Coned Barrel Yesterday, Range Results

[morehops52]

Took a 50 cal to the range yesterday. I thought I had coned this one but found out at the range that I hadn't . At home I decided after cleaning
it that I was going to cone it. I knew from experience it would be about 30-45 min and when done got I just what I wanted.
To those unfamiliar with coning, I'm just relieving the first few inches of the muzzle by a few 1/000's inch in a tapered, controlled manner. It's not hard and if anyone is interested further, please do a forum search. I just wanted to show results.
I'm shooting 80gr 3f under a 370gr T/C Maxi ball @ 50 yds.
Photo 1 is yesterday before coning.
" 2 shows how my Maxi drops in muzzle. I was able to ramrod maxi all way to powder from here.
" 3 Doesn't seem to be any lose of accuracy to me which concerns some folks about coning. Sure makes loading much easier.

HAHA- I hadn't noticed the background on no.2 before. I shoot at a public range. God help me.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Uhhhhh ... there's $$$ to be had in that spent brass! I get a few $100 each year from brass buckets ... keeps me in powdah!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

LOSS of accuracy? It almost looks like accuracy improved....

 

[david w]

I recently coned my .62 rifled barrel. Before coning, I had to really pound on the ball starter. Now, I can seat the ball by hand and use the ram rod with no starter. I'm waiting until the March winds die down to go shooting.

 

[morehops52]

LOSS of accuracy? It almost looks like accuracy improved....

With my shooting it could be an anomaly I'm just happy it didn't get worse.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I’m still impressed…that’s a solid grouping.

 

[morehops52]

I’m still impressed…that’s a solid grouping.

Thanks. Some days go better than others. I put two decent days together this week. I'm always trying for "deer accuracy".

 

[nkbj]

Hey morehops, are you going to show pictures of what you used in the coning operation?

 

[morehops52]

I copied this from another post. You put sandpaper on the long part of the shaft. & the left end as shown, goes into muzzle first.. Then attach a tap handle to the top and rotate it and it sands the lands a few 1/000's. Please go to "General Muzzloading" forum and at top discussions look for "coning a barrel' by Claude Mathis. There is more info there about specifics.

 

[morehops52]

Joe Woods was just running and ad for these under shooting accessories IIRC.

 

[david w]

I used Joe Woods coning tool on my .62. It didn't take long at all, and now my loading is without a short starter. Not only that, but before the coning, I had to really pound on the ball to get it started.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Best used with ‘sand paper’ made for metal removal, held onto the tool via double-sided carpet tape. Use various grits. Naptha or cheap ol’ lighter fluid, is superb at removing any adhesive stick on the tool when changing grits.

 

[morehops52]

Best used with ‘sand paper’ made for metal removal, held onto the tool via double-sided carpet tape. Use various grits. Naptha or cheap ol’ lighter fluid, is superb at removing any adhesive stick on the tool when changing grits.

Yes the black "sand paper" for metal works well. I found that (2) pieces of 220, (1) 320 & (1) 440 did the trick. My carpet tape peeled off cleanly so I only had to clean when done. alcohol worked for me.

 

[david w]

Yes the black "sand paper" for metal works well. I found that (2) pieces of 220, (1) 320 & (1) 440 did the trick. My carpet tape peeled off cleanly so I only had to clean when done. alcohol worked for me.

The "black paper", meaning wet or dry.

 

[nkbj]

I use a steeper angle and duct tape to hold the emery paper.