Capt. Fred
50 Cal.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2008
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I got my two muzzleloaders out to the range for the first real shooting of either of them. For those that haven't followed the thread on the builders bench I built a Don Stith 54 cal full stock and a TOTW Jim Bridger this winter. Anyways, I got to the range and had some reporting to do and a couple of questions.
I haven't shot side hammer ML's for a long time so this is kind of re-learning some stuff for me. I trying to work up hunting loads so I'm planning on some pretty stout charges eventually.
I was using .530 balls, .015 and .020 lubed patches, 70 grns of FFF, 80 grns of ff, (both goex) and a lubed wad for my various loads. All shots taken at 50 yds. Probably fired 20 shots out of each gun of various combinations of the above.
The barrels are a deHaas on the Stith and a Colerain on the TOTW.
I found that the .015 patches worked real well in both barrels in terms of accuracy but were getting pretty beat up going down the tube. The Colrain barrel definitely tore them up worse than the deHaas. I tried the .020 in both guns the they were too tight. I'd need a hammer to get those combos down after the first shot.
I thought I had some .018 ticking in my box but couldn't find them so I just ordered some of those.
The 70 grns of fff seemed to work best in the Jim Bridger. Pretty much one big ragged hole a little low at 50 yards after about 10 shots.
The Don Stith gun seemed to prefer the ff but was a little less accurate with the load I was playing with today.
So here's my questions:
1) It may have been my imagination but the ignition seemed faster with both guns when using the fff. Is that common?
2) I didn't fiddle with the sights yet because I know it can take a while to break these barrels in. What is an average number of shots you guys would take before you think the barrel seasoned?
3)The Jim Bridger is super heavy as it has the straight 1 1/8 inch barrel. Even with 70 grains of fff it was like firing a .22 Is it worth trying to work up a higher velocity hunting load for it and if so what would be your recommendations for fff? What about ff? It is a 36 inch barrel and I'm wondering if there is a point where I'm just burning powder outside of the barrel and not gaining anything usefull.
4) Is it worth trying to smooth out the rifling in the Colerain barrel? It was really shredding patches.
Thanks.
I haven't shot side hammer ML's for a long time so this is kind of re-learning some stuff for me. I trying to work up hunting loads so I'm planning on some pretty stout charges eventually.
I was using .530 balls, .015 and .020 lubed patches, 70 grns of FFF, 80 grns of ff, (both goex) and a lubed wad for my various loads. All shots taken at 50 yds. Probably fired 20 shots out of each gun of various combinations of the above.
The barrels are a deHaas on the Stith and a Colerain on the TOTW.
I found that the .015 patches worked real well in both barrels in terms of accuracy but were getting pretty beat up going down the tube. The Colrain barrel definitely tore them up worse than the deHaas. I tried the .020 in both guns the they were too tight. I'd need a hammer to get those combos down after the first shot.
I thought I had some .018 ticking in my box but couldn't find them so I just ordered some of those.
The 70 grns of fff seemed to work best in the Jim Bridger. Pretty much one big ragged hole a little low at 50 yards after about 10 shots.
The Don Stith gun seemed to prefer the ff but was a little less accurate with the load I was playing with today.
So here's my questions:
1) It may have been my imagination but the ignition seemed faster with both guns when using the fff. Is that common?
2) I didn't fiddle with the sights yet because I know it can take a while to break these barrels in. What is an average number of shots you guys would take before you think the barrel seasoned?
3)The Jim Bridger is super heavy as it has the straight 1 1/8 inch barrel. Even with 70 grains of fff it was like firing a .22 Is it worth trying to work up a higher velocity hunting load for it and if so what would be your recommendations for fff? What about ff? It is a 36 inch barrel and I'm wondering if there is a point where I'm just burning powder outside of the barrel and not gaining anything usefull.
4) Is it worth trying to smooth out the rifling in the Colerain barrel? It was really shredding patches.
Thanks.