Ballistol

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum and muzzleloading. I've just had C&P revolvers in the past. I'm starting off new with a Lyman GPL .50 caplock.

I still have two cans of Ballistol left over from the C&B's. How can I best use it on my GPR?

I bought some Thompson lubed patches to get me started, and some TOTW mink oil.

Since I haven't dealt with patched balls before i'm a little confused as to the best method.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Get a copy of this, you won't regret it.
http://www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/

I mix my Ballistol 7:1 with water (7 parts water and 1 part Ballistol). Dip your patching and squeeze out excess with your fingers, then set the patching aside to dry on a sheet of plastic wrap.. Load & shoot!!!

P.S. Throw the T/C stuff away, use the mink oil to waterproof your leather.

Another satisfied customer of Dutch and his system. Right now I am working with 8:1 lube. If the 7:1 works anybetter, I might have to start competing again.

TC

Do you have any preference in patch material? Ticking or ?

I have tried many of the recopies that many here recommend just for the sake of curiosity.
I find they work! They all work. But why do you want to make things more difficult for yourself by going to the trouble of mixing slimy concoctions? I use TC Bore Butter, none of the others seemed to offer substantial improvement and Bore Butter is wife approved.
Just get yourself some .018 pillow ticking patches with Bore Butter some .490 round balls and go shoot. You’ll enjoy it a whole lot more. If you still get the urge to experiment try olive oil just as it comes.
One other thing wetter is better than dryer with patches.

I'm using .018" pillow ticking saturated as above, works REALLY good! Necchi steered me onto this when I bought the rifle from him (Thanks again John!!). Dutch's system works, be patient and work up your loads systematically. It didn't take long to find the "sweet load" for me!

Too late this year for muzzleloading deer season.

I can hunt coyote all year though. I have no love for them.

I'm not sure about target shooting yet. There is a club that shoots once a month about 120 miles from me.

Kind of hard to get close to a coyote, so I need a good load for 100 yd. That's about my limit with open sights and my old eyes.

ebiggs said:

I have tried many of the recopies that many here recommend just for the sake of curiosity.
I find they work! They all work. If you still get the urge to experiment try olive oil just as it comes.
One other thing wetter is better than dryer with patches.

Click to expand...

Modified & well said..

Yes, wetter is better..

Most GPRs need about 100 rounds though them to break in the barrel. This involves putting enough rounds through the barrel to smooth out sharp lands on the rifling. You can speed up the process by running a patch with rubbing compound or toothpaste up and down the barrel. You can also use toothpaste as a patch lube and fire about 10 - 15 rounds. Until the barrel is "broken in", your groups will leave a lot to be desired.

After your barrel is broken in, you will need to find the patch/ball/powder combination that will give you the best groups. Every rifle is different even with the same manufacturer. Do your load development off the bench. You want to know what the rifle is doing and not how well you can shoot offhand.

A good place to start with a .50 is 50 grains of 3F, a .015 patch and a .490 ball. Move up in 5 grain increments and see which charge gives you the best groups. Then mess with the patch thickness. Try different thickness patches and see if it helps the groups. Try a .495 ball and see if that improves the groups.

I have three .50s. All three do the best with a .023 ticking patch. One uses a .490 ball with 50 grains 3F, another uses a .495 ball and 50 grains 3F and the other uses a .495 ball and 55 grains of 3F. All three will shoot in an inch at 50 yards.

I'm right with you. It's always fun to shoot at 25-50' targets but it quickly becomes tiring. Yes it's always nice to shoot a tight grouping but as you extend your ranges the groupings start expanding quickly. I prefer the more distant ranges for the specific firearm you are working with. Try different patch thicknesses, size of roundball and charges for your desired targeted distance and you will quickly find a compatable load. I'm currently undergoing this with my newest .50
This forum in my experience is a great place to get some good advice on what you can expect to do be able to do with your rifle.

mzloader is right- Dutch Schoultz' system is the way to get tight groups without spending a boatload of time and frustration.

make good smoke!

I agree. I'm using an 8 to 1 mix of Ballistol. Dutch says most of his feedback mail has said that the 8 to 1 mix was the most used. I do mine a little different. When I pull the patch strip out of the mix I don't squeeze any out. I just lay it out flat on a piece of wax paper and let it dry out naturally.
OB

Thanks guys. The gun shows up today.

As soon as I clean it up, ill be burning powder.

Definately give Dutch's system a try if your looking for the ultimate in accuracy from your roundball rifle. Several years ago I highly doubted the claims and could not have been more wrong. Here is a target I shot with Dutch's system when I first tried it years ago. Needless to say I was astounded and I now follow the system religiously with any roundball rifle.

T/C .50 Hawken
80 gr. fff Goex
Swab between shots w/Windex.
9:1 mix ratio
5 shots @ 50 yards.
Group measures 3/4" outside to outside.

I plan on sending for the book. Or is it a download?

The Deerstalker is a similar gun to the TC Hawken. Do you think it can get the same results?


btw Are you sure all 5 balls are in there? Maybe a couple missed the paper. :rotf:

I guess I would call it a packet more than anything, dont worry you will get your moneys worth out of it. The most important thing is to follow the material inside to the letter for best results.
I have no experience with the Deerstalker, but at the time I bought the system back in 2003, it was the 2,719th packet sold by Dutch and he said he had only 3 requests for a refund to that date. I would say your chances of it working for you are more than good.
And yes, Im sure there were 5 balls through that 3/4" hole. :blah: Here is a very recent target shot with a different rifle using Dutch's system, I was using .015 patching that compressed to .007 and the balls loaded very easy, so I have no doubt that a touch thicker patching will shrink this rifles groups down to one hole groups @ 50 yards as well. This group was shot at only 40 yards due to lack of space.

T/C .50 Hawken
70 gr fff goex
.490 RB
.015 patch
3 shots into 1 1/8"

It's several sections of several pages each,
and yes,,you will see a differance no matter what the gun.
Once you follow the system targets like contenderfan's post are the norm not the exception

Pretty impressive. :bow:

Way more than I need for a deer, but it's nice to know exactly where the ball is going.

Capper, I have a Deerstalker and Dutch's system. His system is incredible.