13/16 42" Green Mountain .40 cal

Pulled out the ole TVM Tennessee Poor Boy this weekend, and couldn't recall the "sweet" powder charge for 25, 50, & 100 yard paper punchin'. Started with 40grs of 3f, and later went to 45 with mixed results. It seemed to have an excessive amount of fouling after about 35 shots. I've never swabbed between shots. Anybody shoot a .395 with pillow ticking and a smaller charge? Have I just forgotten how bad the smaller calibers foul???

My 30+ year old .40s shoot well and clean w .395s, and .024 denim very wet w saliva over 50 gr of Goex FFg. No wiping between 20+ shots unless a delay longer than 15 min in real dry Texas heat.

I have the same barrel on my squirrel rifle, it shoots just about anything well.

For squirrels I shoot 30gr of 3F, a .395 ball wrapped in .15 ticking greased with mink oil. It is almost a one hole shooter at 30 yards. I have it sighted in at that yardage as that is about as far as I can see a squirrel head.

I have shot 60gr of 3F with a .400 ball wrapped in the same ticking and lube as above. It was a clover leaf shooter at 50 yards.

I have the same barrel. I need to try your load.
Never tried any loads up around 60 grains, but as soon as the weather gets a little better, I'll get it a test.

High Wind Advisory.....today.

My .40 has a "B" wgt Green Mountain swamped barrel. I normally shoot a .390" ball and a .022" cotton canvas duck patch. At the range my lube is Hoppes BP lube; in the bush it's mink oil. 40 grains of 3F is a sweet load but 30 grains of 2F is as well. Since I have a "new" dbl cavity Lyman mold that throws a .400" ball from one side and, I think, a .393" ball from the other. I've yet to cast with it though I've had it a good while. I'll cast up some of both sizes pretty soon when I get to feeling a little better.

I am not a swab every shot guy, I swab when the ball starts getting sticky on loading. That can vary depending on climatic conditions. Sometimes 7 shots sometimes 25 shots. SO I think if you're getting 35 shots before you notice excessive fouling, you are doing good.

I had to pound a little to get the .40 ball started but it went down OK once I got it in.

One of my buddies is one of the top shooters in the country and shoots a .40 most of the time. He is the one who gave me the .40 balls to try as that is what he shoots.

Holdin 6 said:

Have I just forgotten how bad the smaller calibers foul???

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You don't mention your lube, but in my experience with small cals (30, 32 and 36 cal), that tells the difference in fouling. I'm using mine for small game with lots of shots in a morning, so I don't want to be swabbing between 20 or 30 shots in a couple or three hours. In my smallies a grease lube works better than any other for keeping the fouling soft, and TOW's mink oil tallow is the best of those. Get the lube right and fouling is no more an issue in small calibers than in large.

Had it pointed out that my lube could be the problem, as you suggest. I had quite a buildup of what for all intent and purpose, was TAR!

Cleaned the bore until it was spotless and mixed up 10% Blue Dawn to water. I can shoot all day now, and no issues... :thumbsup:

Mine is the 28" barrel they made for Renegades back in the early 90's. Wish I had more time to tinker with it.