Muzzleloader starting loads and other technical stuff

[stevelyn]

The fat man in the red suit is delivering a .54 caliber Lyman GPR this Christmas and I've already started purchasing accessories and supplies.
I need some advice from those more experienced than I.
I've decided to use Triple 7 with CCI magnum #11 caps since it's easier to get out here and the marine environment is not conducive to using the corrosive stuff.
First question regards ball and patch sizes. I've seen balls in .530 and .535. Patches come in a couple different materials and range in thicknesses from .010 to .020.
What would the best ball size/patch thickness combination be for general shooting which may include hunting caribou? Best patch material cotton or pillow ticking?
What is the minimum starting powder charge for shooting a .54?

Thanks in advance for your help and ideas.

Steve

 

[BigG]

.530 RB and use .010 patches. Haven't used triple 7 - does it measure like BP? If so, about 50 or 60 grains powder to start and work up 5 gr at a time to about 75 to 85 grains will give you your best accuracy. That's the load you stick with. HTH The heavier charges, which may go to about 120 grain or so result mostly in my experience with the unburned powder going out the bbl and accuracy is not as good. The accuracy load is what you're after with a ML. Then limit shots to about 100 yards.

 

[stevelyn]

BigG,

Triple 7 measure volumn for volumn like BP and Pyrodex. It has the advantage of higher energy delivering higher velocities compared to BP or other BP substitutes. Triple 7 is not classified as an explosive like BP. It's sulphur free, non-corrosive and cleans up with water.

 

[BigG]

Thanks, Stevelyn. Measures volume for volume same as BP or Pyrodex so set measure around 50 - 60 volume to start and work up until your 50 yard group looks like a cloverleaf. Then see where she hits at 100.

 

[smokemaker]

I love it when Santa brings goodies like that. Every ML is different. Some like a tighter patch/ball combo and others prefer a loose combo. I'll site again my father and I both having .54 GPR's, both caplock, and both puchased on the same day at the same outfitter. My gun likes a load loose enough to be pushed down with little effort, while my father's gun prefers a much harder combo to ram home. But both guns shoot their best groups with those combo's. Dad's gun likes 110 Grains of Pyrodex RS, and mine likes 100 Grains Pyrodex Select. The point is shoot all kinds of different patches (material and thicknesses), and powder weights, and see what your own gun likes the best. Shooting it is the fun part, right? I would definitely start with a .530 ball, though. Save the .535's for a last resort, if the thing just will not group. As for 777, I've only tried it in my Omega, so I don't know how ignition will be, but it really does clean up easy. 777 is about 15% more potent than black or Pyro, so you might need to turn your loads down a little bit.

By the way, Santa dropped off a T/C firehawk in .58 early to me this year!