Ben Meyer
40 Cal
Had some range time today. I'm still working up "the load" for my old. 50 cal flintlock Dixie TN Mtn rifle. Today I shot 2 powders, three patch lubes. I shot 9 three shot groups: 70gr 2f Swiss, 80gr 2f Swiss and 70gr 3f Swiss powder. Pillow ticking patches lubed with mink oil, Mr Flintlocks lube, and drylubed with Ballistol and water. I swabbed between shots. I was shooting at 25fds from a bench. Results....
-70gr 2f did not group as well as 80gr 2f
-70gr 3f and 80gr 2f shot almost identically
- All three patch lubes grouped great and basically hit at the same spot(slightly low, slightly left. Most groups were 3 holes touching.
-....which was frustrating because there was no standout winner!
This is fine, because apparently my gun isnt picky in terms of patch/lubes. The mink oil patches shot fine, but were smokier, smelled slightly different(worse) and were messier and stiff when cold. The Ballistol and water, I know, demands swabbing between shots, while the Mr Flintlocks does not. I'll use both situationally. I did take a 50yd fun shot, at a dip can hanging by duct tape. Hit it 2nd try. I'll take that! Next trip to the range, all shots will be at 50yds to see if the results are the same.
Questions. Is mink oil all the same? The stuff I had was for leather conditioning. It is not TOW brand. Has anyone used Butler Creek patch and bullet lube? I have a small can, never used it. I put some on a patch and it felt sticky compared to mink oil, so didnt load any. Regarding the Mr Flintlocks lube....does it dry out when applied to patches? I lubed 50 or so with it and put them in a ziploc bag. Maybe I'll hand one up to air dry and see.
-70gr 2f did not group as well as 80gr 2f
-70gr 3f and 80gr 2f shot almost identically
- All three patch lubes grouped great and basically hit at the same spot(slightly low, slightly left. Most groups were 3 holes touching.
-....which was frustrating because there was no standout winner!
This is fine, because apparently my gun isnt picky in terms of patch/lubes. The mink oil patches shot fine, but were smokier, smelled slightly different(worse) and were messier and stiff when cold. The Ballistol and water, I know, demands swabbing between shots, while the Mr Flintlocks does not. I'll use both situationally. I did take a 50yd fun shot, at a dip can hanging by duct tape. Hit it 2nd try. I'll take that! Next trip to the range, all shots will be at 50yds to see if the results are the same.
Questions. Is mink oil all the same? The stuff I had was for leather conditioning. It is not TOW brand. Has anyone used Butler Creek patch and bullet lube? I have a small can, never used it. I put some on a patch and it felt sticky compared to mink oil, so didnt load any. Regarding the Mr Flintlocks lube....does it dry out when applied to patches? I lubed 50 or so with it and put them in a ziploc bag. Maybe I'll hand one up to air dry and see.