GPR problems

[Mountain Jim]

Hello. i have been reading this forum for a while but this is my first post. After searching the forums i decided to get a Great Plains rifle in 50 cal for my first Black Powder gun but when i got it i think that it is defective. When i put the hammer in half cock or full cock, the hammer still wiggles forwards and backwards about 1/8 inch or so.Its not loose or floppy but it just dosent seem like there should be this kind of movement. The screw that holds the hammer on is not loose but moves with the hammr so i think that the problem is some kid of internel adjustment or something? Or is this normal? i guess i allways thought that this action should be more crisp but i wouldnt know as i have never tried one of these before.
Also, this is a left handed gun and when i tried to put the wedges in from the left side they were very loose but when i put them in from the right side they fit tight. Any of you with a left handed gun, is this normal? Should the wedges be put in from the right? It just doesn't look right to have the lock on one side and the wedges in from the other side?
Thanks for any replies to help me out with these questions.
Mountain Jim

 

[sundance44s]

Take the lock out and check the screws that hold the innards in the lock ...sounds like they may be loose ...The dubble wedge set up can be problems ...if you want to put them in from the left side and they are loose , you`ll need to fit each wedge to the slots ..to tighten them up ..take the barrel off and tap up on the wedge slot slightly ..this will tighten up the fit of the wedge ..but always put the same wedge back into the same slot .

 

[mykeal]

I have two GPR's, both in .54 cal, one a factory percussion lock and the other a kit flintlock. Both are right hand guns. Neither lock has the fault you describe; in fact, none of my percussion locks exhibit that behavior. Remove the lock and ensure that the lock parts are securely fastened down to the side plate. The trigger adjustment has nothing to do with those symptoms.

The wedges are inserted from the right side on both right and left hand GPR's.

Edit: Sundance posted while I was typing - we agree with the lock parts being loose as the probable cause.

The wedges on GPR's are always inserted from the right; you will find it very difficult to change the setup to make them work the opposite way. Also, there are fore and aft wedges; the aft wedge is slightly longer than the fore wedge, so as Sundance says, always put them back in where they came from.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Mountain Jim, you might want to consider slotting the wedges and pinning them behind the escutcheon plates. That way you will never lose them nor mix them up. I did it to my GPR many years ago and never regretted it.

 

[mykeal]

Mountain Jim, you might want to consider slotting the wedges and pinning them behind the escutcheon plates. That way you will never lose them nor mix them up. I did it to my GPR many years ago and never regretted it.

Excellent idea - I'm doing that to mine right now.

 

[Mountain Jim]

Thanks for all of your answer's ill take out the lock and see if anything is loose. i'm not sure about pinning the wedges. They are pinned behind the plates? Could you give a little more info on this? How do you do it?
Thanks again.
Mountain Jim

 

[Acorn Mush]

Mountain Jim, visit The Muzzleloading Forum at muzzleloadingforum.com. Do a search for Slotted/pinned wedges.There are some pictures posted along with some explanation.

I would post some pictures here but I don't know how. Good luck!

 

[mykeal]

See attached thumbnails. These are from that thread. If you do the search be sure to specify "Slotted/pinned wedges" is the thread title, otherwise you'll get 300 hits to page through.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Mykeal, thanks for posting the pictures here. It took me a couple of tries to get it right on the other site. If I had to do it again I most likely couldn't.

Hope the pictures help anyone who may be interested in doing such a simple and handy modification.

 

[Mountain Jim]

Sorry i haven't been back to this before but i have been in Yosemite for the last week and haven't been able to get onto the internet before now. but i pulled out the lock and the screws are tite i'm thinking that the hole thru the hammer or the post it fits on is not square? noone seems to have this problem with theirs. Should i send this back to Lyman as a defective gun? Any help will be apreciated.
Thanks again for all the help
Mountain Jim

 

[mykeal]

Yes. Give Lyman product service a call and describe it to them. I'd suggest just sending the lock but they might want the whole gun.

 

[Mountain Jim]

Well i sent the rifle back to Lyman and they sent me back a new one that seems to be in better shape. there was definatly a problem with the other one now that i know how the lock is supposed to work.

i am 17 and this is my first gun, period. i saw that movie "Jerimiah Johnson" and was so struck by it that i just had to get myself a "fifty Hawkin" like he got from the dead man froze in the mountains. this is so awsome. but id like to learn to shoot it right.my uncle has shot blackpowder before and he said he'd help me to shoot it, but i have a few questions of my own. do i need to get a powder horn and a powder measure? What size bullet's do these take? It is .50 cal, so i would use a smaller ball with a patch? and how much powder do you use in one of these? like i said, my uncle is going to help me out but i don't know when and anyhow i'd like to have a little knowledge at least when we get together. i picked up some stuff from these forums, but any help for a rookie would be apreciated.

 

[Voodoochile]

For starters I'd get a box of Hornady, Speer, or TC brand .490 Lead Ball & some pre lubed .015 Patches "pillow ticking is the best but we just want you to get shooting, you can pick & choose later"

My .50 caliber likes FFFG more than FFG & it's cleaner too, I'd start with a 70gr. charge & work my way up till you find a load that gives the best accuracy.