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Stykbow

45 Cal.
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Aug 2, 2021
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Shot the GPR for the first time today. I forgot just how much I enjoy it! Anyway, looking at my patches I definitely need something thicker and I need to run a scotchbrite pad thru the barrel. Here is what’s weird. Due to a full range I had to sight in at 100 yards. In order to get on paper I had run the rear sight all the way out and use 100 grains of powder. The charge size may be irrelevant as I was just upping it till I hit paper. Would a to loose patch/ball cause a significantly weak enough seal to cause this? I can’t imagine the rear sight should have to be that high. Oh yeah, .490 ball and .0118 patch. Spit lubed.
 
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I always like to start off sighting in at 25 yards.
Too many variables to suggest changing anything, seeing as how you were shooting at 100 yards.
Wind, temperature, humidity etc..
When you get to shoot at closer range, you should get a better picture of what you need to change.
 
That sounds a bit tight to me. I have a Lyman Deerstalker and use a .490” ball and 0.015 or 6” patches and it needs a slight whack on the short starter to get going. Lyman claims their.50 cal patched bores run about .502 x .520” which can vary for sure as can actual ball size.
 
Well, I double checked my patch thickness and it mics at .015. My bad there, but still. It’s super easy to load with this combo and it never became difficult to load. I swabbed exactly one time after the third round, but just stopped when it never got harder to load.
 
Well, I double checked my patch thickness and it mics at .015. My bad there, but still. It’s super easy to load with this combo and it never became difficult to load. I swabbed exactly one time after the third round, but just stopped when it never got harder to load.

What patch lube were you using?

My wife caught me in the pantry one day eyeing her olive oils. She scolded me for xplaining that they’re very expensive and not to touch them but offered grape seed oil. I haven’t been happy with what I’ve seen. I have Ballistol that can be tried, and I make Gatofeo’s #1 lube which I’ve read works well too, but finally bought a cheap generic olive oil to also try.

With grape seed oil I was swabbing every 3 shots, but tried extending it. The 5th was a bear to load and a scare I couldn’t get it down to the powder charge. I don’t think it handled fouling very well at all, and this is with Pyrodex P and RS.
 
Lower the front sight if you want the rear sight lower. But....it may be that your head is in a better position on the stock. I mean you don't want to be cramming down on the stock.
 
I know what I’ll have to do to get it sighted in. It just seemed really strange to me that I’d run out of sight adjustment right out of the gates so I started looking for culprits. I’m gonna polish the bore & crown, drop the charge back down to 80 grains, get some thicker patches, and just start over. If I gotta file the front blade I will. Just not looking forward to it.
 
In my past experiences with GPR’s all come with a tall front sight… but just take small amounts off or you’ll be ordering another front sight…

Been there, done that one too..👍
 
I would not use less then a .495 ball. Now the secret to the patch is to seat one using a big piece of cloth, lubed well and pull it out. You should see the cloth weave from the grooves on the ball.
With my .54 I use a .535 ball and .020" patch, blue jean material.
The very best lube is Young Country, allowed me to shoot over 200 shots at a silhouette match without wiping. When it got a little tight, I added more lube to the next patch. I won the shoot!
 
Before much longer you'll be having to use a short starter and hammer!
Just file the front down .040" max for starters.
😂 Not if I can help it! I’m going to mic the barrel and see exactly what I’ve got before I get to crazy.
 
As others have said, most new muzzleloaders come with very high front sights. you need to start out filing at 25 yards and get close then finish sighting in. Were you using actual black powder or some substitute.
 
As others have said, most new muzzleloaders come with very high front sights. you need to start out filing at 25 yards and get close then finish sighting in. Were you using actual black powder or some substitute.
I didn’t realize that was common. No big deal, I can work with it, just didn’t know I’d need to. I was shooting Pyrodex and will most likely continue to if I can get it to shoot good with it. I was looking at getting some black powder, but holy monkeys that stuff is expensive!
 
I know it is foreign to some, but read the manual that came with your rifle, lots of good information there.
 
I hate pyrodex, once the can has been opened it seems to go to hell, velocity all over the place. Just my opinion but I hate the junk and others like it. Humidity hates it as well.
 
I know it is foreign to some, but read the manual that came with your rifle, lots of good information there.
I did read it smart ass. I just didn’t realize that it was that common for it needing to be done. 🙂
 
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