Crawdad1
Member
Ken, does that bring back memories of my first shoot. Thanks for that!!! 
Lyman great plains rifle (54 caliber)
- Thread starter cpt-t
- Start date
- Status
THE BAD NEWS:
- I missed, I have no idead where the shot went, but it darn sure didn`t hit the steel plate.
- Now to make it worse I start to reload, all the while my (( GOOD FRIENDS )) were rawhiding me like a Red Headed Stepchild.
- I put the power in and then tried to seat a patch and ball. And it Wouldn`t go, and the rawhiding was getting worse.
- One of the guys finally told me I was using to many patches. Instead of one patch I had two and it would not go down the barrel.
- I pull the ball and tried to peal off the extra patch and then I let the ball slip from my fingers and it fell down the barrel with out a patch.
- Well I tried to shake the ball and powder out but the wind was blowing so hard I couldn`t see it when they did fall out.
THE GOOD NEWS:
Now that all that bad stuff is out of the way, you've been there... done that; ain't never gonna do any of it again
(mostly)
(Of course you still have dry-ball to look forward to.)
- I missed, I have no idead where the shot went, but it darn sure didn`t hit the steel plate.
- Now to make it worse I start to reload, all the while my (( GOOD FRIENDS )) were rawhiding me like a Red Headed Stepchild.
- I put the power in and then tried to seat a patch and ball. And it Wouldn`t go, and the rawhiding was getting worse.
- One of the guys finally told me I was using to many patches. Instead of one patch I had two and it would not go down the barrel.
- I pull the ball and tried to peal off the extra patch and then I let the ball slip from my fingers and it fell down the barrel with out a patch.
- Well I tried to shake the ball and powder out but the wind was blowing so hard I couldn`t see it when they did fall out.
THE GOOD NEWS:
Now that all that bad stuff is out of the way, you've been there... done that; ain't never gonna do any of it again
(mostly)
(Of course you still have dry-ball to look forward to.)
I took my .54 flintlock GPR to the NMLRA Spring Shoot at Friendship a few years ago, ready to take on the world. Stepped up on the offhand line, took very careful aim and shot an X at 50 yards with my very first shot. Unfortunately, it wasn't on my target. And like your day, it went downhill from there. Shot the lowest score of the week. Got beat by every junior at the match.
And as for misloading: a brand new GPR barrel needs about 100 rounds through it before it will live up to it's very deserved reputation. I was about a third of the way through that program, shooting 10 to 12 rounds a day every chance I got.
Setting up for the next session I carefully loaded 70 grains of ffg Goex, set my patch material over the bore and set the ball on top. I noticed the patch material was not centered under the ball, so I carefully pinched the edge and gave it a little pull. Whereupon it came completely off the muzzle and the ball dropped into the bore.
Ok, just turn it down and give it a couple taps. Didn't work. Tapped harder. Nothing. Where's my ball puller? At home on the bench. I applied all the bad words my wayward life had taught me to no avail, so, I packed up and went home. The wife made a nice supper, feeling sorry for me, and we relaxed for a bit after. I then went downstairs to correct and clean my rifle.
The ball came right out with a screw jag and I set up to wash the powder out. Then the devil spoke up: why not just shoot it out - no ball, so it won't be too loud, and it would be a whole lot less messy. I stepped outside onto the patio, took aim across the lake and dropped the hammer. KABOOM!!!
The patio, you see is actually under a deck and sided by two large earth berms, a natural resonance cavity. The wife, who had gone to bed since it was now midnight, made noises similar to my attempts to talk the ball out of the bore (see above). Lights came on in previously dark houses all around the lake. And I quickly retired inside and turned OFF our lights.
Which didn't work. Ten minutes later the Sheriff's deputy pulled up in the driveway and asked to speak with me. It seems he had taken the opportunity to commune with nature on a boat ramp directly across the lake. The flash and report disturbed his musings, and he was not happy, having lost a bit of control at a critical point. We discussed his options, none of which were favorable to my point of view, but in the end he did manage to see some humor in the situation. I promised, he accepted, we shook hands and he went off to deal with his problem.
