what a difference 5 grains makes!

[PathfinderNC]

I have been enjoying shooting my .54 flintlock of late and had been using 70 grains of 3F with a .530 patched (.018) round ball. Not bad groups for this not-so-great shooter.
But I decided to add five grains more to my powder load and was very surprised at the groups I got with just that small adjustment.
This was my target at 30 yards on a bench. Not clover-leafs yet, but getting there...
Its fun when things like this happen

 

[bang]

Yep the load difference can make or break accuracy. Never know, another 5 and it might make holes touch. Won't know till you try.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Yep the load difference can make or break accuracy. Never know, another 5 and it might make holes touch. Won't know till you try.

True- little by little it’s getting there

 

[oldwood]

Think you need to go get a deer w/that . 54 , your ready enough.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Think you need to go get a deer w/that . 54 , your ready enough.

Was supposed to go up to Virginia tomorrow to hunt with a friend on his 250 acre farm but he got sick and we cancelled. Maybe in December... *sigh*

 

[BigAl52]

Bob
Have you tried a 535 ball at anytime by chance?

 

[PathfinderNC]

Bob
Have you tried a 535 ball at anytime by chance?

I wanted to but can’t find them anywhere.

 

[BigAl52]

I wanted to but can’t find them anywhere.

Not sure how many you want but I have a box in the basement I can stick your name on if you want some and PM me your ad. Otherwise there are some on Gunbraker for sale but the price with shipping isnt very user friendly.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Not sure how many you want but I have a box in the basement I can stick your name on if you want some and PM me your ad. Otherwise there are some on Gunbraker for sale but the price with shipping isnt very user friendly.

Thanks Al- Very generous of you! I just saw them also now available at Track of the Wolf. I will probably get some later down the line- I want to work with the 530's a while more, out to 50 and 75 yards first to see how they fly.

 

[BigAl52]

No problem glad to help if I could. Ive found in the guns I have that the 535 balls shoot better than the 530's. The 530's though are not that bad the groups with them just arent as tight.

 

[Sun City]

100 grains KIK 2F at 75 yards with .54 custom Hawken build!

.54 Hawken Flintlock by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[tom_in_vt]

Funny how little changes sometimes make a huge difference!

 

[PathfinderNC]

100 grains KIK 2F at 75 yards with .54 custom Hawken build!

.54 Hawken Flintlock by Sharps Man, on Flickr

Do you show this on everyone’s thread?

 

[GoodRabbitPilgrim]

Weight instead of volume also tightens things up.

 

[toot]

100 grains KIK 2F at 75 yards with .54 custom Hawken build!

.54 Hawken Flintlock by Sharps Man, on Flickr

now that group has bragging right's!!!

 

[OhioHawkeye]

I have been enjoying shooting my .54 flintlock of late and had been using 70 grains of 3F with a .530 patched (.018) round ball. Not bad groups for this not-so-great shooter.
But I decided to add five grains more to my powder load and was very surprised at the groups I got with just that small adjustment.
This was my target at 30 yards on a bench. Not clover-leafs yet, but getting there...
Its fun when things like this happen

This is great. Good job.

It's the same when changing brands of powder. I stay with the same charge but switch to Scheutzen powder from Goex for a similar result in the 50 cal. But Goex is / was much cheaper, and US made.

 

[GrandLakeHunter]

Do you show this on everyone’s thread?

I stayed at a Holiday Inn once....

 

[brewer12345]

I spent a lot of time playing with my Zouave this summer to be ready for a shot on a deer this fall (successful). I know the limit of my shooting with most of my MLs is my vision rather than the gun. I chose to work with a 570 ball, .015 prelubed patches and wads as necessary. Used OE 1.5F and CCI musket caps. I could have played around with other combinations, but the starting load showed promise so I left it at that. Groups got better and better as I worked up to 75 grains and tightened a little bit with an over powder wad. Anything 80 or more and they rapidly started to fall apart. I felt 75 grains was plenty of whomp for a deer so I didn't try to find another accuracy node at higher charges. If anything, 75 was perhaps a bit much power given the amount of damage to the small doe.

 

[dave951]

Gosh Bob, if I had known you wanted cloverleaf's I'd have come right over and shot a few for you.......you know I can do it too........

 

[William Lincoln]

Generally, bigger bores like bigger charges for accuracy. 70grs for 45cal and 80grs and up for 50 cal
and up. Each gun is different and you need to work your loads up on paper to see what is best.
5 grains can make a big difference, especially with longer barrels when the load is powder
starved to reach accurate velocities.