March 13, 2012, 10:36 AM | #1 |
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what 54 cal ball?
Just bought a used 54 cal rifle, wich ball should I start out with?
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March 13, 2012, 11:00 AM | #2 |
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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 12:17 PM. |
March 13, 2012, 11:10 AM | #3 | |
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Sure Shot + 1
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March 13, 2012, 11:12 AM | #4 |
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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.
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March 13, 2012, 11:13 AM | #5 |
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Hi Red Wiggler,
and Welcome to the forum. Got a picture of the new rifle? |
March 13, 2012, 11:48 AM | #6 |
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Sorry, no pic yet. Hawkin custom gun at least twenty years old, would assume a slow twist, havent checked, twenty nine inch barrel, flintlock.
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March 13, 2012, 11:51 AM | #7 |
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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.
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March 13, 2012, 11:57 AM | #8 | |
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Great Choice !!!
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March 13, 2012, 12:38 PM | #9 |
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thanks!
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March 13, 2012, 05:05 PM | #10 |
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Yes...Welcome to the group
Now go buy a revolver so we have something to talk about.
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March 13, 2012, 05:22 PM | #11 |
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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.
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March 13, 2012, 05:40 PM | #12 |
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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, 06:38 PM | #13 | |
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Shoot for fun !!!
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'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. |
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March 13, 2012, 09:49 PM | #14 |
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Well actually doc I do have a couple of production revolvers, nothing special.
58 remington, pietta. |
March 13, 2012, 11:47 PM | #15 |
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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. |
March 14, 2012, 12:29 AM | #16 | |
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Quote:
Lyman's Great Plains Hunter, a traditional side lock, has a 1:32 twist.
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