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Jackman, the person who started this topic never said he was experienced. In fact, he said he had no experiance with shooting black powder. That is the reason this topic exists. He's wanting to learn how to use his BP rifle.
 
Speed reading and the ml forum just don't go well together.:rolleyes:

The suggestion that your gun may not do well with conicals is worth paying attention to.
 
Just don’t use modern powder used for metallic cartridges in your Gun. Use only BLACK POWDER!!! You’ll blow your gun up using modern stuff.

Don’t pour powder directly into your barrel from a powder flask or powder horn like you see on the movies! If a hot ember or spark still exists in your barrel, a powder flask or horn can explode like a hand gernade in your hand thus causing serious injuries to include death! Use a powder measurer my friend. Pour powder from the flask or horn into the measurer, and then from the measurer into your barrel.

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
Other things that come to mind beings said that you’re new to black powder shooting.

1. Remember: Powder, Patch, Ball. In that order. Never engage in conversation when loading. To easy to lose track of where you’re at during the loading process?

2. Mark your ramrod/range rod. Some like to place their rod down their barrel and mark it at the muzzle when the gun is empty. Of course it’s to tell them their muzzleloader is empty.

Other’s to include myself like to mark their rod after the gun has been loaded. It’s a way to tell that your ball is fully seated against your charge with no space between ball and powder. A bulged barrel can occur if such a space exists! Also prevents from double charging/loading your muzzleloader. Will also definitely let you know if you “ Dry Balled “. That’s what we call forgetting to put your powder in before you seated your patch and ball. That’s why it’s important not to be distracted during your loading process. You’re actually taking steps to build each shot that has to be in a certain order.

3. Failure to fire (FTF) and or misfire. Always keep your barrel in a safe direction pointed down range if any of these occur, and it will! Very good chance of a delay of fire due to various reasons or factors.

Lastly, like others who’ve already mentioned, It would be best if you could hookup with someone experienced in shooting flintlock’s. There’s so much to learn? Everything from installing flint’s correctly, dressing up the edge of the flint. Priming and so much more? It’s definitely not rocket science but an experienced flintlock shooter can definitely help shorten your learning curb.

Regardless, good luck my friend, be safe and welcome aboard!

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
Well I lined up a Black-powder shooting partner , already had a 1/2 hour chat and learned some previously unknown to me things such as marking the ramrod for depth accuracy . Ordered a flask, ball starter and a field flask, soon as I get the other needed bits I'll get my friend to light the way :)
 
Any suggestion on powder or mini-ball? I'm shooting 50 cal. Lyman Great Plains flintlock rifle.
 
Before we go any farther we need to clarify just exactly what type of rifle you indeed have?

If you have the Great Plains Rifle (GPR) like you’ve already stated, it’s a 1:60 twist barrel specifically designed for round ball due to the slow twist.

If you have a Great Plains Hunter ( GPH ) it’s a 1:32 twist barrel specifically designed for conical shape projectiles due to the faster twist.

I only stated this because you again asked about recommendations for both round ball and conical sizes?

With that being said, we can address your question if you do have the GPR like you previously stated.

Don’t use conical shape projectiles in your GPR, 1:60 twist barrel!! You’ll be hitting all over the place!

Instead, for a .50 caliber barrel, I’d start with a .490 size ball and 60 grains of 3F black powder. You can work up to your desired powder charge from that point in 5 grain increments until you achieve your desired accuracy. Your rifle will let you know what it likes. Ya just have to spend some time with it! As far as priming powder, you can use the same 3F granulation size. I personally use Goex brand powder but grab anything you can get your hands on?

I’m glad you found an experienced flintlock shooter to show you the ropes my friend.

Best of luck.

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
GOEX Black powder. Granulation 3fg. Can be used for both the main charge and the priming powder.

Another vote to drop the minie' ball. I know that you are not interested in round ball. Try the minie' and let us know your accuracy performance results.
 
Looked at the beginning of your original post to see what caliber rifle you indeed have? Couldn’t find your stated caliber??

Anyway, Like Zonie had mentioned at the beginning in his post to you.

.45 caliber, start with a .440 ball
.50 caliber, start with a .490 ball
.54 caliber, start with a .530 ball

I assumed you had a .50 caliber which again would be a .490 ball, but you may have a .54 caliber which you’d start with a .530 ball diameter size.

