Powder tests in a .58 Leman flint elk rifle

[Herb]

I got the fantods (Jack O'Connor) from too many hours of building a close copy of the Kit Carson Hawken. It was 50 degrees here and no snow, so I figured I should try out my .58 Leman, recently rebored by Bobby Hoyt from a .54 GRRW barrel that went through a fire and was rebuilt by me. I made it as a caplock but changed it to a flintlock. It has a 24 inch barrel, but was too pitted to lap smooth. Thus the rebore. I hunted elk with it one season as a .54, using 110 grains of Swiss 1 1/2F, I think it was. See the story in the Hunting Journal.



I had shot it only enough after the rebore to regulate the sights, so I decided to shoot powders to answer some questions recently asked here. I used Goex 2F, Olde Eynsford 2F and 1 1/2F, Alliant Black MZ and Swiss 1 1/2F. I made weight-calibrated measures of 100 grains for each powder. Used .570 cast balls and .016 linen patching that crushes to .010. Shot from rest through my Oehler 35P chronograph at 50 yard targets, one fouler shot then four-shot groups of each powder with no wiping between shots or powders. I use a wet cleaning patch on the seater jag so wipe the bore as I load a ball, just once down and back. The patches worked fine with Goex 2F, loaded easily. They blew with two shots of OE 2F and all four of the OE 1 1/12F.



So I changed to .019 Levi that crushes to .012, but I had to use a rock to hammer the short starter to get the ball started. This patching held perfectly and could have been reused.



I think Alliant Black MZ should be loaded by volume equal to Goex 2F, but it is a coarse powder and those charges weighed about 88 grains. I wanted to test it in weight equal to the other powders, so made a measure that holds 100 grains of the BMZ. You know it will not ignite in a flintlock, but is easy to make it work. I poured the measure full of the 100 grains, then tapped out 5 to 10 grains (about a 1/4 inch at the top of the measure) and filled that with Goex 2F. Dumped that down the bore. Black powder must be used to prime, my priming valve drops about 4 grains of 4F. The load then fires normally. The first shot from the uncleaned bore gave high velocity, I think the next three is what the powder will average, about 1590 fps. The fastest of the powders tested.

I had all the shooting I wanted and cleaned the bore, but then decided to shoot the Swiss 1 1/2F. It shot well. I'll cast some .562 balls and reshoot the Olde Eynsford and the BMZ and Pyrodex RS and Triple 7 2F in a couple of days, using the Levi patches. The group sizes don't mean much unless they are small. This rifle really thumped me. All these powders will shoot tighter groups than I managed that day.

I like Alliant Black MZ. I also shot it in a .45 flintlock and it functions perfectly, with the 5 grains or so of Black powder boost and priming. Anyone who says these powders will not work in a flintlock has not tested them adequately.

 

[BrownBear]

I poured the measure full of the 100 grains, then tapped out 5 to 10 grains (about a 1/4 inch at the top of the measure) and filled that with Goex 2F.

Interesting way to add the "kicker" charge. Simple and direct. Never would have thought of doing it that way, but clearly it works well.

Thanks!

 

[Herb]

The easiest way is to tap the filled measure to settle the powder, then top it off. But that adds up to more than 100 grains, not important for anything except a direct comparison. The Goex 2F burns slower than the BMZ, so amount is not critical.

 

[Okie Hog]

That is a really nice rifle. Great report on the powders. Now we know that Black MZ works in flint locks.

 

[Grenadier1758]

But don't expect any kind of successful performance without the real black powder kicker.

 

[nkbj]

Thanks for the comparisons.

 

[BillinOregon]

Thanks for your patience and fine reporting, Herb.

 

[BFJ]

Great post and rifle. Thanks for posting.