Trapper TC range-report. PA Conical to the rescue...maybe.

I tried round-ball, over only 70 grains of pixie dust, and it was a bust. Two good called shots, another two feet apart. Worst burnt patch I've ever seen, and that was with a wax wad, and a wool wad under the ball...which will usually cure the worst patch-burning loads in any rifle.

Figuring the barrel was a total loss, but might as well try anyhow I loaded the PA Conical over the two wads and 70 grains of pixie dust. Actually got a 5.50" inch group. The high shot clipping the plate I'm calling a flyer. It was a good controlled shot, but I think I was not concentrating on my sight picture and held the front sight a bit high.

I took one shot with 80 grains, and it went right into the 5.5" group, not including the high shot. If this barrel will hold a five inch group at 50 yards I can live with it. I don't know how fast 80 grains of 2fg Swiss is pushing that 240 grain bullet out of the short barrel, but I would expect something around .44 Magnum pistol ballistics which is okay. I often wander the wilderness with my .44 Mag pistol, and a .22 rifle, or bow, or spear. At 25 yards it should be minute-of-bear head easily. (yeah yeah...moving target...adrenalin rush, etc. !!!)

I tried a new loading technique I got from a Cap-N-Ball video. I would load my powder, then seat my wads over the powder, THEN wipe the bore, (two wet (not soaking) patches and two dry patches) and THEN seat the bullet. It sure cut the time down loading and wiping, as I didn't have to worry about powder sticking to the bore, when poured down the bore after wiping. Make sense? Cut the dry-wiping down considerably.

The actual purpose for loading that way is to keep any fouling from getting pushed down the bore into the breech and clogging the flash channel when wiping. That's not a bad thing either.

I expect to get some groups smaller than 5" when I sight it in. Again, I can live with that. Still out of the running against the "Zouave" Trapper, as two .58" balls weighing 275+ grains each beats a tiny little 240 grain half-inch pill. !!! However, yeah, I think it will leave a mark.

The TC Trapper says: "thanks for listening".

Risky buisness said:

This sounds to be promising. Had you considered reaming the tube to a smoothie? Maybe even leaving just a slight remainder of rifling in the last 4-6 inches of the barrel? I know some old style british dangerous game rifles were done like that, and it also helped when using shot, creating a dual purpose shortee.

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Yes, I think that was called a "Paradox" bore or something like that. Yes I have considered that. As this barrel (bore) was in bad shape, the "Trapper" project was just something to do in the shop on a winter day, with an old barrel that had been wrecked by some previous owner. I would not put any money into reaming or boring the barrel, although that would be very cool. Smooth bored to .54" or possibly .56" it would group better at 50 yards, than it does now. I have achieved occasional 3" groups at 50 yards with my Brown Bess. And smooth bores are not sensitive to heavy charges, with my Bess accuracy just keeps improving as I increase the charge. It's best accuracy is with 140 grains behind a ball, but for my shoulder's sake, and due to the price of powder I usually load it with 130 grains as the "standard" ball load.

Anyhow, if I were to come across another barrel, that was in good shape for $100 (that's all I paid for the longer barrel I have) it would probably cost less just to buy and shorten it, and have an accurate rifled "Trapper". (although a smooth bore gives one extra small-game getting ability) I certainly like the feel and light weight with the short barrel on it.

And, I think the short trashed barrel will serve it's purpose okay, close range 25 yard defense, 50 yard deer killing ability, that is good enough for a woods-wandering/trekking/hiking/exploring/survival gun. And again, I think when I sight it in, shooting three shot groups, it will do 4" at least.

Patocazador said:

With that group pictured and considering the flyer(s), I would trash that barrel or use it as a club. A 5 1/2" group @ 50 yds. is awful.

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Yes, I absolutely, totally, completely agree. 5.50" at 50 is pretty poor, awful to say the least, and put it mildly. !!! Like I keep saying, a smooth bore will do better than that. And eventually I probably will transfer it to club-duty. I would not hunt with it. But for berry picking, hiking, etc. where I'd only be shooting it at point blank range, or maybe trying to take a deer at 50 yards in a survival situation, it will "work". At 50 yards, it will put some lead into the boiler room. (yes it would be better to be able to take a deer at 100 yards in a survival situation!)

