Thomas Theron
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2012
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi Gents.
On Saturday I took my newly aquired GPR to the range for the first time.
Couldn't find any ffff BP so I took some ff Elephant and carefully ground it finer.Barrel was degreased and dry cleaned, vent cleaned with pipe cleaner
Big learning curve: After 6 strikes a flash..bang!
Seems like I was putting too much primer in the pan. A more experienced shooter told me to keep the primer away from the vent and play with the amount of priming powder, using the minimum that would do the trick.
I had more consistency when I left a vent pick in the vent hole when loading the main charge and seating the PB and only removed the pick when I primed the pan.Barrel was swabbed with a spit patch between shots, right down to the bottom.
Wiped frizzen and flint with alcohol after I was advised to do so after each shot and things improved even more.
A couple of questions:
I notice that the flint strikes the frizzen half way up the frizzen. Flint is mounted bevel down. I've read here on the forum that some shooters replace the hammer with a TC(new style) hammer which is longer and strikes the frizzen higher, giving more sparks. Is this a viable option or should I refer to the saying :"If it aint broke, dont fix it"
After 9 shots I was getting and average of 2 strikes and one kaboom, some with a audible delay.
So I'm thinking not enough spark or incorrect amount of priming powder.
Should the vent hole size be made slightly larger?
Or is my home made/modfied priming powder partly to blame?
And the frizzen? Should it be case hardened or should I leave that for later?
I await your wise replies.
On Saturday I took my newly aquired GPR to the range for the first time.
Couldn't find any ffff BP so I took some ff Elephant and carefully ground it finer.Barrel was degreased and dry cleaned, vent cleaned with pipe cleaner
Big learning curve: After 6 strikes a flash..bang!
Seems like I was putting too much primer in the pan. A more experienced shooter told me to keep the primer away from the vent and play with the amount of priming powder, using the minimum that would do the trick.
I had more consistency when I left a vent pick in the vent hole when loading the main charge and seating the PB and only removed the pick when I primed the pan.Barrel was swabbed with a spit patch between shots, right down to the bottom.
Wiped frizzen and flint with alcohol after I was advised to do so after each shot and things improved even more.
A couple of questions:
I notice that the flint strikes the frizzen half way up the frizzen. Flint is mounted bevel down. I've read here on the forum that some shooters replace the hammer with a TC(new style) hammer which is longer and strikes the frizzen higher, giving more sparks. Is this a viable option or should I refer to the saying :"If it aint broke, dont fix it"
After 9 shots I was getting and average of 2 strikes and one kaboom, some with a audible delay.
So I'm thinking not enough spark or incorrect amount of priming powder.
Should the vent hole size be made slightly larger?
Or is my home made/modfied priming powder partly to blame?
And the frizzen? Should it be case hardened or should I leave that for later?
I await your wise replies.