stevelyn
Member
I have a Lyman GPR in .54 caliber I got for Christmas this past year. I'm having problems getting to group. At first I thought it might be due to a metal burr I discovered in the notch of the rear sight preventing me from getting a clear sight picture. A little filing solved the sight problem.
Now performance is so inconsistent I'm about to give up on it.
I'm working on an accurate hunting load. I've been using Hodgdon Triple 7 for propellent and my starting loads were 90grs and I've gone up to 110 grs. I can't seem to find the right combination of patch thickness and charge.
Here is what I've found so far. A .535 ball with a .010 patch is too tight requiring both hands wrapped around the ramrod and one leg around the rifle to seat the ball. A .530 ball with a .010 to .015 muslin patch is too loose. Pillow ticking patches from .015 to .016 is inconsistent and the rifling dosen't always cut the patch. Pillow ticking patches of .018 is again too tight with the .530 ball requiring the two-handed, one legged balancing and cussing act.
Sometimes the patch is intact with an even, dark ring around it and no or very few rifling cuts. Others are completely shredded into a pile of little fibers.
One guy told me that perhaps I should consider ordering a custom ball mould at .531 or a little larger (definitly less than .535).
Do rifling cuts need to be evident on the patches? Is it possible due to T-7's increased energy and velocity, the ball/patch could be skipping over the rifling?
Other factors to consider is lubes consist of T/C Bore Butter or a home grown recipe of Crisco, olive oil, lemon oil and beeswax cooked on the kitchen range. One is not used exclusively over the other. Patches are dipped into the molten lube and set aside to cool. Balls are made by different manufacturers mostly Hornady and Buffalo Bullet. Powder is 2F Triple 7. Is there something I can fix here or do I need to consider purchasing another barrel?
Now performance is so inconsistent I'm about to give up on it.
I'm working on an accurate hunting load. I've been using Hodgdon Triple 7 for propellent and my starting loads were 90grs and I've gone up to 110 grs. I can't seem to find the right combination of patch thickness and charge.
Here is what I've found so far. A .535 ball with a .010 patch is too tight requiring both hands wrapped around the ramrod and one leg around the rifle to seat the ball. A .530 ball with a .010 to .015 muslin patch is too loose. Pillow ticking patches from .015 to .016 is inconsistent and the rifling dosen't always cut the patch. Pillow ticking patches of .018 is again too tight with the .530 ball requiring the two-handed, one legged balancing and cussing act.
Sometimes the patch is intact with an even, dark ring around it and no or very few rifling cuts. Others are completely shredded into a pile of little fibers.
One guy told me that perhaps I should consider ordering a custom ball mould at .531 or a little larger (definitly less than .535).
Do rifling cuts need to be evident on the patches? Is it possible due to T-7's increased energy and velocity, the ball/patch could be skipping over the rifling?
Other factors to consider is lubes consist of T/C Bore Butter or a home grown recipe of Crisco, olive oil, lemon oil and beeswax cooked on the kitchen range. One is not used exclusively over the other. Patches are dipped into the molten lube and set aside to cool. Balls are made by different manufacturers mostly Hornady and Buffalo Bullet. Powder is 2F Triple 7. Is there something I can fix here or do I need to consider purchasing another barrel?