what 54 cal ball?

Red Wiggler · March 13, 2012, 11:36 AM

Just bought a used 54 cal rifle, wich ball should I start out with?

Sure Shot Mc Gee · March 13, 2012, 12:00 PM

Inline or Traditional rifle? is good to know first. As they (both) require different types of projectiles because of their barrel twist rates. As far as a 54 cal ball? .530 dia. would work good for your application with a 10-15ths patch. I personally shoot .535 dia. with a 10ths. patch out of my 54s. Like I said. Just my personal preference is all. Again just my humble opinion.

Pahoo · March 13, 2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Inline or Traditional rifle?

Good point as in order to define your optimum load, you need to address the requirements of your rifle. Twist is going to come into play. I'd guees you have a SideLock but it's only a guess....

Be Safe !!!

Hawg Haggen · March 13, 2012, 12:12 PM

A round ball isn't going to perform well with a twist faster than 1:48. Something like 1:60 is a lot better for round ball.

Beagle333 · March 13, 2012, 12:13 PM

Hi Red Wiggler,
and Welcome to the forum.

Got a picture of the new rifle?

Red Wiggler · March 13, 2012, 12:48 PM

Sorry, no pic yet. Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.

Fingers McGee · March 13, 2012, 12:51 PM

Sure shot +2

My .54 Tryon Rifle likes a .535 ball with .010 prelubed patch; but, it's got a few thousand rounds through it.

Pahoo · March 13, 2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.

You do have good taste and I welcome you to the forum as well .....

Be Safe !!!

Red Wiggler · March 13, 2012, 01:38 PM

thanks!

Doc Hoy · March 13, 2012, 06:05 PM

Now go buy a revolver so we have something to talk about.

dlbarr · March 13, 2012, 06:22 PM

RW, I have a hawken-type rifle in.54. It has a Green Mtn barrel w/ 1:70" twist. it shoots a patched rb real well and my fav combination is a .520" ball & .020" patch. It: 1) loads easier and 2) is as accurate (out of my gun) as tighter ball/patch combination.

Strafer Gott · March 13, 2012, 06:40 PM

FWIW, Bore sizes on .54 vary with maker. Some, like Pedersoli, tend to run a little tight, like a Santa Fe Hawken, and the .520 is the ball that will work. Most TC's want a .530 ball. If they don't patch tight enough to suit you, get thicker patches. If it still don't suit you, they sell .535 balls. How tight you patch is up to you and your rifle. Some guys, myself included patch real tight for the first load, then back off .005 on the patch thickness for a speedy reload.
The difference is the second load pushes just fine without the ball starter, and you save a little time. With a flintlock you need the time to prime.

Pahoo · March 13, 2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

The difference is the second load pushes just fine without the ball starter

That's true and the Mountain Men didn't' use ball starters. ...

Be Safe !!!

Red Wiggler · March 13, 2012, 10:49 PM

Well actually doc I do have a couple of production revolvers, nothing special.

58 remington, pietta.

deerslayer303 · March 14, 2012, 12:47 AM

Welcome!! Love the user name btw. I must see this rifle. Get to snappin.

my .54 Lyman GPR runs great with the ball patch info I recieved here from Hawg Haggen I think. Anyway it will dang near put them in the same hole with a .535 ball and a .015" patch.

Jbar4Ranch · March 14, 2012, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure Shot Mc Gee

Inline or Traditional rifle? is good to know first. As they (both) require different types of projectiles because of their barrel twist rates.

I have an inline .54 cal with a 1:60 round ball twist - A Pedersoli Gamma 9000.

Lyman's Great Plains Hunter, a traditional side lock, has a 1:32 twist.

March 13, 2012, 11:36 AM	#1
Red Wiggler Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Posts: 26	what 54 cal ball? Just bought a used 54 cal rifle, wich ball should I start out with?

March 13, 2012, 12:00 PM	#2
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Need to know basis only Posts: 927	Inline or Traditional rifle? is good to know first. As they (both) require different types of projectiles because of their barrel twist rates. As far as a 54 cal ball? .530 dia. would work good for your application with a 10-15ths patch. I personally shoot .535 dia. with a 10ths. patch out of my 54s. Like I said. Just my personal preference is all. Again just my humble opinion. Last edited by Sure Shot Mc Gee; March 13, 2012 at 01:17 PM.

March 13, 2012, 12:12 PM	#4
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,232	A round ball isn't going to perform well with a twist faster than 1:48. Something like 1:60 is a lot better for round ball. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

March 13, 2012, 12:51 PM	#7
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,715	Sure shot +2 My .54 Tryon Rifle likes a .535 ball with .010 prelubed patch; but, it's got a few thousand rounds through it. __________________ Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce

March 13, 2012, 06:05 PM	#10
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 3,343	Yes...Welcome to the group Now go buy a revolver so we have something to talk about. __________________ Doc My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

March 13, 2012, 12:13 PM	#5
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Back in the woods a piece Posts: 741	Hi Red Wiggler, and Welcome to the forum. Got a picture of the new rifle?

March 13, 2012, 12:48 PM	#6
Red Wiggler Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Posts: 26	Sorry, no pic yet. Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.

March 13, 2012, 01:38 PM	#9
Red Wiggler Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Posts: 26	thanks!

March 13, 2012, 06:22 PM	#11
dlbarr Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2011 Posts: 128	RW, I have a hawken-type rifle in.54. It has a Green Mtn barrel w/ 1:70" twist. it shoots a patched rb real well and my fav combination is a .520" ball & .020" patch. It: 1) loads easier and 2) is as accurate (out of my gun) as tighter ball/patch combination.

March 13, 2012, 06:40 PM	#12
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 878	FWIW, Bore sizes on .54 vary with maker. Some, like Pedersoli, tend to run a little tight, like a Santa Fe Hawken, and the .520 is the ball that will work. Most TC's want a .530 ball. If they don't patch tight enough to suit you, get thicker patches. If it still don't suit you, they sell .535 balls. How tight you patch is up to you and your rifle. Some guys, myself included patch real tight for the first load, then back off .005 on the patch thickness for a speedy reload. The difference is the second load pushes just fine without the ball starter, and you save a little time. With a flintlock you need the time to prime.

March 13, 2012, 10:49 PM	#14
Red Wiggler Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Posts: 26	Well actually doc I do have a couple of production revolvers, nothing special. 58 remington, pietta.

March 14, 2012, 12:47 AM	#15
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: McMinnville TN Posts: 1,116	Welcome!! Love the user name btw. I must see this rifle. Get to snappin. my .54 Lyman GPR runs great with the ball patch info I recieved here from Hawg Haggen I think. Anyway it will dang near put them in the same hole with a .535 ball and a .015" patch.