Second day with the Lyman T.R.

[Raider2000]

Today was a planed day for me, got up with the lil ones, had my coffee & breakfast, when Moma got up I cleaned up some leaves & trash, then went to the range around noon.

Ofcorse having no spot really to do any bench shooting was not in the plan but I was going to have fun anyway.

I shot a cupple of ball with the .010 patch off hand & when they hit kinda off my mark thought it could be me but then I decided to whip out the .015 patches.
Man did my shooting improve there cept for a flier which I can really say was my fault my 10 shot group was looking pretty good, found a patch or two & decided to try my luck at the 100 yard spot.

Well the I thought to hold a little high on my first shot at 100 yards & it paid me back by hitting high & slight right "the shot closest to the dent in the cardboard" but holding the sight as dead on as I can I think I did pretty good conciddering it was all off hand & with the one shot that I tried a .010 patch there it told me that they are not for this rifle.

Although you can't see it in the picture the 2 patches that I did manage to find are cut by what looks to be the rifling so tonight I swabbed the bore with some 0000 Steel wool about 20 times, also it looks good on the burn at least I think it does.

After 25 shots today I have a great feeling that this rifle will be a good friend, easy to shoot & swings nicely, I even made a guy with a T.C. Omega "brand new to him" slightly upset because at 100 yards "that is where he decided to sight it in instead of starting closer" he couldn't get it on paper & after the 6th shot he was having problems loading due to a crud ring from the 777 pelets & sabots he was using, where I swabbed my bore once every 5 shots & was keeping a some what consistent group.

Thoughts?

This will more than likely be my hunting rifle next year with as good as she shoots now, I can only imagine that by Muzzle Loading season November 2009 she'll be having all those shots tighter.

 

[Trench]

I've found that the tightest ball and patch combos always work best. I shoot 6in groups off-hand at 50yds, so I'm plenty impressed with your shooting. I'd like to see what your patch/ball/powder combo does at 100yds from a rest.

 

[cowpoke1955]

If that target is 50 yards off hand, there is nothing wrong with muzzle loading season 2008. Go get 'em :thumbsup: .

 

[Raider2000]

If that target is 50 yards off hand, there is nothing wrong with muzzle loading season 2008. Go get 'em :thumbsup: .

Thought of it tonight & I'm seriously conciddering it.

 

[Mulebrain]

That is pretty good off hand shooting!! Is the 70 grain powder load the optimum load you worked up to 100yds?

I am wondering if a little more black stuff might tighten up that 100yd group?

 

[Raider2000]

a little more powder may tighten the groups up but I figure that since I've only got 46 shots through it so far that she may still be breaking in & I may not need any more than 70gr..

I may play with the charges when I get out there again & there isn't so many on lookers hanging around, although it was great having my 7 year old as my spotter today.

 

[paulvallandigham]

In my .50, using .490 balls, and .015" patches, I found that using 75 grains of FFg tightened up my groups off the bench at 100 yds. My target load for 50 yd. work is only 65 grains FFg.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Using the tighter patch results in less blow-by. Your target proves this. You're well on your way :thumbsup: .

Step-up the charge in 5 grain increments the next time out and you'll know for sure which is the tightest loading.

Enjoy,

Dave

 

[Raider2000]

My next outing will definitly be a benched affair & hopefully not as many onlookers around as this weekend was so that I can consentrate more on what my rifle is telling me.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Make sure to bring the pen again so that you can write-down the pertinent info.

Remember that after 70 grains with a 28" barrel and a PRB, there comes a point when you're just throwing unburned powder out the muzzle, and creating more crud! I use 70 grains of 3Fg Goex because I don't have to clean before each shot during a lengthy competition. If in a hunting situation where you actually fire the rifle, you're not going to take the time to clean the bore before the reload!!

There's no right or wrong way--just be consistant.

Good luck and keep us all informed of your progress.

Dave

 

[Raider2000]

Thank you & will do.