I have a White Mountain Carbine .50 and am working on loads for balls. Yesterday was the first day I got serious about it (I have been shooting conicals since that's what the rifle is designed for.) I bought some 3f to try instead of the 2f I have been shooting. 3f sure is "quicker". No ignition problems, so I'm happy with that. I found all my patches and wads after the shots and they were all in great shape. In fact, I had to use some of them as I ran out of patches.
Using .490 ball with Joann Fabrics pillow ticking and an over the powder felt wad. For lube, I used a smear of mink oil on the barrel side of the patch. At 25 yds. I started with 50 grs. and with the exception of the first shot, which was up 2" and right 2", it was bullseye, bullseye, bulleseye. Jumped to 60 grs. and the story was the same. I was ultra methodical yesterday, shooting with another guy shooting black powder - we kind of "helped" each other. Followed each shot with a spit patch swab and then a dry patch swab.
Moved to 50 yds. The best story is that all the bullets were within 2" of the bullseye, . . . but the other way of saying it is 4" group. I had a good sight picture, using a TC tang peep, so I need to tweak this load some to tighten it up. I can go up and down with powder amount. I suppose I can try something different with lube. I know I can do a better job "managing" my trigger. I think I did a good job of following through.
Do you think more or different lube will make a difference? I guess I can try that.
Would 60 grs. 3f be a satisfactory deer load out to 50 yds.?
If my patches are in good shape, do I need to try a filler of some sort?
I suppose I could look for some .495 balls, but I think I would need to go to a thinner patch. What do you think about that?
My last two shots were at 100 yds. just for kicks. I thought the ball would drop like a conical, but it hit right where I aimed -- high. My next shot I put the top of the blade right on the bull but was about 10" right. I'll worry about 100 yds. when I get 50 yds. tightened up.
Thanks for any feedback. Traditional black powder shooting is the best. I had a blast.
Using .490 ball with Joann Fabrics pillow ticking and an over the powder felt wad. For lube, I used a smear of mink oil on the barrel side of the patch. At 25 yds. I started with 50 grs. and with the exception of the first shot, which was up 2" and right 2", it was bullseye, bullseye, bulleseye. Jumped to 60 grs. and the story was the same. I was ultra methodical yesterday, shooting with another guy shooting black powder - we kind of "helped" each other. Followed each shot with a spit patch swab and then a dry patch swab.
Moved to 50 yds. The best story is that all the bullets were within 2" of the bullseye, . . . but the other way of saying it is 4" group. I had a good sight picture, using a TC tang peep, so I need to tweak this load some to tighten it up. I can go up and down with powder amount. I suppose I can try something different with lube. I know I can do a better job "managing" my trigger. I think I did a good job of following through.
Do you think more or different lube will make a difference? I guess I can try that.
Would 60 grs. 3f be a satisfactory deer load out to 50 yds.?
If my patches are in good shape, do I need to try a filler of some sort?
I suppose I could look for some .495 balls, but I think I would need to go to a thinner patch. What do you think about that?
My last two shots were at 100 yds. just for kicks. I thought the ball would drop like a conical, but it hit right where I aimed -- high. My next shot I put the top of the blade right on the bull but was about 10" right. I'll worry about 100 yds. when I get 50 yds. tightened up.
Thanks for any feedback. Traditional black powder shooting is the best. I had a blast.