The saving grace is that it really carries nice, and it's light. I like it. It feels good. And that kind of tells me that boring the barrel either to smooth bore or .54", may indeed be worth it, when I have some spare cash sometime. Perhaps this is just a "working prototype" of things to come. But I sure get what you are saying. !!!!

That's an idea, but, I think/quite sure I have a good crown on it. In fact...I'm kind of surprised that it groups into five inches at 50 considering the condition of the bore. I did have hopes that it would shoot okay "anyways"...but I now see the errors of my ways. Can you bore a barrel? Of course that would involve getting that pesky breech off, which might be hopelessly rust-welded to the barrel. !!!

Truth. Probably has some magic spell he uses. Was certainly magic turning my 1860 junker into my favorite pistol.

woodnbow said:

Hoyt could make a 54 caliber thumper out of your barrel. Maybe give it a twist suitable for maxi ball?

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Truth...but if I found the bucks under a rock, he could probably make a .59" or .60" caliber thumper out of my "Zouave Trapper" barrel, so that's where I'd put them bucks. !!! And before I'd spend any bucks on that, I'd have him ream the shallow three-groove rifling out of my 1861's barrel, and re-rifle it for a .59" round ball. So I'm afraid that is where things stand for now.

From what I understand, Hoyt's cheapest job is just to smooth bore a barrel, and he will smooth bore a barrel larger than he will bore and rifle a barrel. So if I were to send that barrel to him, I'd just have it smooth bored out to .56", and that would be quite a thumper, and accurate out to 50 yards, and...I could throw some shot down the bore for shooting wabbits and grouse when I'm lost in the mountains and starving to death.

Jackrabbit1957 said:

Thanks for the mention guys, I am not set up to bore out the barrel. Getting the breech plug out shouldn't be a big problem. I still think it comes down to the crown. I have a revolver barrel that's badly pitted and a good recrown solved it's problems. Thinking that getting the muzzle squared up to the bore and a good even crown may help.

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I hear ya, know where you is coming from, but trust me, I did a very nice job on the muzzle and crown.

Jackrabbit1957 said:

How about some pitchures of the end of the barrel and maybe the inside?

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Can do, probably not today. I don't think I can get a good pic of the bore, but yes, I will present the muzzle and crown for inspection!!!!!

I did post a pic of the first crown, I have made that deeper and "better" since then.

I will say, the pitting in the bore is not like what you usually see. Mostly on the lands, it is very small "micro" pits, and looks like frosting. And I kid you not, it is rough when you push a patched ball or slug down the barrel. When I was working it over with tightly fitting patches on the jag, and steel wool on a brush, and all that, it "seemed" to not be so bad. But it is.

Right now I'm not getting the chance/time to sight it in (then why am I on the computer?) but I think that will produce some better groups. And again, for a short handy hiking and survival/defense arm, I can live with a 4 inch fifty yard group. Yes, awful for a rifle, but "adequate". And, it won't be my "go to" hiking rifle. I have other choices, and like to mix it up. In fact, too many rifles, too little time to hike, trek, spend time in the wilderness and explore as much as I like.

Jackrabbit1957 said:

It's not that I don't believe ole Ugly, just having another set of eyes on it might reveal something he didn't see.

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No I'm glad he takes an interest and is a big help on brain-storming. A light rain is about all I get out of my brain in that respect. Jack knows stuff and is a great resource.

woodnbow said:

4” at 50 is 2” at 25 and 1” at 12.5 yards and probably somewhere in there is where you need minute of bear brain accuracy.

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exactly. exactamundo. right on. Hit the nail on the head. Give that man a cigar. 25 is actually my main concern. Sure, 4" at 100 would be "best" but I've failed to make a silk purse out of that sow's ear. So sow's ear it is.

woodnbow said:

Just don’t miss and have to fall back on the pistols and Bowie knife!

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That is also the truth. "Just don't miss". A man has to keep his cool and wait for the last second. And, that will save mama bear if it's just a bluff charge. But, same for a repeater, if you just start blasting away and miss, that won't work either. And, as mentioned, probably going to only get one shot with any gun, if you hold your fire for a close, sure shot, no matter how many bullets it has.

Now...having said that, I used to feel pretty frisky when I hunted and trekked with my Ruger .44Mag carbine, figuring nothing could get to me with five 265 grain bullets spraying out of that thing, with just a twitch of the finger. (almost found out one time too) But, what fun is that? Black powder is much more exciting. !!!! And, do ya want to live forever??