Tried some Round ball

[54bore]

Tried it, didn't like it, and wont be messing with it anymore. .015 and Ticking .018 patches .530 Round ball, 60 Grains of Swiss 3F, shot about a 4" group at 50 Yards, Now we're cookin with peanut oil Waste of lead, powder, and time. My opinion of course

This was from my TC New Englander, i tried my paper patch bullets first with a felt over powder wad this time instead of the Vegetable fibre wads, same junk accuracy. The roundballs actually out shot the paper patch by a hair. The New Englander is gonna get a nice bath, dry it up good, pour it full of oil (should make a Tikki torch out of it, and put it in the yard) i might shoot it again years down the road if i come down with Dementia and forget how crappy it shot

Attachment 196507

[bubba.50]

aw hell, just send that aggravatin' eyesore to my house so's ya don't have it settin' around mockin' ya anymore.

[54bore]

aw hell, just send that aggravatin' eyesore to my house so's ya don't have it settin' around mockin' ya anymore.

If it weren't for it being gifted to me bubba.50 I would have been rid of it a LONG LONG time ago! This little rifle is what started my obsession with Muzzleloaders, Sure a good thing i ended up finding 2 GM LRH barrels to REALLY set the fire in me, Cuz it sure as heck would have fizzled out LOOOONG ago with this thing! Its hard to shoot a gun like this after shooting my GM barrels, and set trigger Hawken, and Renegades. As i was leaving my shooting range this morning i glanced over at my 505 yard rock and smiled, thinking it would NEVER have happened, nor even came close with this little New Englander.

The ONLY thing I haven't tried with this rifle is greased Maxi balls, maybe one of these days it will be boring enough to try

[triggerhappy243]

54bore, you are being too hard on yourself. you made shots with a caplock that would make an inline shooter go crying home to mama. I cannot see you just giving up that easy.

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

4" group at 50 yards won't make anyone cry other than the shooter!

I just got off the 100 yard range with my traditions st.louis hawken and did a 3" group. I hope to improve that, but for now, shes elk ready.

Never been a TC fan personally. I hate their super tight bores that barely load a powerbelt. I had one TC renegade that was an absolute dream with no problems. But that is the ONLY one ever! Everything else was a headache.

[triggerhappy243]

renegades were never cut to shoot powerbelts.

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

How so? Mine shot them perfect and loaded perfect. Every tc hawken on the other hand, were super tight to reload and patched balls were another terrible problem to load. I remember I got a new one in, loaded one shot, fired, cleaned it and sold it a week later lol. Terrible rifle to reload.

[triggerhappy243]

Muzzle loaders are like women. You have to rub them just soo, in order to get them to perform the way you want them. I have two 54 cal renegades that shoot 4 inch groups if i do my part at 100 yards. Yes, patched rb do fit real tight. I live with it.

[mooman76]

I don't think 4" at 50y is all that great but not terrible bad either especially your first time out. You gun I am sure is capable of better. Just needs some load work done. You should be able to cut the 4" in half or less.

[54bore]

54bore, you are being too hard on yourself. you made shots with a caplock that would make an inline shooter go crying home to mama. I cannot see you just giving up that easy.

What it really is with me is the Round Ball itself, i could probably get this gun to shoot Round Ball better, by playing with patch ball combo and powder charge, BUT why even bother when i have several other rifles that will cut this thing in half, and i am more comfortable with them. The New Englander is NOT a great fit for me. And shooting Round ball just doesn't excite me. Maybe in one of my pistols, but no Round balls for my rifles. I am definitely a boolit shooter, paper patched and sized that is

[rfd]

lewis, what's the twist on that rifle you patch balled? fast? (i'll bet).

[bubba.50]

it's a stock New Englander so, that would be the T/C standard 1 in 48 twist.

[Good Cheer]

Tried it, didn't like it, and wont be messing with it anymore. .015 and Ticking .018 patches .530 Round ball, 60 Grains of Swiss 3F, shot about a 4" group at 50 Yards, Now we're cookin with peanut oil Waste of lead, powder, and time. My opinion of course

This was from my TC New Englander, i tried my paper patch bullets first with a felt over powder wad this time instead of the Vegetable fibre wads, same junk accuracy. The roundballs actually out shot the paper patch by a hair. The New Englander is gonna get a nice bath, dry it up good, pour it full of oil (should make a Tikki torch out of it, and put it in the yard) i might shoot it again years down the road if i come down with Dementia and forget how crappy it shot

Attachment 196507

Just a passing thought, did you ever try a bullet in it that would slip down the bore despite that flat bottom on the QLA counterbore? The twist is too slow for a solid base but maybe a minie?
Lyman made a real nice heavy skirt design .54 minie.
There are also some dandy thin skirted ones on the market for lesser charges.
Anyhow, just thinking out loud.

[Harleysboss]

Now I offered you a cool custom new englander with a fast twist 52 cal barrel and you bowed out. When I get that thing up and running I don't want no tears for the deadly piece that its sure to be. LOL. Its coming together, waiting on wads and sizer die.

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

I'd start taking 5 shot groups as well. To me the first 2 shots look great, then you got the flier.

By chance, did you pick up and inspect the patches for tears or holes?

[triggerhappy243]

Mine come out good enough to use again.

[54bore]

I'd start taking 5 shot groups as well. To me the first 2 shots look great, then you got the flier.

By chance, did you pick up and inspect the patches for tears or holes?

I only shot the 3 Round Balls and I couldn't find a patch, i looked but didn't find one. The place i was shooting today has some fairly tall green grass and other vegetation. About how far do you usually find the patches from the barrel? Im sure it varies, but a rough estimate?

[54bore]

The one thing that i REALLY noticed when i shot the Round Balls was lack of Recoil which was quite welcoming! After shooting the big 460 Grain bullets it was nice to get 'bumped' instead of Walloped

[54bore]

it's a stock New Englander so, that would be the T/C standard 1 in 48 twist.

bubba.50 is correct, this one is stock 1:48 Twist

[54bore]

Now I offered you a cool custom new englander with a fast twist 52 cal barrel and you bowed out. When I get that thing up and running I don't want no tears for the deadly piece that its sure to be. LOL. Its coming together, waiting on wads and sizer die.

I know, i know!! I actually thought about that barrel on the ride home!! LOL, I REALLY DID!