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Paper Patched Conicals

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I shoot paper patch conicals in .45 cal for targets out to 1,000 yards with good results. Finding the right paper and load combinations can be key, just like any load development.

Fleener
 
Anyone shoot paper patched conicals? If so, what is/was the result of your experience. Piney Creek.

Seeing as this is about flintlocks: Too many projects but one of them I'll get around to...
Fifty caliber TC Renegade flinter rebored to .52 for paper patched.


Not because I'm making hunting trips down there to Jurassic Park but to experiment with flintlocks.
 
Run sized 45 caliber 400 grain paper patched conicals out of a 1-30 barrel to 300 yards with great success. Jury still out at 500 yards plus. Use 80-90 grains of Swiss fff with a .50” diameter felt wad over the powder. Paper is vintage 100% cotton 9 pound onion skin. Research posts by @Idaho Ron as others have suggested. He got me started. Now have three 45 caliber GM LRH barrels setup.
 
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So at a hundred yards what kind of difference if group size can a person see in improvement using a paper patched conical I’ve one without paper? Does the paper keep the conical from move off the powder while hunting? Greg
 
Regarding accuracy, I think it all depends on the rifle and your load development. I shoot PP in some rifles and GG in others. Just depends on what the rifle likes and the load worked up. I cant say that I think one is more accurate then the other.

Fleener
 
Has anyone ever set up a flinter specifically for long range shooting with elongated bullets? If the percussion ignition system hadn't come along when it did... perhaps today we would know all about how to accurately shoot flintlocks at hundreds of yards.

Do you suppose the lateral thrust from the flash hole would throw off your windage?
:eek:
 
Anyone shoot paper patched conicals? If so, what is/was the result of your experience. Piney Creek.

Many have suggested you look at some of the posts I have had on Paper Patched bullets. I have been shooting the Paper Patched Lee 500 S&W bullet now for 12 years.

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Over the last 7 or 8 years I have been shooting my 45 a lot more than my 50's. I am using a RCBS 11mm rifle bullet paper patched and sized for my rifle.

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You asked what is the result of our experience.


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My goal is sub 2" groups to 100 yards. I have shot many sub 1" groups at 100 but if it is under 2" that good.
I regularly shoot out to 300 yards with my son shooting his 50. Those two guns have killed more game than CWD.
Paper patching in my opinion is about consistency. If you improve consistency then you improve groups and that improves success.
Check out my youtube page. I have a ton of Muzzleloading info on there.
https://www.youtube.com/user/idahoron?pbjreload=10
 
So at a hundred yards what kind of difference if group size can a person see in improvement using a paper patched conical I’ve one without paper? Does the paper keep the conical from move off the powder while hunting? Greg

This is a group I shot to show the difference between naked and patched bullets.

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I have hunted over a dozen years with paper patched bullets. Some bullets like to be tighter than others.
In this picture I carry my 45 in a soft case strapped to my back pack. The muzzle is higher than the butt. I found that with a little common sense I have never had a bullet come off the powder with my lose fitting 45's. My son's rifle is straight up and down. He uses a tight fitting lee 500 S&W bullet. He has never had a bullet come off the powder.
6ZjO4hV.jpg
 
If you're gonna shoot PP do away with the grease grooves!
Theoretically yes, guessing doing away with grease grooves could help. Have been using Ron’s recommended RCBS 11mm mold to cast bullets with a 40:1 alloy over 80-90 grains of Swiss fff powder with a RCBS 11mm rifle bullet, paper patched with two wraps of 100% cotton 9 pound onion skin before sizing and loading over a 1/8” thick hard felt .500” diameter wad placed on top of the powder, for a number of years now per Ron’s suggestions (yes, Ron uses Pyrodox and 25% cotton 9 pound onion skin, but telling my recipe). A 12” square steel plate is easy to hit at 300 yards as long as I can see it. Based on lead splatter, getting 6-7” groups when everything alines. Have three GM LRH 1-30 45 caliber barrels set up.

What grooveless bullet, paper, powder charge and twist rate do you recommend? Always looking to improve things based on recommendations from those with actual experience.
 
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45-70 and 50-70 molds paper patched and sized for muzzleloaders work pretty well but have your barrel made to suit. Best yet, have your barrels made to shoot the bullets lubed and then you can paper patch and size them to suit when you want to. That's what worked in the mid 1800's and it's what works now. And we should do what works, well, at least we should after trying everything else.
 
I used non-grease grooves for over twenty years shooting them from custom moulds and through 45 2 7/8 and 50/90 cases and shot them pretty well out to 1000 yards! Anytime one can DECREASE the amount of drag function that a bullet may have at the same time increases the performance thereto!! And all the grease grooves do is increase the amount of drag!
 
Received a .520 diameter 350 grain Rapine mold this week. Looking forwards to trying them out in the flinter Renegade.
 
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