Two weeks later I'm at the Sheriff's office on an unrelated administrative matter and the desk clerk noticed my name and address. She started to laugh and said, "So you're the guy who caused Deputy E_____ a little time off a few weeks ago!"
It seems I'm famous.
And as for misloading: a brand new GPR barrel needs about 100 rounds through it before it will live up to it's very deserved reputation. I was about a third of the way through that program, shooting 10 to 12 rounds a day every chance I got.
Setting up for the next session I carefully loaded 70 grains of ffg Goex, set my patch material over the bore and set the ball on top. I noticed the patch material was not centered under the ball, so I carefully pinched the edge and gave it a little pull. Whereupon it came completely off the muzzle and the ball dropped into the bore.
Ok, just turn it down and give it a couple taps. Didn't work. Tapped harder. Nothing. Where's my ball puller? At home on the bench. I applied all the bad words my wayward life had taught me to no avail, so, I packed up and went home. The wife made a nice supper, feeling sorry for me, and we relaxed for a bit after. I then went downstairs to correct and clean my rifle.
The ball came right out with a screw jag and I set up to wash the powder out. Then the devil spoke up: why not just shoot it out - no ball, so it won't be too loud, and it would be a whole lot less messy. I stepped outside onto the patio, took aim across the lake and dropped the hammer. KABOOM!!!
The patio, you see is actually under a deck and sided by two large earth berms, a natural resonance cavity. The wife, who had gone to bed since it was now midnight, made noises similar to my attempts to talk the ball out of the bore (see above). Lights came on in previously dark houses all around the lake. And I quickly retired inside and turned OFF our lights.
Which didn't work. Ten minutes later the Sheriff's deputy pulled up in the driveway and asked to speak with me. It seems he had taken the opportunity to commune with nature on a boat ramp directly across the lake. The flash and report disturbed his musings, and he was not happy, having lost a bit of control at a critical point. We discussed his options, none of which were favorable to my point of view, but in the end he did manage to see some humor in the situation. I promised, he accepted, we shook hands and he went off to deal with his problem.
Two weeks later I'm at the Sheriff's office on an unrelated administrative matter and the desk clerk noticed my name and address. She started to laugh and said, "So you're the guy who caused Deputy E_____ a little time off a few weeks ago!"
It seems I'm famous.
cpt-t The CO-2 decharger you asked about works pretty good, I keep one in my shooting bag when in the sticks or in my range box. The gas cylinder is good for one use/decharge and then is best to use a new cylinder. Be sure to point the bore in a safe direction when dechargeing as the ball exits pretty fast/hard.
I carry the CO-2 decharger as most ram rods arn't strong enough to pull a ball and I don't carry a range rod when hunting. Jim
I carry the CO-2 decharger as most ram rods arn't strong enough to pull a ball and I don't carry a range rod when hunting. Jim
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Frontier justice!
The GPR is an excellent rifle. I've been hunting with my .54 for several years now and have taken several deer with it, along with other stuff like possums, armadillos and turkeys. It's a fine shooter but last year was the first season in a while that I didn't hunt with it. That's because I got a .54cal Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken.
Three shots at 70yds with the Lyman (100gr Triple7 and .535" over .017" pillow ticking):
cpt-t
Member
Do they have more than one company that makes these CO 2 DISCHARGER`s.If so which one do You Guys recomend. I might as well get the good one, the one You All like the best. I have a Pedersoli 45-70 Sharps that I think is better than Sliced Bread and it is one of my Personnel Treasures. How would My Lyman Great Plains Rifle compare with a Pedersoli Hawkin styled rifle. I was out at Cabelas yesterday and was looking at the Black Powder Rifles and assessaries, and was looking at a Pedersoli BP Rifle. When a guy asked me if I was interested in a used Hawkin style BP Pedersoli Rifle that His Dad has for sale. He said He didn`t think his Father had even shot it,or if he had, he had shot it very much and still looked new and they even had the box and all the paper work. He gave me his phone number to call him if I wanted to see it. He didn`t know what his father wanted for the rifle. What do You Guys think, of this make of rifle and what should it cost. Thanks In Advance For Your Help:
ken
ken
1KPerDay
Member
Why?
