Author Topic: day three - Swiss in a long rifle (Read 465 times)

tommy4toes · « **on:** September 21, 2003, 11:49:13 AM »

got in a great shooting session this morning before the winds kicked up. Rifle was the afore-mentioned Chambers .50 flintlock. Charge was 60grs 2F Swiss, pillow ticking square patch, and a .490 RB.
At 50yds with the 2F, i got a 5-hole cloverleaf. This was with spit-lubed patches, "sucked" against the roof of my mouth after wetting(think cheap, right johnt?). At 100 yds this same combo produced 1-2" groups, about 4 " below point of aim. Upon increasing the charge to 65grs, the groups opened up considerably. Maybe too much velocity for this ball/patch combo.
Switching to Swiss 3F, same charge of 60grs got MOA groups at 50yds about 3-4" above POA, and right on at 100, with 2-2.5" groups there. Same ball and patch combo as above.
It seems to me I've got some good loads to play with. I just have to fine tune the ball/patch combination and figure out the lube thing.
Thanks all for all your help, I'm finally getting to where I want to be with this rifle and powder. I just wish it was as easy as getting my Sharps to shoot

t4t

simonkenton · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2003, 01:45:03 PM »

That is some good shooting with the flintlock.
Though I havn't tried it I have it on good authority that Lehigh Valley patch lube is primo.

tommy4toes · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2003, 01:50:20 PM »

Simon
the LeHigh lube is good stuff, I just havent got around to trying it with my own patches yet. i have tried it with some pre-cuts and had good results.

t4t

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2003, 06:43:32 AM »

While many people will recite the "company line" - increase your charge until the groups open up then back down to the one that produced the tightest group; I contend that there may still be another good load that can be found by tweaking other variables.

Perhaps another lube will produce better accuracy at higher velocity. Or a different patch. Or an overpowder wad. Or a different swabbing regimen.

For example, I have a .54 Colerain bbl that can shoot all day with 50 grains of FFg and little to no swabbing. But it will ALSO produce good groups with 90 grains of FFg if you swab the bore every two or three shots! Of course at 100 yards the point of impact is higher with 90 grains as well.

tommy4toes · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2003, 12:50:09 PM »

BJJ -
I'm going to continue with the 3F results.....the added velocity gives me the POA I'm looking for@ 100 yds
The maker of this rifle has advised me not to go over 70grs, so thats my window - 50 to 70 grs.
As mentioned before, this rifle is extremely accurate with the 2F Swiss at 50yds......howevr i need a workable 100 yd load for hunting. Thats where the 3F comes in. In earlier shooting I got good results with Goex 2F, but not enough velocity.
So the experiments go on.......

t4t