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What Muzzleloading Stuff Did You Do Today?

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I made a pouch for my cook pot and some hard tack/ships biscuits.

IMG_0993.jpeg
 
I thought I would put the fat ball skinny ball comparison to bed today. I have always shot a .530 round ball with a .018 patch in my 54 Pedersoli Tryon, to good result. I came upon a .535 round ball mold and cast a few up. Using them today, the fatter ball, with the same .018 patch, loaded easily enough, a tad tighter, but accuracy was not up to the standard of the .530 combination. Results tell me to stick with the .530.

Then again, one day, I may try the .535 with a thinner patch? 😄 Ah, love this game ...

Cheers, Pete.

Tryon54-.jpg
 
Took my .54 for a walk this morning in search of a doe (PA special regs area). Nothing but old tracks and a squirrel. But it was nice to be out in the fresh air.
imagine it felt good just getting out there. dang our deer season went out on january 1st. miss it bad. good luck to you
 
waited like an expectant father for the mail lady to deliver the CVA sxs .50 cal express i bought from JQuigley.
1:18 it showed delivered. 1:35 i had the rod extracted and popped a couple caps to clear the nipples.
cleaned up the nipples a little for an easier fit and loaded it up with 65g 777 with cci mag caps. .490 ball and .018 patch. could take a thicker patch or a .495 ball i think
fired 4 shots at 50yard gong. left hits from left barrel.
right hits from right barrel. will fiddle with loads and see if i can get them together but am very happy with this as is!
next i will try some conical and Holy black. trying to use up the 6lbs of 777 my shooting buddy willed to me. he knew i didn't use it so i think he had the last laugh!
i have to say no body parts have fallen off because of its use so far!
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Spent the first half of the day at the range with the Woodsrunner .54cal. Working with the newly installed, taller rear sight. Found the gun is very responsive to sight adjustments. A little goes a long way. While I was only shooting at 25 yards, the grouping was impressive. All shots touching or going through the previous holes, once the sights were on. The gun seems to really like 75 grains of 2F, .530 ball, and either pillow ticking or Irish linen. Recovered patches were textbook perfect. The lube was 50/50 dawn and water. Tried a few shots at the end with TOW mink oil. Worked just as well.
 
Thinking about another .458 bore barrel with .470 groove diameter, 30" long and been running some numbers on the PMax calculator for comparisons, to look at the feasibility of heavier molds and a faster twist than the 1 in 24" that I've been using. No doubt the numbers aren't exact but the relationships are interesting enough to give me something else to think about. Using a 24" twist in the 26" internal length of a New Englander has worked well above 400 grains but I've not been shooting long range. Next I should run numbers for the existing 26" barrel and compare.
By the way and as a comparison, by these methods TC's published maximum velocities for a Cherokee and the .45 maxihunter bullet would be up there somewhere around 20,000 PSI, but their maximum powder charge data would be around 17,000 PSI. Makes me think maybe there's some fudgelation in the calculation.

Black is the 30" barrel. (For a 26" barrel currently in use.)
500 Grain Bullets
FFg​
FPS​
PSI​
100​
1307 (1275)
20,671​
90​
1255 (1226)
19,935​
80​
1199 (1171)
19,137​
70​
1163 (1111)
18,262​

450 Grain Bullets
FFg​
FPS​
PSI​
100​
1361 (1327)
19,932​
90​
1307 (1276)
19,217​
80​
1249 (1219)
18,444​
70​
1184 (1157)
17,593​

400 Grain Bullets
FFg​
FPS​
PSI​
100​
1422 (1386)
19,130​
90​
1367 (1333)
18,438​
80​
1306 (1275)
17,689​
70​
1239 (1210)
16,868​

350 Grain Bullets
FFg​
FPS​
PSI​
100​
1493 (1454)
18,252​
90​
1436 (1399)
17,586​
80​
1326 (1338)
16,865​
70​
1302 (1271)
16,077​
 
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I visited my local muzzleloading shop and got a wedge pin for my .58 caliber Ardessa.
Went to an antique mall and picked up a cool leather possibles bag.
When I got back home I cast up some .530 round balls for tomorrow's trip to the woods. I'm going to shoot my rifles for the first time. Fingers crossed that I don't embarrass myself.
 
I visited my local muzzleloading shop and got a wedge pin for my .58 caliber Ardessa.
Went to an antique mall and picked up a cool leather possibles bag.
When I got back home I cast up some .530 round balls for tomorrow's trip to the woods. I'm going to shoot my rifles for the first time. Fingers crossed that I don't embarrass myself.
I usually say, "I hope I don't embarrass my rifle!"
 
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