The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Dark Skies wrote: Do you consider the lubed wad superfluous? I use it because that's what I've been told by everybody - to prevent a chainfire. I reckon the ball ought to be sufficient to prevent that so long as you're getting a decently tight fit with a shaved ring of lead.

I use wads if loading with Triple 7 as that's what the load data stipulates. I load the ball directly on to real black powder. Yep, chain fires occur at the rear of the cylinder, not the front.

Sim G wrote:Firstly, the cylinder gap. Whether the ball is way back, or wa forward in the chamber, it still has to "jump" over the cylinder gap. The ball will be in mid air, unguided and unobstructed for a nano second whilst this gap is crossed before reaching the forcing cone. Also, the cylinder rotates and regardless of how tight that revolver is, the cylinder will not stop in exactly the same position it did on the previous advancement....

I always wondered about that too and never came up with a logical explanation. The only thing I did wonder was whether with the ball seated lower in the chamber it 'hit' the forcing cone faster than it would if the ball was seated in the mouth of the chamber. Just what (if any) difference that would make I'm none the wiser unless it were to distort the ball. More experiments required perhaps. I do however have a foolproof method of improving the accuracy - leave the revolver in the safe and take one of the single-shot pistols to the range!

Yesterday with the weather being so lovely and warm and prompted somewhat by this discussion I went out with three BP revolvers.

Euroarms Rogers and Spencer .44
Uberti Griswold and Gunnison .36
Ruger Old Army .44

Set up an 8" gong at 50 yards and shot 40 rounds, five round strings, through each revolver at it, standing with both hands resting on my shooting table.

Ruger 40 hits out of 40 shots
Uberti 36 hits out of 40 shots
Euroarms 38 hits out of forty shots

All the misses were operator error mainly due to the aim offs required and a stiff trigger on my Griswold.

Each gun had a couple of cylinders put through it first to warm it up and help me get my sight picture for the Euroarms and the Uberti, as with the fixed sights aim off was required, the Ruger had the sights adjusted a little from its usual 25 yrd setting to get it "on".

Powder was Swiss fffg under a home made lube soaked 1/4" felt wad and home cast round ball, I like to use wads for the longer strings as it just helps keep the barrel condition consistent from shot to shot.

Caps were RWS and powder charges were:

Euroarms 24 gns
Uberti 15gns
Ruger 30 gns

All revolvers functioned flawlessly with no binding or jams.

Now this isn't what I would call a scientific assessment of accuracy but all the guns were sufficiently accurate for me to have one hell of a mornings FUN without any struggles.

Sun is up again today so maybe I'll try it all again at 75yrds or so, but then I have a .32 calibre Pedersoli Pennsylvania flinter and my .50 cal L/H Pedersoli Hawken flinter with me both of which need an airing, decisions. decisions.

Whatever I shoot, these muzzle loading firearms will give me satisfying accuracy and above all pleasure and will do so for any shooter that wants to put in the time needed master these fascinating firearms.

All my muzzleloaders shoot way better than I do, but then that isn't that difficult.

Doz wrote: I always wondered about that too and never came up with a logical explanation. The only thing I did wonder was whether with the ball seated lower in the chamber it 'hit' the forcing cone faster than it would if the ball was seated in the mouth of the chamber. Just what (if any) difference that would make I'm none the wiser unless it were to distort the ball. More experiments required perhaps. I do however have a foolproof method of improving the accuracy - leave the revolver in the safe and take one of the single-shot pistols to the range!

I reckon started lower in the chamber would give higher velocities as well, with all other things being equal. The ball being lower would have longer in the chamber to accelerate before it reached the cylinder gap and gas was bled off. Much along the same lines as Roy Weatherby's theory that more freebire is better than less for velocity.

dromia wrote:Yesterday with the weather being so lovely and warm and prompted somewhat by this discussion I went out with three BP revolvers.

Euroarms Rogers and Spencer .44
Uberti Griswold and Gunnison .36
Ruger Old Army .44

Set up an 8" gong at 50 yards and shot 40 rounds, five round strings, through each revolver at it, standing with both hands resting on my shooting table.

Ruger 40 hits out of 40 shots
Uberti 36 hits out of 40 shots
Euroarms 38 hits out of forty shots

All the misses were operator error mainly due to the aim offs required and a stiff trigger on my Griswold.

Each gun had a couple of cylinders put through it first to warm it up and help me get my sight picture for the Euroarms and the Uberti, as with the fixed sights aim off was required, the Ruger had the sights adjusted a little from its usual 25 yrd setting to get it "on".

Powder was Swiss fffg under a home made lube soaked 1/4" felt wad and home cast round ball, I like to use wads for the longer strings as it just helps keep the barrel condition consistent from shot to shot.

Caps were RWS and powder charges were:

Euroarms 24 gns
Uberti 15gns
Ruger 30 gns

All revolvers functioned flawlessly with no binding or jams.

Now this isn't what I would call a scientific assessment of accuracy but all the guns were sufficiently accurate for me to have one hell of a mornings FUN without any struggles.

Sun is up again today so maybe I'll try it all again at 75yrds or so, but then I have a .32 calibre Pedersoli Pennsylvania flinter and my .50 cal L/H Pedersoli Hawken flinter with me both of which need an airing, decisions. decisions.

Whatever I shoot, these muzzle loading firearms will give me satisfying accuracy and above all pleasure and will do so for any shooter that wants to put in the time needed master these fascinating firearms.

All my muzzleloaders shoot way better than I do, but then that isn't that difficult.

A good day of experimentation!

Yes it was a good day, one that will stay with me for a good time.

Simple pleasures are always the best.

dromia wrote:Yes it was a good day, one that will stay with me for a good time.

Simple pleasures are always the best.

And some people wonder why we enjoy shooting. :)

The problem with shooting gongs is that those 40/40 with the Ruger could have all hit a 4" gong - you'll never know :)

Do you need any particular safety precautions or range construction for gong shooting? I was thinking mostly about how you prevent bullets and/or splatter from going upwards or sideways, possibly escaping the stop butt and leaving the range.
Triffid

For steel gongs and lead bullets you usually have enough energy so the the balls just flatten and fall at the f.oot of the plate.

In this particular case it was one of those Birchwood Casey plastic jobs where the ball just passes through, no sound but plenty of movement.

Allan I know the Ruger and the others could do 40/40 on a 4" gong, 'tis the shooter that is letting them down.

Sometimes I miss my Ransom rest.