54 cal loads ?

[tippyguru]

Hello Folks, well I've got some loads worked up for 50 and 100 metres for my 54 GPR using Wano 2P, 0.0105" compressed cotton drill patching lubed 7:1 with Ballistol and matched weight round balls and changed the front sight over to a Lyman 1/16 white bead jobby(what a difference!).
50 metres I use 80 gn and rested it shoots 3/4" to 1-1/2" groups .
100 metres I use 110 gn and have them all within the width of the 8 ring but 2-1/2 " low though one click up of elevation punches them thru the top 6 / 7 ring band( all 5 shots were in the region) so have cut a half click in the screw and feel confident of being able to get it peppering with in the 9 ring.
I reckon this rifle is a sweet,joy and good value but grouping is very sensitive to patching thickness would like to here others opinions/loads on the 100 metre mark .regards P

 

[renovato]

Looks like you've found a pretty good combination already. I've always found the most accurate loads in the 80-90 grain range. Still plenty enough oomph to hunt with. I use the Ballistol mix, myself.

 

[Many Klatch]

You don't say what size ball you are shooting. I shoot a .526 ball in my .54 with a .015 patch. The .0105 patching seems a little thin for my taste. You might experiment with a slightly smaller ball. I just use spit patching over 55 or 75 grains of 3F. All my shooting is offhand so I can't say how well this load works at 100 meters except to say that it rings gongs with some regularity.

Many Klatch

 

[tippyguru]

as usual forgot something, sorry , 535 round ball is all I have, the patching is 021+ but I do measure it with a micrometer fully compressed at 10.5, I wipe between shots, takes a good whack to start it and it seats easily but have no tears or burn thru and am happy with the overall condition

 

[Harold1950]

I'm still working on getting the new sight fined tuned and the gun sighted in, hope to finish it this weekend....been gone for a while.....I use 80 grains pyrodex (can't get Goex here) with .535 ball and .18 pillow ticking, seems to work good, groups are about 1 1/2 inch at 25 yards but about 3 1/2-4 inches low, need to lower front sight. Is this load good for deer? Or do I need to bump it up when I get it fine tuned at 100 yards? :hmm:

 

[gjkershul]

80 grains of H777 with a Hornady 410 grain conical works fine for Mule deer. Through and through the entire body cavity from chest to tail at 50yds.

 

[Swampman]

A .520 or .526 ball with a thick patch and 60 grains of 3F shoots well in every .54 I've ever owned.

 

[Birddog6]

If the 80 grain load is good at 50 meters, why would you change it to shoot 110 ? Use the 80 grain load at 100 meters too. It may not shoot as flat, but flat doesn't mean anything if it is not as accurate. I can tell ya for sure one of them is more accurate than the other one & my guess is the smaller charge is the most accurate.

Most rifles I have owned had only 1 accurate load that would outshine them all. I may have found another load that is OK or minute of deer so to speak, but not as accurate as the one best load.

I would find the Best load, stick with it, learn to make adjustments when sighting for that load.... Allot simpler & especially if you shoot several dif calibers & have to remember which rifle likes what load for this distance & that distance.........

:hmm:

 

[BrownBear]

I was guessing, based upon your patch thickness, that you are using the .535 ball. I used that ball extensively with my own GPR in the first few months along with .010 prelube patches. I never measured the patches, but that's what the package says.

Here's something to watch for in your own GPR, based upon experience with mine:

After several hundred shots of "break-in" the bore seemed to wear in or loosen. While I couldn't even ram the combo without great effort when the rifle was new, it eventually seated .535/.015 easily. And in fact it shot better than had become my expectation with .010 patches. And most significant of all, it shot .530/.018 even better.

That last combo wouldn't even seat when the rifle was new, but seats nicely now with a quick slap on the short starter followed by moderate pressure on the ram rod. Though it's now the most accurate by far on paper, I don't use it for hunting due to the extra seating effort. I hunt with the easier-seating .530/.015 an punch paper with the .530/.018.

Depending on how many shots you have through yours, it might be interesting to experiment with progressively tighter ball/patch combos. I was so happy with my own that I didn't get around to it till one day I couldn't find any .535 balls and had to settle for .530. Glad I did!

 

[tippyguru]

Thanks

 

[tippyguru]

I hear you ol' boy, but I only have a 535 mould.thanks for the reply