Everyone,
I have a :
.32 Flintlock Pedersoli Kentucky rifle with a 32 " barrel and I can
only get about 11-12 shots out of the barrel before the bore gets
so tight I'm afraid I'll get a ball stuck part way down. I'm using
Goex FFFg black powder.
In the first outing I used pre-lubed patches (Ox-yoke(?)) and .010
patches with a .310 lead ball. I varied between 30 or 40 grain of
powder for the charges. And on about the 12th or 13th charge I
couldn't get the ball in the bore because it was so tight. It was a
brand new rifle so I decided to stop but that ended my participation
in the match I was shooting in.
Last Sunday I had the range to myself so I experimented with 30-70
grains of Goex FFFg black powder and on the 11th shot the ball was
so tight it went "Sqeeeeeek" down the length of the barrel. I was using
.010 "Spit" patches of natural fibers sized to the bore. As in the last time
I ran a cleaning Jag down the bore in between shots as well as a proper,
brass .32 cleaning brush. When I brought the brush up I got a lot of unburned
or partially burned grains of powder. I went home, cleaned the rifle and its back
to normal.
I did note that on the first few shots that I was on the bull @ 25 yards but
as I shot and the bore got tighter my groups drifted low and to the left which
tells me that the pressures and velocities went up as the bore became dirty.
I was thinking of trying to find some FFFFg black powder to get cleaner burning
but I'm not sure it would help. I have FFFg Hodgen 777 but I don't think that will
ignite in a flintlock. I'd like to get 25+ shots out of the barrel before having to shut
down. I haven't had the same problem in my .54 percussion cap but I use 777 in
that bore.
The thing is I really enjoy shooting the rifle (I knapped the flint myself at the range),
its much lighter than my .54, it burns less powder and even at 40 grains it sends a
45 grain ball down range over 2000 fps with a loud "Crack!" .
Any ideas?
Blessings,
Longbeard
I have a :
.32 Flintlock Pedersoli Kentucky rifle with a 32 " barrel and I can
only get about 11-12 shots out of the barrel before the bore gets
so tight I'm afraid I'll get a ball stuck part way down. I'm using
Goex FFFg black powder.
In the first outing I used pre-lubed patches (Ox-yoke(?)) and .010
patches with a .310 lead ball. I varied between 30 or 40 grain of
powder for the charges. And on about the 12th or 13th charge I
couldn't get the ball in the bore because it was so tight. It was a
brand new rifle so I decided to stop but that ended my participation
in the match I was shooting in.
Last Sunday I had the range to myself so I experimented with 30-70
grains of Goex FFFg black powder and on the 11th shot the ball was
so tight it went "Sqeeeeeek" down the length of the barrel. I was using
.010 "Spit" patches of natural fibers sized to the bore. As in the last time
I ran a cleaning Jag down the bore in between shots as well as a proper,
brass .32 cleaning brush. When I brought the brush up I got a lot of unburned
or partially burned grains of powder. I went home, cleaned the rifle and its back
to normal.
I did note that on the first few shots that I was on the bull @ 25 yards but
as I shot and the bore got tighter my groups drifted low and to the left which
tells me that the pressures and velocities went up as the bore became dirty.
I was thinking of trying to find some FFFFg black powder to get cleaner burning
but I'm not sure it would help. I have FFFg Hodgen 777 but I don't think that will
ignite in a flintlock. I'd like to get 25+ shots out of the barrel before having to shut
down. I haven't had the same problem in my .54 percussion cap but I use 777 in
that bore.
The thing is I really enjoy shooting the rifle (I knapped the flint myself at the range),
its much lighter than my .54, it burns less powder and even at 40 grains it sends a
45 grain ball down range over 2000 fps with a loud "Crack!" .
Any ideas?
Blessings,
Longbeard