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
They're finer than frog hair. Better rifles in every way. Better wood, better fit & finish, better lock, better trigger and mine is more accurate. Only downside is that the barrel is larger in diameter and that makes for about a pound more overall weight. I caught mine on sale at Cabela's last year for $999. The Rocky Mountain Hawken has a slow twist for roundball, the Missouri River a fast twist for conicals.
While the Missouri River has a 1:47 twist, it does come in both 54 and 45 caliber. (And while the RockyMtn comes 1:65 twist, it's only made in 54 cal).
I'm happy to report that the 1:47 twist in the 45 caliber does quite well by roundball:
Because the Pedersoli's have shallow(er, 6-8 thousandths)* rifling, it takes a large(r) ball combined with a thin(er) patch.
JoAnne's Fabrics had perfect tight-weave twill for that purpose.
* (by contrast, Green Mountain barrel gooves are 0.012")
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cpt-t
Member
Hey Guys I went to Cabelas last night and a they had a new 54 cal Cap and Ball Pedersoli Rocky Mtn Hawkin in the their Bargin Cave that has a cracked stock for $650.00. It has a really nice Tiger Tail Maple Stock, however it has a crack in the toe of the stock about 3 inches long. Can the cracked stock be safley fixed I was thinking about buying it for my Son. What do You Guys think on this, is the price ok and can I have the stock fixed so my Son could safley shoot it. He is my main shooting partner and has been all His life. This Pedersoli rifle is much more robust than my Lyman Great Plains Rifle and looks really nice. Cabelas say they sell them for $1200.00 to $1400.00 normaly. Thanks In Advance for any advice on this, sorry about being a pain in the butt all the time.
ken
ken
Yes, a crack in the toe of a stock can be safely fixed, and half price for an otherwise new Pedersoli would be a good deal for what is essentially a fine shooter. And eventually you can replace the stock; sutlers like Petaconica River can provide high quality replacements.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Sounds like a deal to me! DGW had one with a cracked toe repair that was still over $900.
Armored farmer
Member
New to b/p shooting on March 14th.
Buying $1k second rifle within 60 days.
....Gentlemen, I think our work is finished here. He's hooked.
Buying $1k second rifle within 60 days.
....Gentlemen, I think our work is finished here. He's hooked.
cpt-t
Member
Well the Saga Continues: The monthly Black Powder shoot starts at 10 am tomorrow morning. And I am already getting obsein phone call`s, asking if I was going to be there, to be that pack of Mangey Old Wolfes days entertainment like last month. Off, color remarks about my reloading skills and that I really didn`t need to bring much other than enough for just one shot, then I would spend the rest of the day trying to remove another stuck rifle ball. Or I would not need to bring any rifle balls, just bring Caps and Powder and Patches because I couldn`t hit any thing any way. I think I will just bring 2 or 3 dozen heavly laced (( EX-LAX )) cupcakes, that way every one of thoes dear friends of mine can hog down 3 or 4 cup cakes each. And I will hide the toliet paper in the port-a-podies just for good measure. Thoes Mangey Old Wolfes don`t know it yet but THOR`S HAMMER is about to fall on every one of their perverted souls. ((( I will keep you informed on tomorrows happening ))).
ken
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Yep, good work.
cpt-t
Member
I am still amoung the live and kicking, I had to miss my Gun Clubs last monthly Black Powder Shoot. I had to beg off because my Wife was not feeling well, but was also confused and sluring Her speech. The day of the shoot. So those Mangey Sneakin Coyote Club member friends of mine, got a stay on their just dues, and long over due punishments. For the completely uncalled for and grossly unclivized Rawhiding that they gave to such a fine upstanding Club Member like (( My Self )). I will just have some more time to practice so I will be ready for next Months BP Shoot. But You can just bet your pot of Red Rippy Pea`s, I have not forgotten or forgiven their vile and totally unexceptable Slurs that I had to endure from my dear Gun Club Member Buddy`s at last months BP Shoot. THORS HAMMER will strike thoes sinners down. Vengence will fall on them like a (( PLAGUE )).
ken
ken
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