for things. Will start load development soon.

 

[mike54]

When i first got my gpr flinter i used 3f as i had plenty of it and it shot well but i felt it could do better so i picked up a can of 2f and at 50 yds with 80gr. it tightened up to a 5 shot group you could cover with a half dollar, i have yet to work on at 100yds but i feel confident it will do well. I really enjoy shooting mine. When i'm plinking around or just offhand practicing 60gr. of 2f works really well and when i take it head hunting for tree rats i drop down to 50gr.

 

[crockett]

You might get your best accuracy with 70-90 grains. I think around 100 grains would be maximum. After that the velocity doesn't go up much higher- you are just burning more powder and getting a heavier recoil but you are not getting a harder hit on game.
One word of caution: on a prb the general feel is you cannot overload on powder but everything is DIFFERENT if you try a conical. The heavier weight of the conical will raise bore pressure and you HAVE to follow recommended charges. You cannot over do it on the powder.
Some folks find a wad over the powder and before the prb improves accuracy but in other instances- no difference. Same with swabbing between shots. If you decide to swab between shots you may inadvertently push fouling down the bore and plug the flash hole- drum hole. If you swab you might want to snap a cap prior to reloading to make sure the passage is clear.
So some tinkering around to get the best groups.
I would do all this tinkering first to get the smallest possible group- then adjust the sights for that particular load.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

One more gratuitous picture:

How I love my plains rifle!! :grin:

BTW, I have been reading The Plains Rifle by Charles E. Hanson. It goes over the history of this style of rifle and it is a very good book! Sadly out of print, I got my copy a couple years ago and am just now reading it since I got my very own plains rifle.

 

[Zonie]

I think THE PLAINS RIFLE by Charles E. Hanson Jr. is a good book but I suspect there are many who don't agree.

After all, it has the audacity to list dozens of gunsmiths who built good plains rifles besides the Hawkens!

:rotf:

 

[Black Jack]

The Hawkens are very nice, but I have always been partial to rifles in the Leman style.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Yep, but there aren't many relatively affordable replics of those that actually at least look the part!