Plains Rifle

[Panzerschwein]

Wanting to burn some powder today guys, but it's really cold here. Not sure why. Thought it was supposed to warm up?

 

[Gordon]

Lyman Deer Stalker .50 = .490" ball with greased ticking patch and 80 grains FFG is my accuracy load at 50 yards where it is sighted in for, drops 4" at 100 yards and I don't know after that. In the .50 Great Plains pistol same with 40 grains is very accurate to same distance, but I could use more (in either) I am sure.

 

[Dog Soldier]

With a functional 100 yd load you can expect a drop of 24" at 200 yds.

 

[midland man]

What is accurate? What is in accurate? It will vary with barrels and shooters. Accurate to me is a rifle and shooter who can shoot off hand on a standard NMLRA paper target. The shooter can keep 5 balls in the 9 and 10 ring off hand at 100 yards.
I have never seen this accomplished with "whimp" loads in any caliber. The .50 caliber is the most popular caliber with the .54 at a very close second. The main consideration with heavy loads is the column length of the load. There must be an adequate flame path through the powder column. This decides? Do we use 2F or 3F? This can be determined by shooting over snow or an old sheet. The amount 0f unburned powder is the factor. It is common for serious shooters to use 2F in both the .50 and .54. calibers.

so why no 45 caliber rifles?? I shoot a flintlock 45 caliber rifle with roundballs and it does very well, looks like to me the 45 caliber rifles could perform at 100 yards??

 

[eastbank]

an other good lock is the L&R that RMC uses on their rifles. if a frizzen is too soft the flint digges in and does not produce the sparks of hot steel and if to hard the flint breaks producing no sparks of hot steel. the just right frizzen with good qualty flints will produce a shower of sparks and the flints will last for many shots. adjusting the flints to strike on the upper surface of the frizzen is a thing to do as the flint rides down the frizzen it rolles it forward allowing sparks to fall into the pan powder. also the flint should be adjusted so it is not againt the frizzen at safe rest. my rmc was carried in blowing snow and i use a baggie over the lock keep the lock dry and it worked as no misfires were encountered. eastbank.

 

[midland man]

an other good lock is the L&R that RMC uses on their rifles. if a frizzen is too soft the flint digges in and does not produce the sparks of hot steel and if to hard the flint breaks producing no sparks of hot steel. the just right frizzen with good qualty flints will produce a shower of sparks and the flints will last for many shots. adjusting the flints to strike on the upper surface of the frizzen is a thing to do as the flint rides down the frizzen it rolles it forward allowing sparks to fall into the pan powder. also the flint should be adjusted so it is not againt the frizzen at safe rest. my rmc was carried in blowing snow and i use a baggie over the lock keep the lock dry and it worked as no misfires were encountered. eastbank.

I use a lock boot cover on mine!!

 

[Dog Soldier]

The proper edging of the flint will keep them going for 50 or more shots. The diamond files are a favorite for keeping the flint sharp and a mating edge for the frizzen. After the flint becomes thick knapping with a flint nail or tapping with a knife blade can keep the rock going.

 

[Dog Soldier]

so why no 45 caliber rifles?? I shoot a flintlock 45 caliber rifle with roundballs and it does very well, looks like to me the 45 caliber rifles could perform at 100 yards??

There is nothing wrong with the .40 or .45 caliber rifles. I won the State Squirrel Rifle Match with a .40 Caliber in 2007 .The rifle was a Matt Avance South Carolina flinter. These are 25 yard matches. The heavy calibers provide insurance against wind and weather changes at 100 yard events.

 

[Crawdad1]

Matt Avance!!! TVM, they offer some great rifles.

http://www.tennesseevalleymuzzleloading.com/tennessee-rifle

 

[midland man]

There is nothing wrong with the .40 or .45 caliber rifles. I won the State Squirrel Rifle Match with a .40 Caliber in 2007 .The rifle was a Matt Avance South Carolina flinter. These are 25 yard matches. The heavy calibers provide insurance against wind and weather changes at 100 yard events.

have you ever tried a 32 caliber bp rifle??

 

[Dog Soldier]

Yes I have a .32 caliber Tennessee rifle. They were the ,22 rifle of the frontier days. The only negative is the ram rods. These rods are so small they are whippy and break easily. My choice for a small bore is defiantly the .40 caliber.
The .40 caliber is the 22-250 of muzzle loaders. It is a fast flat shooter. It can be loaded for squirrels or white tail deer. It seems to have been a choice of hunters during the late post Buffalo frontier.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Matt Avance!!! TVM, they offer some great rifles.

http://www.tennesseevalleymuzzleloading.com/tennessee-rifle

Yes I met Matt at the Big Fort Bridger shoot over the years. He did a smooth bore for me some years ago. I was not satisfied with the barrel bedding. I called Matt, to discuss a remedy. He immediately said, ship the gun back I will build you another one.
I told him I needed it for a shoot in Texas in 2 mos. He shipped the new gun well before the match. Now you just can not dispute that kind of service. Did I win the Texas smooth bore championship? No, But it was my fault.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Got out there again today guys:

Was using 80 grains of Graf's 2Fg to ring the 6" gong at 20 paces or so. Mainly just breaking in the barrel. It already feels better when I go to wipe it and load. LOVING this rifle guys. No misfires, just a joy.

