Author Topic: New to to ML world (Read 883 times)

handirifle · « **on:** August 07, 2004, 06:52:47 PM »

Howdy to all. I'm new to the muzzle loading world since I just inherited my dads 50 cal. As far as I know it is nothing special but it'll be in my possesion as long as I can shoot.

Don't know who made it but it is sold my Montgomery Ward and has 651 of 2500 stamped on it. Black barrel with gold inlay on the hammer and hammer side plate. My dads eyesight is bad (yes I said is, he hasn't passed on yet, but sooner than I wish) so he had a 2X scope mounted on it. And to clear the scope he bent the hammer out 90deg. Sad but true. I used a torch and re-shaped the hammer since it is inlaid, but the gold was burned out of it previously, so I'll have to re-do it.

I have read some posts here, I have also shot very limited amounts with my Navy replica 45 Cal. When using conicals in a ML do you place a wad or something between the bullet and powder. I'm fairly familiar with the round ball process but still have a LOT to learn.

Any advice is appreciated.

offhand35 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2004, 01:25:57 PM »

Hello, handirifle! A familiar name.....Welcome to muzzleloading!!! It's VERY addictive....You always wonder how a variation you did not try might shoot.....

Using a felt wad (aka Wonder wad, Bore Button....) under a conical would depend on what your rifle likes.....You'll just have to try it

Do a search in this forum for"lee r.e.a.l. bullets", and see my post. I found a load using a 50cal Wonder Wad over the powder/under the bullet in my round ball shooter, having a 1:66" twist.
Diffrerent bullets, different rifles may shoot differently.....

crow_feather · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2004, 01:34:11 PM »

Let me be the second to welcome you to Greybeard Outdoors. All of us shooters started same as you, since black powder muzzle loading is not a topic taught in school.............................................yet.

You do not need anything between your powder and your conical when shooting with black powder though many shooters use this or that to improve accuracy.

One way I learned a bit about shooting black powder was to take my rifle, powder, and ball to a range where black powder was being shot. Next best thing for a muzzle loading shooter besides shooting, is talking to some one about shooting muzzle loaders.

Once you learn how to shoot patched round ball, then you can experiment with ugh! different type powders, and ech! various bullet styles. You might want to try a vous(Rendezvous) someday, or get into some other informal black powder competition. And don't forget the special seasons set aside for muzzle loading hunters.

It is a great sport, this black powder shooting, I wish you the best times while enjoying it.

Crow_feather

handirifle · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2004, 04:28:55 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I'm not new to GB just the muzzle loading forums but thanks for the welcome.

I'm looking forward to all the new doors opened by black powder.

One thing that struck me funny was that shooting muzzle loaders make everyone a reloader. :wink:

I'll have to do some experimenting for sure.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2004, 05:14:28 PM »

Hey Handirifle, guess I'm not so new to reloading after all! :-D

KING · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2004, 10:22:00 AM »

Welcome and feel free to pull up a chair to the fire .........so to speak. Everyone here will be more than happy to help you including some of the more notorious bipedal critters like Crow-feather and his cohorts. I shoot both conical and rb out of my rifles and smoothbores. Some will put a wad between the base of the conical and the powder such as the Wonder Wade,or a piece of cardboard of the correct diameter. It all depends on what it is that your gun likes. Try it and also shoot it a lot. It will come around and you will end up having a lot of fun inna process. Stay safe..King

handirifle · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:33:52 AM »

The reason I was curious about this was from my VERY LIMITED experience with black powder cartridge rifle, BPCR, shoting. Never got good at that, but they really stressed using a wad over the powder to prevent gas cutting of the bullet. This helps accuracy and cuts down on leading. Yet when I read some posts about using conicals, there seemed no reference to it.

How do you make sure the wad doesn't stop sideways in the bore, on top of the powder?

has anyone ever used a slightly undersized conical with a patch?

crow_feather · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:54:19 AM »

If you use a paper type wad, I believe that the ramrod just naturally makes it horizontal to the bore as it is being pushed down on top of the powder. Probably pretty much the same with those felt thingies.

I don't think I would try with a patch and smaller conical. If the patch rumples up and sorta causes the conical to get stuck, it would ruin your Christmas and every day in between.

C F

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2004, 12:04:06 PM »

I've used the wonder wads in my .50 and .62 cal under rb, sabots and conicals, they fit the bore snug enough that you could place the wad in the bore and seat it and the bullet at the same time. Can't say as they ever improved anything though, but I did try them. I've also tried overpowder wads under the ball in my .62 for no help in accuracy. :grin: If it's ever been suggested, I've probably tried it.... :lol:

Longcruise · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2004, 01:07:11 PM »

Hey Handi, good move, going to the BP and all! :grin:

How about posting a couple pics of that rifle? Don't think I've ever seen one. What about spec? Barrel length, twist, stuff like that?

handirifle · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2004, 02:57:28 PM »

longcruise, Will do, but it'll take a day or so. I don't get off work for another 3 1/2 hrs and I don't wanna go home and open the safe in the middle of the night.

It has some scratches on it. Most were there but I added a couple ( :evil: ) trying to get the hammer off to straighten it back.

The bluing? is black on the barrel and other parts, instead of blue. Is there any home kits to do this in black?

I didn't take any pics of the hammer before but I had to file off some plier marks from when I heated and straightened it, so of course the bluing came off too.

Well I geuss I'll have to try stuffing some sort of wad down there, and try without one, just to see which works best.

I guess I'll have to try a cleaning rod down the barrel to test the rifling twist. No other way to tell.

handirifle · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2004, 03:06:24 PM »

While I had you,
Does anyone see a major issue with me shooting this ML left handed since it is a RH rifle? It is percussion. Doesn't seem to me like it should be but was wondering if anyone saw anything bad happen that way?

this is an inherited rifle so I'm not interested in converting it (I don't think.)

Longcruise · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2004, 03:33:04 PM »

Quote

Does anyone see a major issue with me shooting this ML left handed since it is a RH rifle? It is percussion.

It's not uncommon to do so. My son in law has is right handed but left eye dominent so he shoots lefty with no problem. all his guns are righty except for one rem bolt gun.

Partcles of caps do fly so I would not be without safety glasses if'n I was you. Ironically the only injury I/ve ever had from shooting a bp gun was while shooting a righty gun righty and a piece of cap flew over and landed on my left foream giveing me a pretty good burn.

Now, a flinchlock might be a whole different matter and should be answered by the esteemed board members who shoot them. :grin:

handirifle · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2004, 05:54:07 PM »

I shot a flintlock at our range but the owner said I'd have to shoot it RH, which I did. I can shoot either way, pretty much switch handed with most anything I do. I just feel more comfortable LH, but I am Right eye dominant. I'll have to practice both ways and see what happens.