Panzerschwein
member
Hi guys! 
I got my Lyman GPR (.54 cal percussion) out to the range today. It looked like it was going to rain and was chilly out but that wasn't going to stop me. This was the first day that I really shot the rifle off a bench for accuracy. Before today, I have fired 41 shots doing informal offhand shooting just to break in the rifling a bit. Some pictures from the range:
All firing was at 50 meters. The first two groups were three shots each of Graf and Son's 2Fg powder with Ox-Yoke .018" pre-cut wonder lube patches topped with a Hornady .530" swaged ball:
I probably should have started with 60 or so grains and worked up but decided to start with 70. Accuracy was "okay" with both groups averaging just over two inches wide, what you see above are both groups on top of one another.
Things started to improve when I stepped up to 80 grains of powder with the same ball and patch:
This is four shots, three of which are touching and one possibly being a flyer, this group measured about 1 1/4" wide.
I was swabbing between every shot with spit and dry patches. This made loading easier and I was trying for consistency. I think I might keep doing it as it also made cleanup fast at home, not much buildup from all the swabbing I did at the range.
Overall I think it's not a bad first showing. I will be trying all kinds of combinations in the coming weeks and hope to get the rifle shooting dead on by hunting season this fall. For now, the rifling and crown could probably use a little more breaking in, but recovered patches look nice with no signs of blow by or tearing:
Had a great time today! The people at the range I go to are very friendly and have a lot of experience. Also, when I came home from the range I had something waiting for me in the mailbox:
This is a custom hunting bag made for me by a member on one of the black powder forums. I really like it! Small and compact, I wanted it to hold enough supplies for a day hunt or afternoon of shooting. This bag will be used with my .36 caliber percussion squirrel rifle that is currently being built for me. Also, I am having a custom powder horn made for it as well.
Just thought I'd share. Take care guys and have yourselves a great day!
Cooldill
I got my Lyman GPR (.54 cal percussion) out to the range today. It looked like it was going to rain and was chilly out but that wasn't going to stop me. This was the first day that I really shot the rifle off a bench for accuracy. Before today, I have fired 41 shots doing informal offhand shooting just to break in the rifling a bit. Some pictures from the range:
All firing was at 50 meters. The first two groups were three shots each of Graf and Son's 2Fg powder with Ox-Yoke .018" pre-cut wonder lube patches topped with a Hornady .530" swaged ball:
I probably should have started with 60 or so grains and worked up but decided to start with 70. Accuracy was "okay" with both groups averaging just over two inches wide, what you see above are both groups on top of one another.
Things started to improve when I stepped up to 80 grains of powder with the same ball and patch:
This is four shots, three of which are touching and one possibly being a flyer, this group measured about 1 1/4" wide.
I was swabbing between every shot with spit and dry patches. This made loading easier and I was trying for consistency. I think I might keep doing it as it also made cleanup fast at home, not much buildup from all the swabbing I did at the range.
Overall I think it's not a bad first showing. I will be trying all kinds of combinations in the coming weeks and hope to get the rifle shooting dead on by hunting season this fall. For now, the rifling and crown could probably use a little more breaking in, but recovered patches look nice with no signs of blow by or tearing:
Had a great time today! The people at the range I go to are very friendly and have a lot of experience. Also, when I came home from the range I had something waiting for me in the mailbox:
This is a custom hunting bag made for me by a member on one of the black powder forums. I really like it! Small and compact, I wanted it to hold enough supplies for a day hunt or afternoon of shooting. This bag will be used with my .36 caliber percussion squirrel rifle that is currently being built for me. Also, I am having a custom powder horn made for it as well.
Just thought I'd share. Take care guys and have yourselves a great day!
Cooldill