Guys don't tell anybody buy I've got a secret. I'm talking with someone about making me a custom made squirrel gun. Stay tuned.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Great picture. I have been wanting to shoot a flintier for some time. The Chinooks are blowing and burning off the snow. Maybe soon?
There is nothing like knocking a Fox Squirrel out of tall tree with a custom flint lock or cap lock. I love the smell of black powder in the morning.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Great picture. I have been wanting to shoot a flintier for some time. The Chinooks are blowing and burning off the snow. Maybe soon?
There is nothing like knocking a Fox Squirrel out of tall tree with a custom flint lock or cap lock. I love the smell of black powder in the morning.

I hope one day to feel that same feeling! My .54 plains rifle is so fun, and I'm sure big medicine for deer and boar. But probably not a good option for small game animals that I want to also hunt! Plus for target shooting it'll be cheaper.

 

[Dog Soldier]

You can use your .54 for small game. Reduce the loads down to a 25 yard target. You may find 25 or 30 grs of 3/F to be adequate. This load will not damage small game properly hit any more than a .22 HP. The people on the frontier could not afford 2 rifled guns.

 

[Panzerschwein]

You can use your .54 for small game. Reduce the loads down to a 25 yard target. You may find 25 or 30 grs of 3/F to be adequate. This load will not damage small game properly hit any more than a .22 HP. The people on the frontier could not afford 2 rifled guns.

Sounds good, but that wouldn't be so efficient in terms of lead. But neither is buying a totally different rifle so I see your point! Still, I'm craving a .36 to use for the smaller critters and to save money on plinking and targets.

 

[midland man]

Yes I have a .32 caliber Tennessee rifle. They were the ,22 rifle of the frontier days. The only negative is the ram rods. These rods are so small they are whippy and break easily. My choice for a small bore is defiantly the .40 caliber.
The .40 caliber is the 22-250 of muzzle loaders. It is a fast flat shooter. It can be loaded for squirrels or white tail deer. It seems to have been a choice of hunters during the late post Buffalo frontier.

so I was also looking at a 36 caliber so how would you describe them, would it be better than a 32 caliber for the reasons described??

 

[Dog Soldier]

No, but lead is hardly an issue today. Back on the frontier it was an issue but then so was starvation. It is interesting to find out how versatile BP firearms are. Today we can own any caliber we choose. As I posted the .40 caliber is my small bore choice. I like the little .32 but it is not a caliber for deer or hogs. They were used to shoot live stock at butchering time. But that is not hunting.

 

[midland man]

No, but lead is hardly an issue today. Back on the frontier it was an issue but then so was starvation. It is interesting to find out how versatile BP firearms are. Today we can own any caliber we choose. As I posted the .40 caliber is my small bore choice.

okay so there is quite a difference between the 40 caliber and the 36 caliber? as I was looking hard at the 32 caliber but I have had people tell me the 36 caliber dosen't foul as bad as the 32 caliber and if that's the case then the 40 caliber should be even better! and I bet the those ramrods for the 32 calibers are flimsy and so a heavy duty fiberglass for hunting only purposes would be better...

 

[Dog Soldier]

Never ever use fiber glass rods in a muzzle loader. Carbon fouling on a hard fiber glass rod becomes an efficient file. You can destroy the crown of a BP barrel very fast.
As for fouling the .32 can foul no question. The hunters of old used an over powder wad and then a patched ball on top. The over powder wads were anything handy. It may have been leaves or grass bark etc. Ground Hog hide was used for patches as well.
This type of loading sounds crude. But this was true survival. Today an over powder wad using Saran Wrap works great and will not burn causing grass fires. I use Hoppe's black powder patch lube it contains kerosene and keeps the bore clean.
The over powder wads allowed thinner patches for fast loading. The over powder wad kept the patch from burning and cleaned the bore going down.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I have read some say the .40 causes a lot of damage on a squirrel with anything other than a head shot. Also few recommend it for deer, stating .45 round balls as the practical minimum for ethical reasons.

So that's why I'm leaning 36. More potent and versatile than the .32, but more suited to small game than .40. I have my .54 for deer or anything bigger. Just my $0.02, I haven't been shooting BP rifles as long as Dog Soldier I'm sure!

 

[Dog Soldier]

I used an original .36 caliber J. Henry & Sons half stock cap lock. When I was a teenager. It was an Indian Rez government issue with the U.S. stamp behind the trigger guard. The Fed issued rifles to the tribes for hunting.
The .36 does not differ from any other caliber as damage is concerned. That depends on the powder charge. when the rifle produces a loud "Crack" it is above 1,000 fps. It will likely damage game regardless.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I used an original .36 caliber J. Henry & Sons half stock cap lock. When I was a teenager. It was an Indian Rez government issue with the U.S. stamp behind the trigger guard. The Fed issued rifles to the tribes for hunting.
The .36 does not differ from any other caliber as damage is concerned. That depends on the powder charge. when the rifle produces a loud "Crack" it is above 1,000 fps. It will likely damage game regardless.

The .40 seems good, but the .36 also seems good... tough choice.

 

[Crawdad1]

I know a bunch of people that have and use Lyman GPRs, and I don't know any of them that don't love their rifles.

Matt Avance and TVM are the best. Great people to deal with and honest as the day is long.