Traditions Bison

[fredrader]

Ok,I still haven't got around to shooting either if my 1851's but I found a Traditions Bison today at a local show...
I can't wait till it warms up a little so I can take em all out back and try em out..Here are a couple pics..
Click on the pic for a larger view..

 

[napolean]

Hey Fredrader,
Looks like a good find. Hope you get to shoot soon. I finally got to go out the other day. A friend of my son let us into a "caliche pit" on their land. Kinda like a small quarry. That Bison has a looooong sight radious ought ta put em in the 10 ring. Hows the other pistol project going?
Jon

 

[fredrader]

The flintlock project is on hold till Friday..I am going to take it over to my friends and he will use an end mill in a CNC Mill and make the hole 1/16" for me..
This Bison is pretty neat though,It is new in the box unfired but it has been played with a lot so it has some Marks on it here and there but it looks pretty good..I don't care mush for the long 12" brl but like you said it should shoot good..We got 6-8" of snow today so I didn't shoot it but I may give it a try tomorrow if it's not too cold..

 

[fredrader]

Ok,I loaded it up this evening with 20g FFFG Goex,wonder wad and .451 ball..It shaved a very small ring of lead on each chamber (Not a perfect circle but real close)..I used #10 caps and they went on nice and tight..I'll try it in the morning and see how it works..
Oh,After I loaded it I removed the cylinder and installed the caps and now the loaded cylinder is on the bench beside the pistol..I will install the cylinder just before I test it.FYI

 

[fredrader]

I took a pic of the rings of lead to show how much it shaved off a .451 Ball...
Click on the pics for a larger view..

 

[fredrader]

Well I braved the 13degree cold and white death and tried it out this morning..I stepped off 20 yds and set a target and tried 6 shots offhand and it did great considering the guy holding the pistol was freezing :redface: .I aimed at the center of the orange dot and it shot high..
Next I loaded it up again using .454 balls and same load of 20g (Weighed)Goex FFFG and wonder wad and I decided to knock some snow off the deck rail and rest it and see what happened.This time I aimed at 6 oclock where the orange meets the white.Much better resting the brl on a sandbag on the rail other than all the bore butter all over the bag and the side of the pistol..Looks like it will work just fine.I did file a notch in the end of the loading lever because it would move side to side quite a bit when it was locked into the brl and I didn't like it having slop so I did my thing to it..At least I didn't break anything this time...Here are a couple pics..
Click on the pic for a larger view..

 

[MSW]

nice shooting, and nice shooting gun!

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Looks like a very accurate load there Fred!

Also just to let you know if you don't want to deal with bore butter, you don't have to. Looks like you're already using lubed wonder-wads. You could just put two wads into each chamber instead of greasing the chambers. And you could up the charge a little cause that foot-long hotdog of a bore will burn more than the 20 grain load you're feeding it.

Just as a suggestion, try 25 grains and either 1 or 2 wads to get the depth correct on the seating of the balls. Then you won't be wiping-off lube from the railing any more.

Of course if you find that your groups open-up too much, you can always go back to the "greaser" technique like you're doing now.

Dave

 

[fredrader]

I thought about using 2 wads the first time I loaded it but I didn't..I measured the depth of the ball in the cylinder and with 20g 3f and one wad it sets .230 from the top..I started to put the 20g in and then fill to the top with oats then the ball but I didn't try that either..
I was very nervous shooting my first cap/ball revolver fearing a chain fire or some other catastrofe but everything went OK..I figured I would just load lite since it has the brass frame and it really surprised me how tight the 6 shot group was when I was resting it though.Maby when I grow up I will be a Pistolaro like you :thumbsup: .Thanks

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I don't think that you have too much to worry about when you put 6 shots into 1 ragged hole at 20 yards! :thumbsup:

A Pistolero you will soon BE!

Again, nice shooting :hatsoff: :haha:

Dave

 

[napolean]

WOW. I think you found your load the first time out. One good group there. I think I would stay with that load for the brass frame revolver. It probably groups even tighter but the multiple sets of long johns, several flannel shirts, coveralls and heavy gloves you must have been wearing may have threw ya off a little.
Jon

 

[fredrader]

Thanks,That means a lot comming from you.. :bow: With that 12" brl it's kinda cheating though..Now I can't wait to get my Navy out and see what it's going to do :wink:

WOW. I think you found your load the first time out. One good group there. I think I would stay with that load for the brass frame revolver. It probably groups even tighter but the multiple sets of long johns, several flannel shirts, coveralls and heavy gloves you must have been wearing may have threw ya off a little.
Jon

Thanks Jon D,I wasn't out there long since I loaded it up inside and just ran outside poped 6 off and ran back inside to reload and warm up.. :rotf:

 

[napolean]

You must be pretty far from the nearest settlement. Wish I could shoot offa my front porch. The one neighbors sterio would be my first target.
Those other roller guns gonna do OK too.
Jon