Settled on a load)

[jambuster]

Well went out Wednesday to adjust the sights in the 54 GPR and settle on a load . Up to this point the gun was giving 4 to 6 inch groups at 50 but the barrel has not had enough rounds through it to be broken in. Well the first group was typical but something happened on group two . I guess it is breaking in cause 2" groups the rest of the day. Up to this point I could get 2 or 3 in a tight group and 1 or 2 flyers. Now all in a tight about 2" group . This was a 50 yards.

I settled on .530 balls , 110 gr Graff fffg, .018" prelubed ox yoke pillow ticking, CCI caps with Lyman Nipple.

It is still very difficult to load more than one shot without swabing. I have seen the videos about swabing the barrel with scotch brite but I am going to shoot it smooth

It's only 4 weeks till deer season. I will be hunting pigs in a week or two.

 

[Cattman]

use medium weight pure linen cloth for your patches. a 535 round ball. set the linen cloth lubed over the muzzle. place the 535 ball on the cloth and tap into the bore using a short starter and a small rubber hammer. then cut off at the muzzle the patch. set ball on powder but do not tap it after it is set. wipe barrel between shots. takes only seconds. one real damp and two dry patches. i would drop back to 80 grains of powder. your accuracy with this method will be better than you can shoot. if you must go over 80 grains of powder then 100 grains but no more. after a round ball goes through a deer , the speed it goes through it doesnt mean anything. ive used this method with a 50 cal round ball gun and shot antelope at 150 yards and dropped them with on shot. the ball was going fast enough to split in two pieces and continue on to do more damage. linen is so tuff you can recover the patches and use them again. you can get the linen off of the internet on a linen cloth sight.

 

[SDSmlf]

Well went out Wednesday to adjust the sights in the 54 GPR and settle on a load....... I settled on .530 balls , 110 gr Graff fffg, .018" prelubed ox yoke pillow ticking, CCI caps with Lyman Nipple.

use medium weight pure linen cloth for your patches. a 535 round ball. set the linen cloth lubed over the muzzle. place the 535 ball on the cloth and tap into the bore using a short starter and a small rubber hammer. then cut off at the muzzle the patch. set ball on powder but do not tap it after it is set. wipe barrel between shots. takes only seconds. one real damp and two dry patches. i would drop back to 80 grains of powder. your accuracy with this method will be better than you can shoot. if you must go over 80 grains of powder then 100 grains but no more. after a round ball goes through a deer , the speed it goes through it doesnt mean anything. ive used this method with a 50 cal round ball gun and shot antelope at 150 yards and dropped them with on shot. the ball was going fast enough to split in two pieces and continue on to do more damage. linen is so tuff you can recover the patches and use them again. you can get the linen off of the internet on a linen cloth sight.

@jambuster , I would not change a thing. You found a load that works for you and you are happy with it. A few weeks until hunting season. Time to hunt.

 

[tleeds]

I found that in a .50 GPR accuracy began to decline at 100 grs. under a TC maxi ball. 90 grains was its happy place...

 

[jambuster]

I probably wouldn't shoot past 50 yards cause I am older and struggle seeing the sights. I intentionally worked up a heavy load cause I am more likely to shoot at pigs than deer and they can take a hit. I usually try to shoot the smaller ones but some time the bigger ones are begging for it . "WHAT can I say , I give to them" .

 

[mooman76]

Sounds like you are on it. I see nothing wrong with it, if it works for you.

 

[longcruise]

use medium weight pure linen cloth for your patches. a 535 round ball. set the linen cloth lubed over the muzzle. place the 535 ball on the cloth and tap into the bore using a short starter and a small rubber hammer. then cut off at the muzzle the patch. set ball on powder but do not tap it after it is set. wipe barrel between shots. takes only seconds. one real damp and two dry patches. i would drop back to 80 grains of powder. your accuracy with this method will be better than you can shoot. if you must go over 80 grains of powder then 100 grains but no more. after a round ball goes through a deer , the speed it goes through it doesnt mean anything. ive used this method with a 50 cal round ball gun and shot antelope at 150 yards and dropped them with on shot. the ball was going fast enough to split in two pieces and continue on to do more damage. linen is so tuff you can recover the patches and use them again. you can get the linen off of the internet on a linen cloth sight.

No need to make shooting without wiping a priority. There are combinations that allow it but for now you are doing great. Just wipe after each shot for consistency and enjoy.

 

[jambuster]

By the way I dry-balled one the first time ever when I was zeroing the other day. I have a ball pulling tip from TOW for 54 cal and a TOW range rod. The screw penitrated the ball just fine and I was able to pull the ball out. I also had zerk fittings available for using a grease gun to pump the ball out if needed. Well all I can say is it happens.......Ha Ha

 

[toot]

has any one ever shot a deer with a flint lock or percussion pistol? just curious.