.50 Cal. Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle

[darco41]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum and new to black powder shooting as well. I am here looking for some help. I am 23 and my Father just passed away last August. He didn't have much to leave behind, but he did hand down a few of his guns. One being his Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, to me. I would like to hunt with it once, and then retire it for good, or at least until I pass it down to my kids. My Father didn't have any ammunition to go with this gun and that is my problem. I am not sure what I need to buy and/or how to load it correctly. I have some general knowledge about newer blackpowder firearms, but I am not sure if anything is different with this gun. Any help or advice that will help get me started will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dustyn

 

[BHP FAN]

I think I'd just get a cheap CVA,for shooting,and keep that solely as an heirloom.

 

[mykeal]

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your father. Heirloom guns are priceless mementos, but hanging them on a wall is not always the right answer. If he hunted with it, so should you and your children. Keep it clean and it will serve you for as long as you want.

Generally for .50 cal long guns, the formula is a .490 round ball with a .015 thick cotton (never any synthetic fibers) shooting patch and somewhere between 50 and 90 grains of ffg loose black powder. Synthetic powders will work just fine, although 777 should be reduced by 15%. The patch may need to vary in thickness as well, from .010 to .020. You will need to try some combinations to see what it likes best. You'll need a powder flask and a powder measure (NEVER load directly from the flask), a short ball starter, a cleaning jag for the ramrod and cleaning patches. The exact procedure for cleaning will depend on your facilities and the details of the gun design (can you remove the barrel easily?), but it's pretty much the same idea as with revolvers and inlines.

Congratulations and again, condolences. Use it and enjoy it. It was meant to be taken into the field, not hung on a wall.

 

[Harve Curry]

Sorry to read your Dad died. On a high note he had good taste in firearms, and he left it toyou. Use it, take care of it, and cherish it. That's how you pay him back
.
The reason you don't pour powder in the barrel from a flask is if there was a burning ember left from the previous shot the flask becomes a bomb in your hand.

Look in some muzzleloader magazines, Cabelas catalogs, any place that sells muzzloading supplies you will find info and goodies to keep your rifle shooting straight.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Sorry about your Dad's passing. Your Dad had good taste as the Browning ml is about as fine a factory ml that I have ever seen. It would be a shame to make it into a wall hanger. I think your Dad would like you to shoot it and maybe hunt with it rather than to just have it collect dust. I'm sure you will be careful with it.

 

[SE-Okla.shooter]

I would recommend buying Lyman's black powder book. That rifle has a patent breach which makes it a little harder to clean. It also has set trigger so you need to do some reading before you go to the range.