What my new GM barrel can do,, I still need pratice, This is from a bench with elbow only on it,,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../gm-barrel.jpg

Glad to hear that thing is shooting good. Nope...it's on me...you don't owe me nothing. Far as getting started. Years past I cast many of them with a regular ole kitchen pot to melt the lead in on top of a Coleman stove. Used an old soup ladle to pour. Judged the temp by the color of the melt on top. Got me by. Got to casting other bullets so had to invest in more gear...a thermostat, electric pots and what have you. Used a little Lee bottom pour pot for several years. Works fine and dandy for those roundballs. Those pots have a tendency to drip though and you'll need something under it. Eventually went back to ladle casting. Use a Waage pot these days...holds 25lbs. of lead and keeps her up to temp. Here's a link to where I buy my blackpowder and percussion caps...they also carry the Lee moulds and that little Lee 10lb. electric bottom pour pot and other casting supplies. www.grafs.com

quigleysharps4570
Thank you,,,,,

I've a CVA hawken with both .50 and .54 barrels.
the 1-70 i _think_ is a true roundball twist, conicals needs a little more twist to stabilise, or thats what i have been told.

My .50 bbl likes 85grains of ffg pyrodex tight load, but my .54 likes 90grains ffg pyrodex loose loaded.

YMMV, just see what she likes and go with it, from the looks of that pic, i think you found what she likes :)

Mornin gumpokc
Your likes a loose load also huh? that's interestin,, I guess mine like that old sayin

Less powder, more lead, shoots far, kills dead.

More powder, less lead, kicks hard, wide spread.

Just goes to prove that every barrel is different,,

well the .54 does, but the .50 likes it tight packed, or at least tighter. Usually three fair tamps.

The .54 likes it poured in, ball/patch psuhed down and as soon as you feel it stop, leave it be.

took me weeks to figure it out, then another guy there at the range told me to try it just seated on top of the powder, and it shot great!

wasen't real bad beforehand i guess, i mean 50 yards iron sights 3-5 inch group, no particular direction.

using the "loose load, 50 yards iron sight, as long as i have a good rest and use the set trigger, i can punch them close enough togeather to have multiple shots in one ragged hole.

at 100, usually 1-3 inch groups, 150 2-5 inch, might be better if i stuck a scope on, mainly just to see better.

Mornin gumpokc
I know what ya mean by seeing better,, At 58 my eyes just ain't what they used to be, I found out that if I use 125 store bought readin glasses ( I use 250 for readin, and that's pushin it lately ) and optic sights I do pretty darn good, I did find a bigger front sight with 3 different sizes and two different colors that can be put on, The bigger front sight fills the V on the back and I can line my weapon up straight. I will try the looser ball set (yep,, I know,,, make sure it set ON the powder or the barrel will bulge) One thing that just amazes me with this new barrel is,,, With my new T/C 1 in 66, I aim at the bottom of the 2" circle at 50 yards and it will hit the center or top of the circle (some times, when I'm lucky) With the GM barrel, I aim at the bottom of the circle, and it hit's the bottom of it, And the holes are close, and I do it over and over, Now I want clover leaves, ( A QUEST) And I bet I will do it with this new barrel, I am so darn close now, Just some final tuning,,, I only shoot at 50 yard targets, I have dropped deer at 120 yards and at 20 feet,
My 20 feet antler burgers,,,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...bles/lud-1.jpg

Nice pic Hobbles.

quigleysharps4570

Mornin my friend, Thanks, that is a nice picture, That was some good meat that deer had,,

I just double checked my info, and the 1-66 is what i have, i use only patched hornady roundballs in it.

what projectiles are you using hobbles?

now I just need to double check my lousy typing!

Afternoon,,
I am not sure what I will end up usin as of yet,, I got some 527 balls commin and also some .010 patches to try with the .530 balls, I shot the .015 and the .018 patches with the 530 balls,, so far the.015 are the best with 85 grains with this GM barrel, I have a new 1 in 66 from T/C and it was'nt doin it,

Well boys,, The numbers don't ad up, but,, My weapon likes .015 patches, not .010 or .018, It likes 85 grains of ffg RS, not 80 or 90. I can use either .527 or .0530 balls and it don't care which, Then I found out that I can shoot 45 rounds in 3 hours and it gets tired and don't shoot as good any more, Darn weapon, This is 50 yards (normal) shootin at a 2" circle,,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...es/2-28-06.jpg

I know,, practice, But my weapon is gettin better,,

You're getting there. Might try some different powder and patch lube. How'd those .527's load for you?

Evenin quigleysharps4570
They load nice,
I have been thinkin bout tryin some ffg select just to sea what the diff, is,,

I've been thinkin,, Ya know, at 50 yards my front sight covers the 2" circle, That's why I shoot with the 6 o'clock position,, The 2" looks as big as round as a cigarette, So I thought I would do this to sea how bad it looks, (hay, My eyes goin on 59 y/o, humor me)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/hobbles/aa11.jpg

I'll get better..