I recently completed a rather ambitious rebuild and refinish of a used .54 GPR that I had purchased sight unseen. The bore looked good and since I was so excited about rebuilding the gun, I didn't bother to shoot it before breaking it down. After the work was completed the question remained: will she put lead where I aim?
Using a slightly modified version of Dutch Schoultz's system I worked on finding the powder load that the gun liked best. I started at 80 grains of Goex Express FFG with a .535 ball and a .006 (compressed measurement) denim patch treated with a 1:7 Ballistol:H2O solution (soaked, squeegeed, dried) and cut at the muzzle. I shot from a shooting bag that rested on the hood of my truck. The target was 50 yards away. I swabbed between shots with a patch treated with "Stumpy's Moose Milk" - this was the only deviation I took from Dutch's system, in that I used a much more heavily lubed patch for swabbing between shots than he advocates for (loading was very difficult otherwise).
Here are the results of a 4-shot string using 90 grains of Goex Express FFG. I think this is the load that I will most likely stick with. So yes, the GPR is a shooter! I am glad, and relieved.
I was thinking of sighting the rifle in for 75 yards, as this seems to be a common zero for folks who use their muzzleloaders for hunting. Tomorrow I will head back to the range to do this. Lucky me.
Using a slightly modified version of Dutch Schoultz's system I worked on finding the powder load that the gun liked best. I started at 80 grains of Goex Express FFG with a .535 ball and a .006 (compressed measurement) denim patch treated with a 1:7 Ballistol:H2O solution (soaked, squeegeed, dried) and cut at the muzzle. I shot from a shooting bag that rested on the hood of my truck. The target was 50 yards away. I swabbed between shots with a patch treated with "Stumpy's Moose Milk" - this was the only deviation I took from Dutch's system, in that I used a much more heavily lubed patch for swabbing between shots than he advocates for (loading was very difficult otherwise).
Here are the results of a 4-shot string using 90 grains of Goex Express FFG. I think this is the load that I will most likely stick with. So yes, the GPR is a shooter! I am glad, and relieved.
I was thinking of sighting the rifle in for 75 yards, as this seems to be a common zero for folks who use their muzzleloaders for hunting. Tomorrow I will head back to the range to do this. Lucky me.