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
Its a Lyman, Great Plains Rifle .50 Cal. as imprinted on the barrel, confusion on my part .

 
Being a Great Plains Rifle, it has a 1-60” rifling twist, which is designed to be used for a patched round ball. It also has deeper cut rifling, which is another feature designed for patched round ball. This has been stated in many posts already trying to help you. You need to buy .490 round balls and .015” thick pillow tick patches. Best to use unlubed patches and lube them yourself. Do a search on here for patch lube, there are more opinions than members!
You can try miniballs, but they are a conical and most likely wont shoot well. Conicals require a barrel with fast rifling twist rate and shallower cut rifling.
Know that it will take 100+/- shots to break your barrel in before best groups will be achieved.
Also as stated, start with 60 grain charge of REAL black powder and work up till you get best groups, but DO NOT exceed maximum powder charge as recommended by Lyman. Critical to note that we speak of powder in grains by VOLUME and not weight. Buy an adjustable volume measure, they are cheap.
Walk
 
Fortunately, Jackman is shooting a flintlock and that means he needs black powder, no substitutes. The volume measures are pretty close to throwing the actual weight of powder. All the measures I have checked out the volume matches the grain weight for black powder. I believe that Jackman has a volume measure.
 
I've never shot black powder looking for any help to get started. I just finish a Lyman Great Plains flintlock rifle kit, it came out really nice imop :) unfortunately I don't have pic posting skills so I can't post a pic :(.......... Anyway I'm gung-ho to shoot this thing and need advice what all do I need as in powder, mini-ball, powder measure-er, cloth for the mini-ball, just anything that will help me get started .
Thanks to all the men helping a young m/l shooter out. That is what this forum is all about, learning and helping, not trying to belittle the person. Thanks Laney Reece
 
Something else to be aware of is that GPRs have a patented breech plug, which means it has an "anti-chamber" (recess at the end of the barrel that the vent hole goes into that is about .38" dia). That being said, gunk can get pushed down into it and cause ignition problems. I'm not saying it will, but it can... you might think about getting a .38 cal bronze brush to clean it out in case you have troubles. To clean it, put the patch over the brush, send it down the barrel, you can feel it go into to anti-chamber, give it a turn and pull it out. Easy-peasy!
I really like the GPRs... I have 3!!!

Good luck with it!!!
 
Something else to be aware of is that GPRs have a patented breech plug, which means it has an "anti-chamber" (recess at the end of the barrel that the vent hole goes into that is about .38" dia). That being said, gunk can get pushed down into it and cause ignition problems. I'm not saying it will, but it can... you might think about getting a .38 cal bronze brush to clean it out in case you have troubles. To clean it, put the patch over the brush, send it down the barrel, you can feel it go into to anti-chamber, give it a turn and pull it out. Easy-peasy!
I really like the GPRs... I have 3!!!

Good luck with it!!!
Just to expand on what Rodd Boyer said,

Muzzleloader’s with patented breeches are notorious for collecting oil in your barrels chamber area.

After cleaning my muzzleloader which is as soon as I get back home! I place a wash cloth on the floor and store the muzzleloader barrel down for a day or two before I store the rifle away. Lets the excess oil’s drain out of the breech area of the barrel.

Which brings to mind another topic. Cleaning and Maintaining your muzzleloader?

There are several ways and techniques to go about it. You’ll read and realize that many shooters swear by their methods and products that they use. Why not, if it works for them. Same for lubricant products as well!

I’m not going to get into cleaning methods and products thing right now. We could spend all day on that one! It’s something that you can read/research for your self unless you have specific questions?

I’ll get off my soapbox for now! LOL.

Anyway, again, good luck and enjoy!

Respectfully, Cowboy
 
Hey Laney, let's not forget our women shooters. Got my wife into BP this year and she is helping several other women get into the sport and loving it. You know they speak a strange and foreign language, right? Hehe :confused:;):eek:
 
Hey Laney, let's not forget our women shooters. Got my wife into BP this year and she is helping several other women get into the sport and loving it. You know they speak a strange and foreign language, right? Hehe :confused:;):eek:
10-4, sorry ladies, my wife don't care about hunting,shooting,just going to spend money.i need to get another one after 32 years bad.
 

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