Coned my barrel, a .50 Sharon in a Hawken. Took it to the range today - this was my second trip out in the coning process, I polished a bit more yesterday. Based on my first trip out, everything was different from pre-coned - ball size .490 instead of .495, bear grease and tallow lubed patch instead of spit, 80 grain load vs 100 or so.
Accuracy was decent. It has been a long time since I shot 100yards off hand, and got em all on paper. Closer ranges were good on clangers we shot, and won a gong shoot-off.
But...
Patches totally blown through, rather burnt - is that normal on a coned barrel?
When loading, it seems to "catch" at the transition from cone to straight rifling. Cuts my cleaning patches there. I don't really see how that could be using the tool with emery paper, it wasn't a maching job, so should be no step.
Any ideas? I used (misused?) a Joe Wood tool.
Accuracy was decent. It has been a long time since I shot 100yards off hand, and got em all on paper. Closer ranges were good on clangers we shot, and won a gong shoot-off.
But...
Patches totally blown through, rather burnt - is that normal on a coned barrel?
When loading, it seems to "catch" at the transition from cone to straight rifling. Cuts my cleaning patches there. I don't really see how that could be using the tool with emery paper, it wasn't a maching job, so should be no step.
Any ideas? I used (misused?) a Joe Wood tool.