At Least For Today,It All Came Together

[EJ]

I'm still fairly new to BP shooting and learned much from discussion boards as graybeards and regarding an earlier post,wanted to give an update:If remember,few weeks ago posted about a CVA 50 Cal.Hawken being more accurate and easier to load and clean then a more expensive Southern .50 Cal..Yesterday,at the range using the Southern,although needing some more tweaking, accuracy was acceptable,but mostly with cloudy cool conditions, temperature in the high 40's and humidity in high 60's,was very pleased with ease of loading and initial range and home cleanup..Used a .049 ball, 60 G of Elephant 3f and a pillow tick patch,.018,lubed (sprayed on) as loaded with "Moose Milk" consisting of:

16 oz. "Distilled" water
2 oz. Napa water Soluble Oil
2 oz. Murphy's Oil Soap

Note:regarding the oil,Sure Ballistol would work just as well and may add 2 more oz. oil to the mix

Before,would have to almost wipe every shot otherwise,because of dirty fouling,loading was hard.Yesterday,wiped after about every third shot and could have shot more,for each time patch and ball unlike before,didn't have to pound down bore and loading smoothly,but what amazed me most was cleanup.Before leaving range,using the Moose Milk,took four patches (both sides) then one patch to dry,one patch with alcohol for any residual water left and finally,to help protect till home,one patch with straight Ballitol..Patches,except for being a little gray,bore was clean..Once home did same procedure and with half the amount of patches and effort and patches came out white..I have always been amazed some claimed how little time cleanup would take and with yesterday's result, finally can understand,it's possible.One thing learned,at least for me,is the initial range cleanup,reduces time spent cleaning at home.

Who knows maybe the rifle has finally been broken in and bore somewhat smoothed out,or maybe weather and "high" humidity most likely had much to do with it;for have tried all the same combinations before,but not with these loading and easy cleanup results.Anyway,if even for a day,I'll take it.

[River runner]

EJ, sounds like a combination of things, breaking in the barrel, the higher humidity, but also it could be you're getting more comfortable with the rifle. Out here in the desert, there really isn't much humidity (15% is high) so when I hear someone in the mid-west or south is using a patch with say 7-1 water- water soluble oil, I have to use 4-1 or 5-1, at the least. It do make a difference. RR

[johnt]

EJ,
I  second RR's comment, you state you spray MM on the patch,and that's good because it's a measured amount, and consistant. I just wonder if a bit more lube on each patch won't give ya the results yer after?
I wipe after every shot just so I can keep the crud build-up/bore condition the same each time.

[mamaflinter]

I do love how that moose milk makes cleanup so easy.....Glad to hear you have the same results.

[EJ]

Thanks all for your comments..Yes,it was most likely combination of conditions and as you said,can experiment some with the amount of lub sprayed on a patch.I can hardly wait to go to range again.Slowly,for accuracy sake I'm starting to wipe between shots more.The art and science of BP shooting is a challenge;You should see my notebook with all the notes on possible cleanup solutions and procedures.Finally,think have found something that works for me

MamaFlinter, yes,love the Moose Milk and thanks to your web page,was a big help.Oh,by the way,happy belated to your new grandchild;You are very young looking to be a grandma already. :grin:

[Charlie Detroit]

Not really sure about this, but aren't you off by a factor of 10? An .049" ball sounds awfully small; I think you mean .490".

[mamaflinter]

Charlie I'm sure it was a typo and that he meant to say .490 ball. A .049 would not be a tight fit even with a patch.

EJ Thank you for the well wishes on my grandson. I've been told by several that I look too young to be a grandmother. But I had my first child at age 19 and my daughter was 18 when she had her son.

[River runner]

How come nobody tells me I look too young to be a Grandpa? Some folks get all the breaks there mama flinter. RR

[johnt]

Ya, some folks have all the luck,
I can't remember the last time I was even carded for a six pack
I think it was back in the late 70's,when I usta shave??
We might as well give it up River runner,  :-D  ya know it's over when some one say's  "pardon me Sir,could you tell me where,,,"
sir!? sir?, :??  well,ya give'm direction to where ever,but ya go home thinking,,,
sir? :? ? :roll: ,hhmmm,.. :oops:

[mamaflinter]

How come nobody tells me I look too young to be a Grandpa? Some folks get all the breaks there mama flinter. RR

Hey I'm no longer carded either.  I don't know why people don't tell you that you don't look old enough to be a grandpa.    :-D